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Harvey,

As many of you know, Joan Crooks announced earlier this year that she was stepping down as CEO of Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters. After 25 years at the helm of WEC and more than five as the CEO of both organizations, Joan felt like it was time for a change – for her and for the organizations.

Her decision triggered a thorough and inclusive search for a new CEO that yielded a diverse field of very strong candidates. I’m pleased to announce today that Alyssa Macy will be the new CEO of Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters. Alyssa brings a strong professional background in political action, social justice, and tribal leadership, grounded in a deep, personal connection to our land, our water, and the communities they sustain.

Alyssa comes to us from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, where she served as Chief Operations Officer for the tribal government. As COO she was responsible for managing a $35-million budget, and led strategic planning, communications, legislative policy, and fundraising efforts. Prior to her time at Warm Springs, Alyssa worked as the national political director for the Center for Civic Participation (National Voice) and has run multiple political campaigns, as well as running for school board herself. She has also raised funds for the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation and served as a tribal liaison to state governments.

The work of our organizations requires a leader who can bring communities together around complex environmental issues and use our combined strengths to prevail in a challenging political climate. Alyssa’s breadth of experience, proven leadership, and commitment to coalition building and authentic partnerships makes her the right person to lead WEC and WCV.

Alyssa’s first day in the office will be January 13th. Joan is excited to support and help Alyssa as we move through this transition. With legislative session starting in January and an election in November, Alyssa will jump into these activities – and many more – with both feet.

WEC and WCV are strong organizations with talented staff, dedicated boards, and an ambitious vision for the future. I look forward to seeing Alyssa become an essential and valued leader in our community.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Julie Colehour
Board Chair
Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters

The PSCAA Board of Directors is made up of publicly elected officials from around Puget Sound that represent YOU. By issuing this permit, PSCAA is setting a dangerous precedent, and it’s time for our representatives to address it head on.

Tell YOUR representative: We can’t build a clean energy future by investing in dirty energy.

PSE’s LNG proposal is in direct conflict with PSCAA’s mission to protect our climate and clean air. The urgency of climate action demands the highest level of scrutiny and action from the Board of Directors to ensure that PSCAA comprehensively evaluates all fracked gas projects and conducts consultation with all affected treaty tribes. 

This fight is far from over. Thanks to your efforts, PSCAA delayed its review of the permit and required a supplemental review. In May, Governor Inslee announced his opposition to Tacoma LNG and Kalama Methanol, and we must continue to bolster the commitments of our elected leaders against fracked gas. We will be pursuing all possible avenues to stop this project for good. Your steadfast opposition is crucial.

Your representative needs to hear from you. Tell Your PSCAA Member: The Agency’s permit decision is deeply flawed. We can’t build a clean energy future by investing in dirty energy.

Thank you for all you do, 

Anna Doty
Fossil Fuel Campaign Manager

Harvey,

More than 500 volunteers gathered on the Capitol steps for Environmental Lobby Day in January 2019 to call for bold action for the Southern Resident orcas, reduction in plastic pollution, 100% clean electricity, and oil spill prevention.

For the upcoming 2020 legislative session, the Environmental Priorities Coalition will continue fighting for policies that will help address the climate crisis and help sustain a healthy environment for all.

Join the fight this legislative session: Sign up to be a Legislative Session Activist!

The 2020 Environmental Priorities are…

CLEAN FUELS NOW
The transportation sector is responsible for nearly half of our climate and air pollution in Washington. We need our transportation to be clean, affordable, and accessible. A Clean Fuel Standard will require fuel producers and importers to reduce pollution from the fuels that power our transportation system. It is a tested and effective policy that would clean our air, give us more options to fuel our vehicles (such as electricity and local renewable biofuels), create economic development, cut climate pollution, and move us beyond oil.

REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION
Our local waterways, ocean, and recycling systems are overloaded with plastic pollution. Thin plastic bags that are used for just a few minutes and then thrown away pose a particular problem: only 6% ever get recycled. Single-use bags enter into our waterways and the ocean where they clog the stomachs of wildlife. They also clog recycling equipment where they are costly to remove and are the major contaminant in our commercial compost. The Reusable Bag Act would eliminate thin carry-home plastic bags at all retail establishments and help Washington address a growing recycling crisis.

CLIMATE POLLUTION LIMITS
Climate action requires carbon reductions across the board and deep investments in healthier natural landscapes—shorelines, forests, and farms. This means setting credible and ambitious climate pollution limits, providing clear direction to meet these limits, and investing in nature-based solutions like trees and soils to capture excess carbon. This priority will update the state’s greenhouse gas limits to reflect current science and lay groundwork to reach net zero carbon emissions and beyond.

HEALTHY HABITAT HEALTHY ORCAS
With our beloved orcas facing extinction, bold actions to increase salmon populations are needed. After decades of development-related habitat loss, we seek passage of a new standard, net ecological gain, to protect and restore habitat and leave our environment better than we found it for future generations. We will work with state and local governments to implement this key Orca Task Force recommendation to accomplish results now and in the future. 

Be the first to know critical actions, volunteer opportunities, and ways to make your voice heard. Sign up to be a Legislative Session Activist!

Join us in calling on our legislators to support these environmental priorities, and together we can build a climate-resilient community here in Washington.

Onward,

Darcy Nonemacher
Government Affairs

P.S. Follow the Environmental Priorities Coalition on Facebook for more ways to take action and on Twitter to receive urgent news and updates.

The 2020 Environmental Priorities

In December, the Environmental Priorities Coalition, made up of more than 20 statewide organizations working to safeguard our environment and the health of our communities in the legislature, announced the four environmental priorities for the 2020 legislative session. This year, the Coalition will continue fighting for policies that will help address the climate crisis and help sustain a healthy environment for all. The 2020 priorities are… Clean Fuels Now, Reduce Plastic Pollution, Climate Pollution Limits, and Healthy Habitat Healthy Orcas. Together we will be championing critical policies like a Clean Fuel Standard and the Reusable Bag Act, laying groundwork to reach net zero carbon emissions and beyond, and seeking passage of a new standard to increase salmon populations. You can read more about each 2020 priority here. And, do you want to join us in calling on our legislators to support these environmental priorities? Come to Environmental Lobby Day on January 30 in Olympia or sign up to be a Legislative Session Activist!

Support our work in 2020

Thank you for all of your support in 2019! You are the bedrock for the work we accomplish, including our ability to support new environmental laws and protect existing ones. If you did not have a chance to make a year-end donation to WEC, start off your 2020 by making a gift to ensure we have the resources needed to keep our evergreen forests safe, clean up our waterways, fight climate change, and expand our democracy. With your help, WEC has been taking on the most pressing threats to Washington’s environment for over 50 years. We are hopeful and know that together we can create a brighter future for Washington. Thank you.

Harvey,

Welcome to 2020! We hope you’ll join us at WEC’s annual Gala on Saturday, April 4, 2020. Registration is officially open.

We appreciate the countless ways you have taken action, volunteered, rallied, and donated and we’d love to have the opportunity to celebrate with you.

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2020
Time: 6:00 - 9:30 pm
Location: Washington State Convention Center, Seattle
Cost: Single tickets - $150, Tables of 10 - $1,500

If you have any questions regarding the event or registration, please contact me at tina@wecprotects.org or (206) 631-2608.

See you on Saturday,

Tina Montgomery
Business Relations and Events Manager

Harvey,

As we enter into the new year and Washingtonians begin making resolutions for 2020, we want to add an easy resolution to your list: voting in every 2020 election!

Save this graphic so you remember to get your ballot in for all the 2020 elections and share it with your friends and family!

What can you do right now?

1. Find out if and when your Conservation District Election is happening.
2. Make sure your voter information is up to date and accurate.
3. Not eligible to vote? Share this image on social media to ensure your friends are participating in our democracy.

Thanks for all you do,

Emily Krieger
Civic Engagement Manager

Harvey,

Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in Washington. This pollution threatens our climate, our air quality, and the health of communities living near major highways and roads. Pollution from transportation is making it harder to breathe for our neighbors.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, which encompasses Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Kitsap counties, has proposed establishing a Clean Fuel Standard that would tackle this issue at its source – reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by a whopping 25% by 2030. And, this Clean Fuel Standard could reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide by six million tons a year by 2035.

