Welcome to our September 2023 Newsletter
In this issue, find tons of opportunities to take action, get updated on what’s been happening in 350CO committees, check out upcoming festivals and webinars, and find other ways to get plugged into the Colorado climate movement as the summer wraps up. 🌻
A big shoutout to Ruth Hund, our Climate Hero of the Month! Ruth has been making waves in 350 Colorado’s legislative action work and also the Safe & Healthy Colorado ballot initiative to phase out fracking in the state. Thank you so much, Ruth!
From all of us on the 350CO Team, we wish you a wonderful start to the month!
Quote of the Month
“Active Hope is not wishful thinking.
Active Hope is not waiting to be rescued by some savior.
Active Hope is waking up to the beauty of life
on whose behalf we can act.
We belong to this world.
The web of life is calling us forth at this time.”
– Joanna Macy, author of Active Hope
Action of The Month: Sign & share the Fossil Free PERA petition!
How can I get involved this month?
There are so many ways to get involved! Here’s a quick summary of what’s been going on in some of our committees + how you can jump in and take action, whether you have 5 minutes to give or several hours. 🤗
- Policy & Regulatory Action Committee – This committee holds our agencies accountable by involvement in rulemakings, hearings, and other agency actions. On September 20-22, the Air Quality Control Commission will consider rules to ensure that manufacturers reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2030 and that they reduce pollution in disproportionately impacted communities, as required by law. The proposed rule is inadequate, includes too many loopholes for polluters to continue unchecked, and the Commission needs to hear from us.
- Use this toolkit to send a one-click letter to the Commission, to email a written comment, or to register to give a verbal comment
- Get more information about GEMM2 with this factsheet in English or Spanish
- See if your location is within an affected area of Colorado with this list of GEMM2 facilities
- Share this social media post with friends and family in Colorado to spread the word
- Fossil-Free PERA Committee – Colorado public money should not be funding the climate crisis and endangering public health and safety! In this committee, there’s lots going on between supporting upcoming legislation on PERA divestment and proxy voting, engaging with PERA board via meetings and outreach from PERA members, building labor support, movement building, and public education.
- Sign up for Fossil Free PERA email updates and action opportunities here
- Register for Defund Climate Disaster Meetings
- Check out the 2023 PERA Proxy Voting Report here – These numbers show a failure by PERA to engage to influence the world’s most powerful financial institutions and corporations to adopt more ethical and sustainable business practices.
- Fracking Action Committee – For a quick, 2-minute action item, Pledge to Sign the petition for the Phase out Fracking ballot initiative! If you’ll be a registered Colorado voter by November 2024, you can be a part of this powerful effort to protect Colorado’s land, air, water, public health, AND help keep fossil fuels in the ground. 🙌
- If you have some more time on your hands, sign up for these upcoming webinars, Unveiling the Impacts of Oil & Gas Exports, a 5-part webinar series that delves into the detrimental consequences of expanding oil and gas export infrastructure on the Gulf Coast of the United States.
Environmental Groups Sue Colorado Air Pollution Regulators for Not Going far Enough
Check out this article by 9 News featuring 350CO! “The EJ Act requires polluters to do stringent monitoring and modeling in disproportionately impacted communities. The rule as passed by the commission won’t accomplish this, making it impossible to protect communities – it’s as simple as that,” said Heidi Leathwood, climate policy analyst with 350 Colorado. “The commission must be held to account.”
Climate Justice of Colorado: Building a Better World Together
Chelsea, our wonderful Movement Building & Volunteer Director will be speaking at this year’s Crestone Energy Fair! In a hybrid presentation & group discussion format, we will first cover some basic principles and definitions around climate justice, environmental racism, and community empowerment, before then discussing how this appears in Colorado in our communities. Once we’ve grounded in that information we can then work together to find some simple ways to collaborate and ensure that we are building a future that is equitable, accessible, inclusive, and just for all.
Art & Activism Part 5: Matika Wilbur’s Project 562
Wilbur (Swinish and Tulip), a photographer and storyteller, sold all her belongings in 2012 and left Seattle, where she was living at the time, to begin her journey to “visit, engage, and photograph people from what were then the 562 federally recognized Native American Tribal Nations.” This article celebrates the uplifting and expansive book, Project 562: Changing The Way We See Native America. Book by Makita Wilbur, article by Susan Heske, a 350CO volunteer.