The Clean Fuel Standard comment period ends on February 10! Take climate action now and tell the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency that you support a Clean Fuel Standard.

Even if you don’t live in Snohomish, King, Pierce, or Kitsap counties, your input is valuable. This policy can set the stage for statewide action.

A Clean Fuel Standard works by setting a limit on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels. This gives an advantage to cleaner fuels like electricity and biofuels, and incentivizes more access and infrastructure to these clean fuels for everyone.

Tell the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency board to stand up for climate action and support a Clean Fuel Standard. 

By submitting a comment in support of the Agency’s draft Clean Fuel Standard, you will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions right here at home. A Clean Fuel Standard can also target investments in communities hurt the most by fossil fuels and provide protections for workers.

Climate emissions from gasoline and diesel aren’t just warming our planet. This pollution also has significant health impacts, impacting people living close to roadways with serious health problems like strokes and heart disease.

Together, we can make a safe, healthy, and resilient Washington.

Thank you for all you do,

Eleanor Bastian
Climate and Clean Energy Policy Manager

P.S. If you already submitted your comment in support of a Clean Fuel Standard, forward this email to five of your friends and encourage them to take action with us.

Contact your legislators today to express your support for orcas and salmon >>

Harvey,

We recently learned that another orca, Mega (L-41), has likely died. With the population at its lowest number in at least 40 years, more action is urgently needed to get the orcas on a path to survival before it’s too late. And right now, in Washington’s Legislature, we have a chance to take a critical next step.

For years, Washington has tried to achieve No Net Loss of habitat as the state grows, but staggering losses continue. Every year across Puget Sound we lose 800 acres of habitat and forest land. Salmon runs have declined by 90% from their historical numbers, leaving fewer fish for communities and endangered Southern Resident orcas. Unfortunately we are losing habitat faster than we can protect and restore it.

We know No Net Loss isn’t working and we are running out of time to protect the home we all share. That’s why we’re working to establish a statewide policy of Net Ecological Gain, ensuring that after we build new projects we leave the condition of habitat better than we found it. Together we can ensure that as the region grows, we protect our shared waters and restore the habitat our communities and salmon need.

Please email your legislators today to show support for the Healthy Habitats, Healthy Orcas bill (HB 2550).

This bill implements one of Governor Inslee’s Orca Recovery Task Force recommendations. Experts across our state are telling us that shifting beyond No Net Loss to Net Ecological Gain is a critical step to protect Puget Sound, orcas, and salmon. Doing so would increase habitat protection by reducing impacts from development, and accelerate restoration of sensitive ecosystems for Southern Resident orcas and their food web.

How would this work in the real world? Here’s one example: if you built a new dock that impacts 100 square feet of kelp, you would need to restore the 100 square feet of kelp lost and go one step further and ensure that you create more beneficial habitat than you took away.

Since we were kids, we’ve all been taught to leave things a little better than we found it. HB 2550 is a first step to help protect salmon runs, help local orcas, and leave Puget Sound better for our kids.

Please contact your legislators today to express your support for orcas and salmon!

Together, we can create a monumental shift in our environmental policies.

Onward,

Rein Attemann
Puget Sound Campaign Manager

Harvey,

What: Environmental Lobby Day 2020
When: Thursday, January 30 
Where: Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia, WA 
Register today

You'll have the opportunity to attend issue briefings, learn how to lobby, hear from environmental champions, attend breakout sessions, and meet face-to-face with your elected officials.

The 2020 Environmental Priorities are:

• Clean Fuels Now
• Reduce Plastic Pollution
• Climate Pollution Limits
• Healthy Habitat Healthy Orcas

Call on your legislators to support these environmental priorities at Environmental Lobby Day on January 30! Register today.

Together we can build a climate-resilient community here in Washington.

Onward,

Tony Ivey
Field Organizer

P.S. Read more about the Environmental Priorities here.

Harvey,

Washington’s forests have incredible potential to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis by sequestering large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and storing it for decades in trees and soil.

The state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages over two million acres of public forestland in Washington—some of the most carbon-dense ecosystems on the planet—and yet has no explicit policy on how to incorporate climate and carbon science into management decisions.

The Board of Natural Resources, which sets the policies that guide DNR, has the unique ability to directly influence the amount of carbon that is stored in and released from our state’s forests.

Urge the Board to adopt a formal, stand-alone policy or rule that guides the management of DNR-managed state forests in the face of climate change.

In June 2019, WEC and Washington Conservation Voters requested that the Board of Natural Resources develop and adopt a formal carbon policy to address climate change on the forests DNR manages. We need our members to tell the Board that this matters to Washingtonians.

Every aspect of forest management affects and is affected by climate change. The impacts are occurring today and are rapidly getting more severe. DNR’s Policy for Sustainable Forests, adopted in 2006, mentions “climate change” and “carbon” only once, and that’s not enough. The agency needs a policy to account for and address climate change.

This crisis requires bold and fast action from state leaders, and we need your help reaching them. Act now and send an email to the Board and Commissioner Franz!

Onward,

Sally Paul
Evergreen Forests Program Associate

Harvey,

This month I joined the WEC family as its new CEO, and I am excited to stand alongside each of you and be a part of the incredible history of environmental work in the region. It is an honor to be entrusted with moving the organization forward in this new decade with a deepened focus on racial equity and environmental justice.

On April 4th we will be coming together to celebrate WEC's outgoing CEO Joan Crooks’ legacy in the environmental movement. I hope that you will join us in honoring her contributions, celebrating our successes, and charting our collective path forward.

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2020
Time: 6:00 - 9:30 pm
Location: Washington State Convention Center, Ballroom 6E
Cost: Single tickets - $150, Tables of 10 - $1,500

The event will start at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception – chat with friends, make new ones, enjoy appetizers, purchase a Mystery Bag, or bid on a premium silent auction item. We will have a program with guest speakers starting at 7:30 p.m., with dinner and dessert to follow.

If you have any questions regarding the event or registration, please contact Tina at tina@wecprotects.org or (206) 631-2608.

We appreciate the countless ways you have taken action, volunteered, rallied, and donated – and we hope you will join us in celebrating this incredible movement that we are growing together. I look forward to meeting you on April 4th!

See you there,

Alyssa Macy
CEO

Harvey,

Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in Washington. This pollution threatens our climate, our air quality, and the health of communities living near major highways and roads. Pollution from transportation is making it harder to breathe for our neighbors.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, which encompasses Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Kitsap counties, has proposed establishing a Clean Fuel Standard that would tackle this issue at its source – reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by a whopping 25% by 2030. And, this Clean Fuel Standard could reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide by six million tons a year by 2035.

The Clean Fuel Standard comment period ends on February 10! Take climate action now and tell the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency that you support a Clean Fuel Standard.

Even if you don’t live in Snohomish, King, Pierce, or Kitsap counties, your input is valuable. This policy can set the stage for statewide action.

A Clean Fuel Standard works by setting a limit on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels. This gives an advantage to cleaner fuels like electricity and biofuels, and incentivizes more access and infrastructure to these clean fuels for everyone.

Tell the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency board to stand up for climate action and support a Clean Fuel Standard. 

By submitting a comment in support of the Agency’s draft Clean Fuel Standard, you will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions right here at home. A Clean Fuel Standard can also target investments in communities hurt the most by fossil fuels and provide protections for workers.

Climate emissions from gasoline and diesel aren’t just warming our planet. This pollution also has significant health impacts, impacting people living close to roadways with serious health problems like strokes and heart disease.

Together, we can make a safe, healthy, and resilient Washington.

Thank you for all you do,

Eleanor Bastian
Climate and Clean Energy Policy Manager

P.S. If you already submitted your comment in support of a Clean Fuel Standard, forward this email to five of your friends and encourage them to take action with us.

Harvey,

More than 500 activists gathered on the Capitol steps for Environmental Lobby Day in January 2019 to call for bold action for the Southern Resident orcas, reduction in plastic pollution, 100% clean electricity, and oil spill prevention.

For the upcoming 2020 legislative session, the Environmental Priorities Coalition will continue fighting for policies that will help address the climate crisis and help sustain a healthy environment for all.

Join the fight this legislative session! Attend Environmental Lobby Day on January 30. You'll have the opportunity to attend issue briefings, learn how to lobby, hear from environmental champions, attend breakout sessions, and meet face-to-face with your elected officials.

The 2020 Environmental Priorities are…

CLEAN FUELS NOW
The transportation sector is responsible for nearly half of our climate and air pollution in Washington. We need our transportation to be clean, affordable, and accessible. A Clean Fuel Standard will require fuel producers and importers to reduce pollution from the fuels that power our transportation system. It is a tested and effective policy that would clean our air, give us more options to fuel our vehicles (such as electricity and local renewable biofuels), create economic development, cut climate pollution, and move us beyond oil.

REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION
Our local waterways, ocean, and recycling systems are overloaded with plastic pollution. Thin plastic bags that are used for just a few minutes and then thrown away pose a particular problem: only 6% ever get recycled. Single-use bags enter into our waterways and the ocean where they clog the stomachs of wildlife. They also clog recycling equipment where they are costly to remove and are the major contaminant in our commercial compost. The Reusable Bag Act would eliminate thin carry-home plastic bags at all retail establishments and help Washington address a growing recycling crisis.

CLIMATE POLLUTION LIMITS
Climate action requires carbon reductions across the board and deep investments in healthier natural landscapes—shorelines, forests, and farms. This means setting credible and ambitious climate pollution limits, providing clear direction to meet these limits, and investing in nature-based solutions like trees and soils to capture excess carbon. This priority will update the state’s greenhouse gas limits to reflect current science and lay groundwork to reach net zero carbon emissions and beyond.

HEALTHY HABITAT HEALTHY ORCAS
With our beloved orcas facing extinction, bold actions to increase salmon populations are needed. After decades of development-related habitat loss, we seek passage of a new standard, net ecological gain, to protect and restore habitat and leave our environment better than we found it for future generations. We will work with state and local governments to implement this key Orca Task Force recommendation to accomplish results now and in the future. 

Call on your legislators to support these environmental priorities at Environmental Lobby Day on January 30! Register today.

Together we can build a climate-resilient community here in Washington.

Onward,

Tony Ivey
Field Organizer

Your support today will help us bring hundreds of environmental activists to Olympia for Environmental Lobby Day.

Harvey,

One of the most effective ways to make change during legislative session is to get environmental activists in front of their elected officials.

Environmental Lobby Day is Thursday and we are going to be helping hundreds of grassroots activists make an impact for our environment.

Your donation today can ensure that the issues you care about are front and center for elected officials during Environmental Lobby Day and for the rest of legislative session.

This year along with our partners in the Environmental Priorities Coalition and grassroots support, we will continue fighting for policies that will help address the climate crisis and help sustain a healthy environment for all. The 2020 Environmental Priorities include: Clean Fuels Now, Reduce Plastic Pollution, Climate Pollution Limits, and Healthy Habitat Healthy Orcas.

On Thursday with your support we will be able to make sure hundreds of people can get to Olympia, train activists on how to lobby, connect with legislators and build power for our community.

But attending Environmental Lobby Day isn't the only way to have an impact.

Make a donation today to support important, environmental priorities this year.

Environmental Lobby Day is our chance to get in front of elected officials and show them the importance of environmental policies for the future of our state and communities.

You can be a part of that by donating today and helping us show the power of the environmental movement.

Best,

Griffin

Griffin Smith
Development Manager

Harvey,

Can you imagine a Washington with clean air and water, thriving communities, a just clean energy economy, and healthy forests with big, old trees? We can. That’s the vision of the future of Washington that we’re working toward, together.

Join us on April 4th for WEC’s annual Gala when we will honor Joan Crooks for her significant impact on Washington’s environment over the past 27 years, welcome Alyssa Macy as our new CEO, and celebrate YOU and all we’ve accomplished this past year.

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2020
Time: 6 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Washington State Convention Center, Ballroom 6E
Cost: Single tickets - $150, Tables of 10 - $1,500

The event will start at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception – chat with friends, make new ones, enjoy appetizers, purchase a Mystery Bag, or bid on a premium silent auction item. We will have a program with guest speakers starting at 7:30 p.m., with dinner and dessert to follow.

If you have any questions regarding the event or registration, please contact Tina at tina@wecprotects.org or (206) 631-2608.

We appreciate the countless ways you have taken action, volunteered, rallied, and donated – and we hope you will join us in celebrating this incredible movement that we are growing together.

See you there,

Tina Montgomery
Business Relations & Events Manager

Harvey,

Washington state's 2020 legislative session kicked off a few days ago, so it's the perfect time to join our Facebook group as a Digital Activist and help get the word out about important legislative priorities like a Clean Fuel Standard and Plastic Bag Ban. 

Join our Facebook group here >>

Looking forward to connecting with you, 

Hau'oli Kahaleuahi
Communications Associate 

P.S. Not on Facebook? You can still become a Digital Activist and receive updates. Sign up here. 

Harvey,

What: Environmental Lobby Day 2020
When: Thursday, January 30 
Where: Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia, WA 
Register today! Registration closes on Tuesday at midnight. 

What can you expect to do during Lobby Day? You'll have the opportunity to attend issue briefings, learn how to lobby, hear from environmental champions, attend breakout sessions, and meet face-to-face with your elected officials.

The 2020 Environmental Priorities are:

• Clean Fuels Now
• Reduce Plastic Pollution
• Climate Pollution Limits
• Healthy Habitat Healthy Orcas

Call on your legislators to support these environmental priorities at Environmental Lobby Day on Thursday, January 30! Register today.

Together we can build a climate-resilient community here in Washington.

See you there,

Tony Ivey
Field Organizer

P.S. Read more about the 2020 Environmental Priorities here.

Harvey,

A Clean Fuel Standard creates incentives for clean, low-carbon choices like electricity and local biofuels to power our transportation, addressing one of the most persistent sources of climate pollution we have here. A Clean Fuel Standard will also bring needed investments that will help create the jobs of the future.

With the Clean Fuel Standard (HB 1110) now in the Senate, we need to make sure our Senators know that we have no time to waste. Email your Senator and tell them Washington needs cleaner choices for transportation!

For years, the fossil fuel industry has put the burden of pollution on low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Prioritizing cleaner fuel and cleaner air will take an important step forward in addressing this long-standing inequity so that everyone has cleaner air no matter where they live.

With a Clean Fuel Standard, by 2035, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by six million tons per year. Tell your Senators to support a Clean Fuel Standard today.

Thanks for all you do,

Eleanor Bastian
Climate and Clean Energy Policy Manager

Harvey,

Contact your legislators today: Urge them to pass a Clean Fuel Standard this session!

Transportation is responsible for nearly half of our climate and air pollution in Washington. We are already experiencing climate impacts close to home, and we have a chance to implement effective solutions and rapidly transition to electricity and cleaner fuels.

Climate action is needed now. With a short legislative session in Olympia, we need to make sure our legislators understand how important it is to pass a Clean Fuel Standard. 

Help ensure cleaner air and healthier communities for all: Tell your legislator to support a Clean Fuel Standard!

Thank you for all you do, 

Sarah Farbstein
Field Organizer

Harvey,

Take action today: Tell your legislators to support expanding Apple Health coverage, the Safe Train Crew Size Act, and the Voting Justice Reform Package!

The 2020 Partnership Agenda is:

Expanding Apple Health Coverage Until Age 26 – HB 1697 and SB 5814 

We know that immigrant, low income, and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by pollution and face higher health impacts as a result. This bill expands health care access for young people – including 17,000 youth living at or near the poverty line and people unable to access coverage due to their documentation status. This bill is a wise investment and is one way to help communities grappling with health issues related to pollution and degradation of our environment.

Safe Train Crew Size Act – HB 1841 and SB 5877

Oil train traffic has grown significantly in Washington in recent years, increasing the frequency of highly combustible materials traveling throughout the state at high speeds. At the same time, few measures have been implemented to address the public safety and environmental risks of this traffic. Establishing minimum crew sizes for trains carrying oil and other hazardous materials is a commonsense step – it would help with accident prevention and accident response, spotting and avoiding problems before they occur and acting quickly to mitigate damage when they do.