A huge thanks to our September Climate Hero of the Month – Ruth Hund!
In Ruth’s words, she has loved nature and the environment ever since she can remember. So when retirement provided an opportunity to come back and give it her all, that’s exactly what she did! From leading trainings, developing toolkits, supporting new activists, and so much more, Ruth’s contributions since she started have been incredible.
Meet Ruth!
Resources, Links & Action Items
Here are some links to this month’s helpful climate action resources. Use them, bookmark them, share them, and let us know if you have links that should be included in a future issue.
▶ How to Get Involved in The Bureau’s Oil and Gas Leasing Reforms by Rocky Mountain Wilds. The Bureau of Land Management has released a set of reforms on oil and gas leasing regulations for public comment. The proposed rule would provide taxpayers with a fair return when public lands are leased to private companies, steer oil and gas development away from important wildlife habitat or cultural sites, and cut down on rampant speculative leasing. The comment deadline to show support is September 22, and comments can be submitted electronically through regulations.gov or by mail.
▶ Sign up for 2023 Climate Wellness & Resiliency Workshops. Feeling overwhelmed by the stacking issues of the climate crisis? Finding it difficult to take and sustain action in your community? Join us starting September 14th! Every week for four weeks, these workshops will offer a combination of teachings, personal explorations, and group activities. The activities all come from ‘The Work That Reconnects’ by Joanna Macy (author of ‘Active Hope’). Articles/video/podcast resources for the group will be sent out to engage with ahead of time.
▶ Raise Your Voice for West Mamm Creek! West Mamm Creek in Garfield County faces a serious threat from proposed pipeline development, putting vital habitats, watersheds, and our climate at risk. Proposed pipelines cross Beaver Creek and Tepee Creek, endangering our water sources. It’s time to craft a Comment Letter. Your words matter! Share your concerns with the commission before the deadline on September 11. Tell the Bureau of Land Management you oppose West Mamm Creek pipeline projects.
Upcoming Events & Actions
- Wednesday, Sept. 6th, 6pm-7pm – How the Inflation Reduction Act Can Save You Money, a webinar by Jan Rose & Indivisible CO (Virtual) – Zoom link
- Saturday, Sept. 9th, 12pm-7pm – Beats & Ballots Festival (Colorado Springs) – Get more info
- Thursday, Sept. 14th, 11am – 4pm – 350 Denver’s Pint Night – Fundraiser and Social at Woods Boss Brewing Company (Denver) – More info
- Thursday, Sept. 14th, 6:30pm – 8pm – Climate Wellness & Resiliency Workshop 1 of 4: Finding your Ground. Coming from Gratitude. (Virtual) – RSVP here
- Saturday, Sept. 16th, 10am-2pm – Clothing Swap & Shop at Nude Foods Market w/ The Clothing Cycle (Boulder) – More info
- Saturday, Sept. 16th, 12pm-5pm – 2nd Annual NoCo Climate Meetup (Loveland) – RSVP
- Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 16th-17th – Crestone Energy Fair (Crestone) – More info
- Sunday, Sept. 17th, 11am – 12pm – March to End Fossil Fuels: Pueblo in Solidarity at the Riverwalk with Mothers Out Front Colorado (Pueblo) – RSVP here
- Thursday, Sept. 21st, 6:30pm – 8pm – Climate Wellness & Resiliency Workshop 2 of 4: Inviting In. Honoring the Pain of the World. (Virtual) – RSVP here
- Sunday, Sept. 24th, 1 pm – “A Good Neighbor” Film Screening at Breck Film Fest – (Breckenridge) – Get tickets here
- Thursday, Sept. 28th, 6:30pm – 8pm – Climate Wellness & Resiliency Workshop 3 of 4: Widening Circles. Seeing With New and Ancient Eyes. (Virtual) – RSVP here
Please view our full calendar to join local team meetings, committee conference calls & more!
P.S. This summer 350 Colorado is celebrating our 10 year anniversary! Please help us celebrate by supporting crucial climate work – become a monthly sustaining donor at $10 or more per month!