Voting Justice Reform Package

The health of our democracy depends on allowing communities to elect leaders of their choice to represent their needs today and in the future. Issues like climate change and pollution are important to many voters and people in the state, so improving access to voting is essential for finding smart solutions to these pressing problems. These bills take important steps to eliminate barriers to voting and ensure that the needs of communities are represented in our election system.

• SB 6313 and HB 2558 – Youth voting: allows 17 year olds that would be 18 by the general election to vote in the primary election
• SB 6228 and HB 2292 – Voting rights restoration: restores the right to vote for those on community custody
• HB 2575 – Redistricting: modernizes the redistricting committee and process to increase transparency, efficiency, and public input

Take action today: Tell your legislators to support Apple Health expansion, Safe Train Crew Size, and Voting Justice Reform!

Thanks for all you do,

Darcy Nonemacher
Government Affairs Director

Harvey,

Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in Washington. This pollution threatens our climate, our air quality, and the health of communities living near major highways and roads. Pollution from transportation is making it harder to breathe for our neighbors.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, which encompasses Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Kitsap counties, has proposed establishing a Clean Fuel Standard that would tackle this issue at its source – reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by a whopping 25% by 2030.

The Clean Fuel Standard comment period has been extended to February 10! Take action and tell the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency that you support climate action by establishing a Clean Fuel Standard.

This Clean Fuel Standard would take on climate pollution in the Puget Sound region and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide by six million tons a year by 2035. Even if you don’t live in Snohomish, King, Pierce, or Kitsap counties, your input is valuable. This policy can set the stage for statewide action.

A Clean Fuel Standard works by setting a limit on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels. This gives an advantage to cleaner fuels like electricity and biofuels, and incentivizes more access and infrastructure to these clean fuels for everyone.

Tell the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency board to stand up for climate action and support a Clean Fuel Standard. Send your comment by February 10.

By submitting a comment in support of the Agency’s draft Clean Fuel Standard, you will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions right here at home. A Clean Fuel Standard can also target investments in communities hurt the most by fossil fuels and provide protections for workers.

Climate emissions from gasoline and diesel aren’t just warming our planet. This pollution also has significant health impacts, impacting people living close to roadways with serious health problems like strokes and heart disease.

Together, we can make a safe, healthy, and resilient Washington.

Thank you for all you do,

Eleanor Bastian
Climate and Clean Energy Policy Manager

P.S. If you already submitted your comment in support of a Clean Fuel Standard, forward this email to five of your friends and encourage them to take action with us.

Harvey,

As many of you already know, last month I stepped down as CEO of WEC. It has been my great privilege and honor to work with you all at the forefront of environmental progress in our region.

I hope that you will join me in welcoming Alyssa Macy as WEC’s new CEO at our annual Gala on Saturday, April 4th. The Gala will be extra special this year as we will come together to celebrate the passing of the torch to Alyssa, welcome her to our community, celebrate our successes, and chart our collective path forward.

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2020
Time: 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Washington State Convention Center, Ballroom 6E
Cost: Single tickets - $150, Tables of 10 - $1,500

The event will start at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception – chat with friends, make new ones, enjoy appetizers, purchase a Mystery Bag, or bid on a premium silent auction item. We will have a program with guest speakers starting at 7:30 p.m., with dinner and dessert to follow.

If you have any questions regarding the event or registration, please contact Tina at tina@wecprotects.org or (206) 631-2608.

We appreciate the countless ways you have taken action, volunteered, rallied, and donated – and we hope you will join us in celebrating this incredible movement that we are growing together. I look forward to celebrating with you on April 4th!

See you there,

Joan Crooks

Harvey,

Please contact your Senators NOW and urge them to vote YES on the Clean Air Act Authority bill.

Communities across Washington are suffering from dirty air and all the health impacts that come with climate pollution. And, one sector of the economy – the sellers and distributors of fossil fuels – accounts for a huge amount of our state’s climate pollution, but is not held accountable to those impacts.

We can change this – Urge your Senators to pass the Clean Air Act Authority bill today!

HB 2892/SB 6628 would enable the Department of Ecology to regulate greenhouse gas emissions associated with those fossil fuel sellers and distributors, updating our state's ability to tackle climate pollution.  

The role of the Legislature is to pass and update laws: Now is the chance to update the Clean Air Act to ensure the state has the authority it needs to address the climate crisis.

Contact your legislator today about the Clean Air Act Authority bill.

Onward,

Rebecca Ponzio
Climate and Fossil Fuels Program Director

Read more about the Supreme Court decision on the Clean Air Rule here.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Celebrate your love for democracy and our environment by forwarding this valentine to a friend to make sure they vote in the March 10th Presidential Primary. 

Remember to spread the word that there is no caucus in Washington state this year. Voting by mail is the only way to cast your vote in this Presidential Primary.

Harvey,

What: Environmental Lobby Day 2020
When: Thursday, January 30 
Where: Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia, WA 
Register today

You'll have the opportunity to attend issue briefings, learn how to lobby, hear from environmental champions, attend breakout sessions, and meet face-to-face with your elected officials.

The 2020 Environmental Priorities are:

• Clean Fuels Now
• Reduce Plastic Pollution
• Climate Pollution Limits
• Healthy Habitat Healthy Orcas

Call on your legislators to support these environmental priorities at Environmental Lobby Day on January 30! Register today.

Together we can build a climate-resilient community here in Washington.

Onward,

Tony Ivey
Field Organizer

P.S. Read more about the Environmental Priorities here.

Harvey,

As we grapple with the implications of the climate crisis, the world is exploring all kinds of high-tech solutions for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These creative ideas will take time to succeed and scale-up to the levels necessary to put a real dent in our global emissions. And as we’re all aware, we’re short on time to take major actions to prevent further damage to the earth’s natural systems.

Lucky for us, there are solutions already in place that have enormous potential to counteract our carbon emissions, if we implement them quickly and comprehensively. Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) are methods of sequestering (absorbing and storing) carbon and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions by harnessing and restoring ecosystems that have been doing this work for hundreds of millions of years [3]. These solutions include things like reforestation, improved agricultural practices, wetland restoration, and many other nature-based strategies. 

How much do you know about Natural Climate Solutions? Take our quiz to find out!

By investing in Natural Climate Solutions such as improved land management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems, we can work to reverse landscape degradation that inhibits land’s natural ability to sequester carbon, and harness these systems in our fight against the climate crisis [1, 2, 3]. 

Compared to carbon capture technology, Natural Climate Solutions are much more cost effective, less resource intensive, and, critically, they are ready to be implemented immediately. Some of the most promising pathways in the U.S. are reforestation, improved natural forest management, and ­avoided grassland conversion [4].

Take this quiz to test your knowledge about Natural Climate Solutions!

Here at WEC, we are working to elevate knowledge and implementation of Natural Climate Solutions in Washington, through work in the Legislature, with state agencies, and with supporters like you.

Want to learn more? Read this recent blog post about Natural Climate Solutions.

Onward,

Sally Paul
Evergreen Forests Program Associate

[1] IPCC, “Climate Change and Land: Summary for Policy Makers”, August 2019. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2019/08/4.-SPM_Approved_Microsite_FINAL.pdf
[2] IPCC, “Chapter 2: Land-Climate Interactions”, April 2019. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2019/08/2c.-Chapter-2_FINAL.pdf
[3] The Nature Conservancy, “Lands of Opportunity”, November 2017. https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/TNC_NCS_LandsofOpportunity_2017.pdf
[4] Fargione et al., “Natural climate solutions for the United States”, November 2018. https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/11/eaat1869
[5] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Report on the Environment: Carbon Storage in Forests”, accessed February 2020. https://cfpub.epa.gov/roe/indicator_pdf.cfm?i=86
[6] U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Washington’s Forest Resources, 2007-2016: 10-Year Forest Inventory and Analysis Report”, May 2019.
https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr976.pd

Watch the new Environmental Lobby Day video >>

Harvey,

On January 30th, over 400 Washingtonians from across the state gathered in Olympia to make our voices heard and champion environmental legislation.

We know that 2020 is the year to make big progress on the environment through bold actions. Together we showed the Legislature the importance of passing a Clean Fuel Standard, reducing plastic pollution, reversing the trend of habitat degradation to protect orcas and salmon, and setting credible and ambitious climate pollution limits.

Check out the Environmental Priorities Coalition’s brand-new video from Environmental Lobby Day!

The Washington state legislative session ends on March 12th, so we’re keeping up the momentum and continuing to push forward these critical environmental priorities.

Join us in sharing this new video to show the power of our communities in action.

Thanks for all you do,

Tony Ivey
Field Organizer

Thank your legislators for making environmental progress and urge them to be vigilant on climate action >>

Harvey,

This week, our hearts are with everyone affected by the COVID-19 public health crisis in Washington and around the world. But we wanted to take a moment to reflect on what happened in the last 60 days while our state legislators were in session. Last night, the 2020 legislative session ended with some important environmental progress, but two critical climate action bills did not pass.

Over the last few months, we have worked together during a whirlwind of a short session. With your help, we were able to pass two out of four priority bills and keep building momentum on work to protect salmon and orcas.

What we won:

• Reduce Plastic Pollution (SB 5323/HB 1205): This landmark bill eliminates single-use plastic carry-out bags. Washington state has become the ninth state in the nation to pass a statewide policy addressing this chronic source of plastic pollution via the legislature. The bill passed with strong bi-partisan support by a vote of 67-29 in the House, and a vote of 35-15 in the Senate.
• Climate Pollution Limits (HB 2311): Climate action requires carbon reductions across the board and deep investments in healthier natural landscapes—shorelines, forests, and farms. HB 2311 updates the state’s greenhouse gas limits to reflect current science and investing in nature-based solutions like trees and soils to capture excess carbon. The bill passed the House with a vote of 55-41 and the Senate with a vote of 28-21.
• Healthy Habitat, Healthy Orcas (HB 2550 and budget directive): After decades of development-related habitat loss it is clear the state’s policy of no net loss simply isn’t working. Salmon runs are down 90% and we continue to lose 800 acres a year of vital forest land and habitat in the Puget Sound region. The newly adopted budget directs a group of experts to shape a plan to achieve a “net ecological gain” standard, which will protect and restore habitat across the state. This continues important work on this key Orca Task Force recommendation to restore salmon runs and protect our gravely threatened orca populations.

Despite these wins, the Senate failed to pass two essential bills on climate change: the Clean Air Act Authority bill and a Clean Fuel Standard. The update of the state’s greenhouse gas limits will only work if we have the right tools to be able to achieve them, something the Senate failed to accomplish this year.

Washingtonians across the state have made it clear: we want climate action. The public overwhelmingly supports bold action to address climate change, and we can’t afford to delay.

Please thank your legislator for helping to pass some important environmental wins this session and urge them to be vigilant on strong climate action.

I am grateful for your support, and thank you for the great work this legislative session!

We hope you are staying healthy and safe,

Darcy Nonemacher
Government Affairs Director

P.S. Check out the Environmental Priorities Coalition press release for the full list of bills passed this session.

Harvey,

After six weeks of staying at home and isolating to protect public health, we have learned a lot about the importance of human connection and the many things we take for granted.

As an environmental advocacy organization, we recognize how deeply connected basic human protections like clean air, clean water, and having a healthy and safe place to live are to our ability to protect and restore Washington’s environment. And, this pandemic has made clear the need for more coordinated and structural support for all Washingtonians.

Today, thousands of youth aged 12-24 are homeless or are in unstable housing here in Washington. Youth of color, LGBTQ youth, and young people exiting foster care experience homelessness at much higher rates than the rest of the youth population. During these hard times, it is unacceptable for any young person – let alone thousands – to struggle to meet basic needs like safe housing, internet access, and access to soap and supplies for hygiene.

That’s why we’re asking you to join us in supporting the Washington State Student and Youth Homelessness COVID-19 Response Fund through Building Changes.

The immediate impacts of the public health crisis we are in right now are only exacerbated by the pollution and climate change we are experiencing long term. And, just as we must center the frontline communities in our work to address the climate crisis, we must also ensure that these young people and others most vulnerable are front and center in the response to this pandemic.

100% of the funds received will be used to support organizations and the young people that they serve. Financial support from the Response Fund will provide essential needs like hotel/motel rooms, or internet access to do schoolwork and connect with people safely, and ensure soap and cleaning supplies are available to meet basic public health guidelines.

Please support the Washington State Student and Youth Homelessness COVID-19 Response Fund through Building Changes.

This week marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and it’s a time to take action for all Washingtonians working for a better future.

Thank you and take good care,

Darcy Nonemacher 
Government Affairs Director

Image by Building Changes

WEC’s Membership Drive ends at Midnight! Choose to have your gift matched and make a positive impact on Washington’s environment by joining for $5 now!

You and I both know there are pressing threats facing Washington that we need to tackle in equitable ways. Because we know that we won’t be successful unless we also keep an eye on the future and try to build a better Washington for tomorrow today.

Our communities need clean air and water now AND we also need to address climate pollution for the long term. Our state relies on forestry as an economic driver today AND we also need to keep our forests strong and healthy well into the future. We must stop new fossil fuel terminals AND we also need to make sure we have clean fuels to power our state years from now.

Your membership contribution of $5 or more today will help us to achieve our short and long term goals.

We are more powerful together and you can join for $5 today. Your gift will have double the impact for Washington’s environment.

Thank you,

Alyssa

Alyssa Macy
CEO

Harvey,

Washington Environmental Council has been working for years with the City of Ilwaco, and we are thrilled that earlier this year the City’s Community Forest project received critical funding from the US Forest Service''s Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Grant Program. As one of 10 projects on this year’s list, funds for Ilwaco’s Bear Ridge Community Forest will help to protect the City''s vital water reservoir and drinking water in perpetuity, while providing new opportunities for outdoor education and recreation-based economic development in Southwest Washington.

Protecting clean water, ensuring all Washingtonians have safe access to the outdoors, and supporting the sustainable management of forestlands is at the core of our Evergreen Forests program work. And through the Bear Ridge Community Forest project, we are continuing to work in partnership to deliver benefits for the environment, economy, ecosystem, and community’s health.

Community Forests are working forests owned and managed by municipalities, government agencies, Tribes, and non-profit organizations for the benefit of local communities. Across Washington, Community Forests are delivering the triple-bottom line for communities: social, ecological, and economic benefits.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is awarding $4 million to fund 10 Community Forest projects across seven states, supporting the creation, expansion, and enhancement of community spaces. And, grant awardees, like Ilwaco’s Bear Ridge, will collectively leverage an additional $8 million in matching funds. 

Whether it’s in Ilwaco, Chewelah, Chimacum, Nisqually, or Glenwood, we know these investments pay off for Washington''s communities. You can learn more about our past successes with Community Forest projects, and how they come to life and deliver benefits by visiting our website here.

Onward,

Max Webster
Evergreen Forests Program Manager

Harvey,

We hope that this message finds you well and safe. The COVID-19 pandemic we are living through has only exposed and deepened the inequalities of our society and economy. We know we need to fight together now for a better Washington and a better world.

We are continuing WEC weekly solidarity actions this week by inviting you to join our partners at Got Green for their weekly action series. Got Green is a low income and people of color-led organization based in South Seattle, but they are advocating for issues that affect communities across the state. 

Please join their ongoing Emergency Justice Community Education and Action series today.

Emergency Justice
What: Got Green''s Online Education & Action Series
When: Wednesdays from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
RSVP: Register here in advance
Accessibility: Spanish interpretation and closed captions available
Información en Español sobre el Evento

COVID-19 has left many communities across our state unable to pay for basic needs. In a state that already had a rising cost of living, especially housing, that’s left thousands of us vulnerable. This crisis has made it abundantly clear that housing is an essential part of keeping people healthy and safe. Building a sustainable future means we need affordable places to live for every community. Remaining in solidarity and supporting each other now helps us build the future we want to see after this crisis.

Thank you for all you do, and we hope you’re staying healthy and safe.

Melia Paguirigan
Water and Shorelines Policy Manager

Harvey,

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting almost every aspect of our community, including the U.S. Census. We wanted to make sure that you have all the information you need to be counted in the 2020 Census.

The Census is conducted only once every decade and the results are used to determine political representation and funding for community services and our most critical environmental and health programs for the entire country. Especially in these uncertain times, it is critical that everyone is counted and communities can access these critical services.  

Make sure you are counted: Complete the 2020 Census today!

To complete the Census you will need your 12-digit Census ID that was already mailed to you and access to a phone, computer, or mail. Due to COVID-19 you will now have until August 14th to complete the Census on your own, but completing it as soon as you can will reduce the need for Census workers and other groups to follow up with you. Nearly 25% of Washingtonian households have already completed the Census but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure everyone is counted and limit the need for in-person follow ups and support.

Complete your household’s Census and share this with your community to ensure every Washingtonian counts.

Remember, you fill out the Census by household so make sure to count everyone living in your house! If you have questions about filling out the 2020 Census, you can find numbers to call on the U.S. Census website here.

Thanks for all you do,

Emily Krieger
Civic Engagement Manager

For farmworkers in Washington state, work and daily living were already dangerous and difficult before the coronavirus pandemic. Despite Governor Inslee’s declaration that farmworkers are essential, many large corporate farms are not providing adequate social distancing and sanitizing practices.

Disasters like COVID-19 reveal the inequities in our communities, exposing decades of environmental racism and injustice that have left communities suffering and vulnerable. As we continue to advocate for policies that tackle climate change, clean up toxic pollution, and restore our forests and shared waters, our environmental work must also model what effective equitable community response looks like in a time of crisis.

Email Governor Inslee today and ask that he:

• Ensure all COVID-19 protocols are enforced and being followed by major agriculture companies and farms, including social distancing guidelines, personal protective gear, and providing sick leave.
• Require transparent recruitment and hiring information and housing protections for all farmworkers related to COVID-19.
• Ensure clean operations and equipment for farmworkers.

As our climate changes, we need to be prepared for the worsening effects of pollution. How we respond to this crisis today will be part of the blueprint for the future. We must fight together and ensure all Washington communities are protected no matter who they are or where they live.

Thanks for all you do,

Rebecca Ponzio
Climate and Fossil Fuel Program Director

Harvey,

We’re looking forward to connecting with you during WEC’s virtual Gala this weekend!

This won’t be a live-streamed event. All you need to do is hop on our Gala platform to support WEC, hear from former CEO Joan Crooks, meet our new CEO Alyssa Macy, and learn a little more about our work. The event website will go “live” early Saturday morning, April 4th, and be available through Tuesday, April 7th.

A few highlights:

• Auction items ranging in fair market value from $25 to $1,500!
  • Bags from Patagonia, Kavu, and Timbuk2 filled with gift cards and goodies
  • A Family Fun Package featuring Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Art Museum, Seafair, and Argosy Cruise items
  • Getaways to the Oregon Coast, Napa Valley, Victoria, the San Juan Islands, and more!
  • To bid on auction items, you’ll need to register here.
• A $50,000 challenge!
  • Thanks to our Board of Directors and a generous group of donors, we have a $50,000 challenge to meet. All first-time donations to WEC, and gifts at the $150 and $1,500 level, will be matched until our challenge is met. Please refer to our FAQ page for more details.
• We’ll send you an email with a link to the virtual Gala site early Saturday morning.

Please help us spread the word with your community across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

As we all reshuffle our daily lives to protect the health and safety of our families and communities, WEC remains committed to the critical work of advocating for Washington’s environment and protecting the natural resources that sustain us all. Thank you for standing with us on this journey as we fight for healthy communities across Washington state.

Hope to "see" you this weekend,

Tina Montgomery
Business Relations and Events Manager

Harvey,

Washington Environmental Council’s Virtual Gala is now “live”!

Please join us to support WEC, hear from former CEO Joan Crooks, meet our new CEO Alyssa Macy, and learn a little bit more about our work. Our virtual Gala will stay “live” through Tuesday, April 7th.

Bid on auction items! There is a wide range of items to bid on priced from $25 and up.

• Bags from Patagonia, Timbuk2, Filson, Outdoor Reserach, and United by Blue
• Need a night out with your special someone? Check out our Date Series package
• A Chanterelle Mushroom hunting experience on Kitsap Peninsula
• Getaways to the Oregon Coast, Napa Valley, Victoria, Methow Valley, Lopez Island, & more

Help us raise $200,000!

The Gala is WEC’s largest fundraising event of the year and our goal is to raise $200,000. To help get us there, our Board of Directors and a generous group of donors, put together $50,000 challenge to meet. All first-time donations to WEC, and gifts at the $150 and $1,500 level will be matched until our challenge is met. Gifts at all levels – big and small – are welcome. Raise your paddle for WEC!

Please help us spread the word with your community across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

We appreciate your support of WEC’s critical work of advocating for Washington’s environment and protecting the natural resources that sustain us all. It means a lot to know that you are standing with us on our collective journey to fight for healthy communities across Washington state.

Kathy Malley

Development Director

Washington state is no stranger to these injustices. The Northwest Detention Center is located in the Tacoma Tideflats, a heavily and dangerously polluted area that is deemed unfit for residents. The Detention Center sits adjacent to a federal Superfund site where a coal and gasification plant leaked toxic sludge into the soil for three decades.

Our advocacy and community outreach intern, Brad Blackburn, wrote about the connections between prisons and environmental justice. Read more in Brad’s blog piece here.

In addition to prisons being built near highly toxic Superfund sites, the U.S. also has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with many for-profit prisons receiving funding based on the number of beds that are filled. In this country, 1 in 3 Black men will be arrested at least once in their lifetime and 1 in 6 Latino men will be arrested in their lifetime, while the statistic for white men is 1 in 17 (3).

The environmental injustices directly harming low-income communities and communities of color are also harming disproportionately-imprisoned Black and Brown people. And the racist and exploitative systems that allow for these injustices in our prisons are the same extractive systems that treat our natural world as resources to plunder.

Read more about the intersection of incarceration and environmental justice in this blog piece on our website.

We know that without racial justice there is no environmental justice, and it is crucial as we continue our environmental work to learn more about, study, and share the intersections of injustices.

Thank you for learning and evolving with us, 

Dre Say
Field Organizer

Photo by Brad Blackburn 

Sources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114843/
2. https://eji.org/news/investigation-reveals-environmental-dangers-in-toxic-prisons/
3. https://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Race-and-Justice-Shadow-Report-ICCPR.pdf

WEC’s March Membership Drive starts today, become a member for $5 and help us to achieve our mission. With your support we can reach our goal of 125 new or renewing members.

WEC is advancing policies that will deliver progress for Washington’s environment. We can’t do it alone though—we need you.

Your donation will support our staff who are down in Olympia representing your values before legislative session ends and it will support our staff as we implement new laws after legislative session is over.

We can get a lot done this year, but it depends on the level of support we receive from members like you. Together we can defend the progress we have made and go even farther to protect the environment and our communities.

Your membership contribution will make an impact by helping us get over the finish line. Become a member today for $5 and join thousands of other Washingtonians who care about the future of our state!

From our economy, to public safety, to the health of our land and waterways, to the survival of our resident Orca whales, we have a chance to make a difference this year. I hope we can count on your support. Your membership contribution now will have an impact today and well into the future.

Best,

Kathy

Kathy Malley
Development Director

Harvey,

One thing we know for sure – we need to continue to invest and uplift youth leadership so that they can carry forth our movement and have the power and tools necessary to solve environmental challenges that impact all of us. 

I’m thrilled to announce that our friend, Emily Martin, a youth climate leader, will be speaking at WEC’s Gala on April 4th. We met Emily and Our Climate on the 1631 campaign and have continued to find ways to partner and collaborate together. We are so excited for Emily to talk about why youth are so important in this movement.

We hope that you will join us in honoring WEC’s former CEO Joan Crooks’ contributions to the environmental movement, celebrating our successes, and charting our collective path forward in this new decade. Together, we can make an impact. 

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2020
Time: 6 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Washington State Convention Center, Ballroom 6E
Cost: Single tickets - $150, Tables of 10 - $1,500

The event will start at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception – chat with friends, make new ones, enjoy appetizers, purchase a Mystery Bag, or bid on a premium silent auction item. We will have a program with guest speakers starting at 7:30 p.m., with dinner and dessert to follow.

If you have any questions regarding the event or registration, please contact Tina at tina@wecprotects.org or (206) 631-2608.

We appreciate the countless ways you have taken action, volunteered, rallied, and donated – and we hope you will join us in celebrating this incredible movement that we are growing together. I look forward to meeting you on April 4th!

See you there,

Alyssa Macy
CEO

Harvey,

This is your last chance to become a member for $5 during WEC’s Summer Membership Drive and have your gift matched.

Whether it is climate change, protecting the air and water our communities rely on, changing the way we manage our forests, or taking on the fossil fuel industry, WEC is ready to tackle the toughest challenges facing Washington’s environment.

And we can only do that because of the members like you who support our work.

I hope you will join us before midnight so that we can tackle these challenges together.

Become a member for $5 (and have it doubled) before time runs out.

Thank you,

Lisa

Lisa Remlinger
Chief Policy Officer

WEC’s Membership Drive ends at Midnight! Choose to have your gift matched and make a positive impact on Washington’s environment by joining for $5 now!

You and I both know there are pressing threats facing Washington that we need to tackle in equitable ways. Because we know that we won’t be successful unless we also keep an eye on the future and try to build a better Washington for tomorrow today.

Our communities need clean air and water now AND we also need to address climate pollution for the long term. Our state relies on forestry as an economic driver today AND we also need to keep our forests strong and healthy well into the future. We must stop new fossil fuel terminals AND we also need to make sure we have clean fuels to power our state years from now.

Your membership contribution of $5 or more today will help us to achieve our short and long term goals.

We are more powerful together and you can join for $5 today. Your gift will have double the impact for Washington’s environment.

Thank you,

Alyssa

Alyssa Macy
CEO

Harvey,

The Washington State Department of Ecology is working on implementing the law and recently published a draft report identifying the consumer products they plan to consider regulatory actions for.

We need your help letting Ecology know that they must look at a comprehensive list of consumer products, not just a select few.

When it comes to toxic chemicals, one thing is clear: many of the same toxic chemicals that can harm humans, especially kids, communities of color, and low-income populations, can also impact the health of orcas, their young, and their food sources.

Ecology’s proposed list of consumer products is a great start, but we believe there are still products missing from the list. All consumer products that expose us to the five toxic chemicals should be evaluated, including printing inks, carpet, food cans, laundry detergent, receipt paper, vinyl flooring, and fragrances in personal care and beauty products.

We need to make sure that Ecology addresses all consumer products with high risk of exposures to humans and orcas. Your voice will help reiterate the need to prevent toxic pollution from getting into our food, water, and orcas in the first place.

Onward,

Michelle Chow
Stormwater and Toxics Policy Manager

When you become a member in the next 48 hours your contribution will be
TRIPLE-MATCHED!

Harvey,

For the next 48 hours of our membership drive we have a triple match!

A $5 membership contribution becomes $15 or $50 becomes $150. That is three times the impact for supporting environmental protections and moving forward environmental progress in 2020.

We have to keep building and for that we need your help.

We need to keep working to tackle the climate crisis and invest in a clean energy future. We have to reduce toxic stormwater runoff, protect shoreline habitat, restore our waterways. We must support community forests, carbon projects, and other innovative ways to manage Washington’s forests and benefit communities. And we’ve got to keep out-of-state polluters who will dirty our air and water from setting up shop in Washington.

With your help we can do all of this and more. We’re going to keep pushing to protect clean air and water, and a future with a healthy environment for everyone in Washington. That starts with you.

Your membership will be TRIPLE-MATCHED and go toward making environmental progress now. Join now before our triple match ends tomorrow at midnight!

There is no better time than now to become a member with the triple-match opportunity that we have over the next 48 hours. Your membership contribution today will go three times as far to protect our environment and communities.

Thank you,

Kathy

Kathy Malley
Development Director

Harvey,

My name is Ally, and I work on the WEC field team as a Spring intern. I graduated from the University of Washington a few weeks ago with a degree in Conservation Biology, which I chose for its intersections between policy and science. As an avid backpacker and tide-pooler, I had always been passionate about the natural world and wanted to find out how to protect it. But despite my optimism, I soon learned that the passage of environmental policies is much more complicated than simply listening to climate scientists.

One of my greatest realizations in college was that organization, tactical planning, and good storytelling are key to creating change. I became involved in grassroots organizing and began to see how the voice of the people impacts policy. I’m honored to work as an intern on the field team for WEC, where our job is to connect with folks like you across the state and let you know how much your voice really matters.   

Please join us in partnership with youth climate activists in Washington state on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day for a massive three-day digital climate strike.

Day 1, Wednesday, April 22: Earth Day!

• WA Youth Climate Strike is hosting a series of one-hour trainings from 10 am - 4 pm.
• Sunrise Tacoma is hosting three livestreamed Power Hour webinars from 3-6 pm focusing on the ways that the Green New Deal would bring about environmental, social, and economic justice.
• U.S. Climate Strike is hosting Earth Day Live, a three-day livestream (April 22-24) that will include speakers, musical performances, and digital actions.

Day 2, Thursday, April 23: Stop the Money Pipeline Day of Action

• U.S. Climate Strike is hosting a Stop the Money Pipeline Day of Action as part of Earth Day Live.  Led by the Stop the Money Pipeline Coalition, the goal is to reprogram the economy so that it works for people and the planet, not polluters.
• WA Youth Climate Strike is hosting three one-hour webinars from 10 am – 1 pm focused on divestment.

Day 3, Friday, April 24: Day of Political Action and Voter Engagement

• The famous young activist Greta Thunberg has asked Fridays for Future strikers around the world to use #ClimateStrikeOnline during the pandemic.  
• U.S. Climate Strike is hosting a Day of Political Action and Voter Engagement.
• WA Youth Climate Strike is hosting three one-hour webinars from 10 am – 1 pm around political action.

This toolkit contains more detailed information about the events happening during Earth Week and how you can be involved.

Digital actions allow this movement to be more accessible than ever before. We have an opportunity to come together as a state, learn from the experts and youth who have partnered for these events, and find inspiration to build a better future.

The current pandemic has been a challenge, but I am inspired by the resilient online community of youth climate activists. The pandemic has only strengthened their determination to fight for a secure, just future. Middle schoolers and high schoolers are dedicating hours to this movement each week, and their optimism is truly contagious.

Thanks for all you do,

Ally Arnold
Spring 2020 Field Intern

Join us to learn more about raingardens and how you can help protect Puget Sound from home. We’ll provide information on the benefits of raingardens, how to find rain gardens and other forms of green infrastructure during your afternoon walks, and how you can build and finance a raingarden while you’re stuck at home. 

What: Raingardens for People, Salmon, and Orcas: A #WeArePugetSound Web Event
When: Thursday, April 30, at 12 p.m.
Who: Mindy Roberts of Washington Environmental Council, Zsofia Pasztor of Farmer Frog and author of Rain Gardens for the Pacific Northwest, and Aaron Clark of Stewardship Partners
Please register to get event access
Sponsored by Braided River, Washington Environmental Council, Stewardship Partners, and Farmer Frog

Launched by WEC and Braided River, We Are Puget Sound is a book and campaign that connects people and place through shared actions that build collective solutions for a healthy Salish Sea for people, wildlife, and the environment. 

Installing raingardens that treat polluted runoff is key to a healthy Puget Sound and cleaner water for all. And they are great ways for all of us to do our part for orcas and salmon, and our neighborhoods. 

As you think about your next home improvement project, consider installing a raingarden. The benefits of raingardens extend far beyond your own home and provide cleaner water for your entire community. If installing a raingarden isn’t an option, explore raingardens in your neighborhood or check out our interactive resources to teach your family about their benefits.

To learn more, attend the virtual event from the comfort of your home: Raingardens for People, Salmon, and Orcas: A #WeArePugetSound Web Event.

Thanks for all you do,

Michelle Chow
Stormwater and Toxics Policy Manager

Friend of Washington''s Environment,

The crises we face are deeply intertwined — we know firsthand that the solutions we need to recover from the health and economic impacts of COVID-19 will also advance climate resilience. Now is the time for bold action that stabilizes not just our economy, but our environment and our future.

That''s why WEC, alongside the Climate Alliance, a broad climate coalition of labor unions, environmental organizations, community of color based organizations, faith communities, health professionals, and businesses, are calling on our state legislators to support the Resilient Future Platform. We need to call on our leaders to enact bold relief and recovery policies that set us on a path toward a just and sustainable future for generations to come — can you take a moment and repost these social media posts (Twitter or Facebook) in support of the Resilient Future platform? Make sure to tag your legislators!

Climate Alliance 2021 Legislative Policy Priorities: 

• Pass the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act to make sure our most impacted communities have a voice at the decision-making table and a healthy future for generations to come. 

• Invest in a clean and just transportation system that is efficient, affordable, creates living-wage jobs, cleans our air, and ensures a sustainable climate. 

• Update the Washington Growth Management Act to make sure we address climate change, affordable housing, and environmental justice in our state’s land use planning.

• Pass progressive funding that drives down pollution and supports climate-resilient investments.

• Pass an equitable carbon pricing policy that reduces pollution and supports the just transition of workers and communities away from a harmful fossil fuel economy and into a clean and resilient future.

• Create a state public bank to make sure our tax dollars stay in Washington and invest in our communities, not lining the pockets of Wall Street’s fossil fuel financiers. 

• Re-prioritize our state budget away from extractive and exploitative practices that criminalize, incarcerate and harm the health of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities and instead invest in the equitable distribution of sustainable investments in climate resiliency and the health and safety of BIPOC communities. 

• Invest in the immediate and long-term relief that directly supports communities hit hardest by the health, environmental, and economic crisis. 

• Pass the Buy Clean and Buy Fair Washington Act and enact clean and just state public purchasing and contracting that centers good job creation, equity, and the environment to ensure that every dollar of state spending delivers public good.

We need to call on legislators to invest in critical services, create new job opportunities, and prioritize those most impacted first. Please repost these social media posts (Twitter or Facebook) in support of the Resilient Future campaign, and don''t forget to tag your legislators! With people power, we know that Washington State can lead an equitable and just transition into a resilient future. 

Onward, 

Kat Holmes
Field Director

WEC’s Summer Membership Drive starts today! Become a member for only $5 before July 1st and have your gift matched.

And with your help, we can make a difference.

Become a WEC member today for $5 and have it doubled. Your support will help us tackle these challenges and build an environmental movement that can create a better future for Washington.

You’ve stood with us to reduce climate pollution, stop new and expanded fossil fuel terminals in our state, protect our forests, clean up our waterways, and prevent the Trump administration from rolling back environmental protections.

With your support we’ve had amazing wins the last few years: we’re transitioning our state to 100% clean electricity, protecting habitat that will support salmon and be vital for orca recovery, requiring Big Oil and other polluters to pay their fair share to clean up toxic sites, and much more.

These are big wins but we still need to do the work to make sure these policies are implemented correctly. And we know as a state we still need to go further – we need to keep focused on protecting our land, air, and water for every Washingtonian and keep making progress. And we can only do that with your continued support.

Your membership support will go toward crafting smart solutions to the problems facing Washington’s environment.

To accomplish big things for the environment and continue to be successful, we need a strong membership base. You can be a part of that.

I am grateful that you have been a part of our work and I hope that with the threats we are facing you will become a member today for $5 so together we can build a healthier future for our state and communities.

Thank you,

Lisa

Lisa Remlinger
Chief Policy Officer

Never have the American people valued their parks, trails, forests and waters more, turning to them for emotional solace and physical activity in this time of isolation and anxiety. The pandemic has shown clearly that many communities are woefully underserved and don’t have safe, easy access to green spaces close to home. Public land investments made through the Great American Outdoors Act will help address these needs.

The House is likely to vote this month. Urge our Representatives to pass the GAOA cleanly, with no amendments, to ensure critical funding for public lands!

The Great American Outdoors Act takes major strides to improve outdoor access, permanently dedicating full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund to the tune of $900 million each year, and providing billions of dollars to address the immense maintenance backlogs in our national parks and other public lands.

Strong investments to increase and improve access to parks, trails, and other outdoor spaces help support local urban and rural communities throughout Washington and across the country, especially as we work to keep each other and ourselves safe and healthy through this pandemic.

Thanks for all you do,

Sally Paul
Evergreen Forests Program Associate

Harvey,

Washington is home to dozens of federally-listed endangered and threatened species, and even more that are protected by the state.

Today is Endangered Species Day — a day to raise awareness about the Endangered Species Act and the many fish, wildlife, and plant species it aims to sustain and recover, in our state and across the country.

We know that a healthy environment supports healthy species, and the importance of sharing that message with our friends, neighbors, and leaders. Every day here at WEC, we work to protect endangered species such as orcas, marbled murrelets, and salmon – and we recognize that the same actions benefit people as well.

Watch and share this video about some of Washington’s protected species and the ecosystems they rely on.

At a time when the federal government is weakening landmark environmental protections like the Endangered Species Act and the climate crisis continues to unfold, it is critically important to keep fighting to secure the future of these species and our environment.

This Endangered Species Day, like and share this video to spread the word about these protected species!

Thanks for all you do,

Sally Paul
Evergreen Forests Program Associate

Harvey,

The Trump administration issued an executive memorandum seeking to exclude undocumented people from the 2020 congressional redistricting process. Now, the Census Bureau is cutting short critical door-knocking efforts for the 2020 Census.

This means that even though the most difficult Census work lies ahead, the Census Bureau doesn’t have the time it needs, and the historic undercount of harder-to-reach populations — rural communities, low-income households, communities of color, Tribal communities, immigrant communities, and young children — will get worse.

The coronavirus pandemic has already disrupted every 2020 Census operation. The administration’s new proposal to rush major Census operations would throw the complex Census contingency plan into turmoil, confusing local officials, partner organizations, and the public across the country. We must give all communities and Census workers the time needed to produce a complete count. 

Every state and every community will be harmed by the administration''s directive to rush the Census, inevitably resulting in an unfinished count. A poorly executed Census would hurt rural and urban communities, leaving them underrepresented in Congress and cutting their federal funding for Medicaid, economic development, environmental programs, childcare, schools, road and public transit improvements, home heating assistance for senior citizens, and many more vital services.

Here''s what you can do: 

1. Make sure you are counted: Complete the 2020 Census today and then text 3 of your friends to make sure they complete the Census, too. 
2. Call your Senator and urge them to vote to extend the statutory deadlines for reporting apportionment and redistricting data from the 2020 Census. 
3. Share on Facebook to remind your network about the 2020 Census.

To complete the Census you will need your 12-digit Census ID that was already mailed to you and access to a phone, computer, or mail. Due to COVID-19, you will now have until August 14 to complete the Census on your own, but completing it as soon as you can will reduce the need for Census workers and other groups to follow up with you. Over half of Washingtonian households have already completed the Census but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure everyone is counted and limit the need for in-person follow-ups and support.

Remember, you fill out the Census by household so make sure to count everyone living in your house! If you have questions about filling out the 2020 Census, you can find numbers to call, for multiple languages, on the U.S. Census website here.

Thanks for all you do,

Lennon Bronsema
Civic Engagement Director

A generous donor has offered a $15,000 match during GiveBIG this year to support our important environmental work. GiveBIG today and help us meet this match!

Our members have always stepped up when we needed them to help protect Washington’s environment. And your support is critical right now.

GiveBIG to support WEC today and have your gift doubled by a generous donor.

As COVID-19 is effecting people across the state it has highlighted many of the existing inequities in Washington. And the same people who are being disadvantaged by the impacts of COVID-19 are those who are often hardest hit by the effects of climate change and pollution.

Protecting the health of our communities is vital right now but it won’t end once COVID-19 has been tackled.

We are living through a strange time but you and I both know that we need to continue to address the harmful impacts of the climate crisis and pollution if we want healthy communities and an environment that can support our state.

Make a donation through GiveBIG and your donation will go twice as far.

The Trump Administration has made it clear that in the face of a public health emergency they are going to work to roll back environmental protections.

That makes our work in Washington state even more important as we work for cleaner air and water, and a better future for all Washingtonians. 

Your support today can help WEC and our state as we come together to create a healthier Washington.

Thank you,

Griffin

Griffin Smith
Development Manager

Harvey,

As we all adjust to the new normal of staying in, social distancing, and using digital tools in new and different ways, WEC is adjusting our 2020 Gala as well. I hope you will join us virtually and support WEC’s efforts to fight for our land, air, water, and a healthy future for all Washingtonians.

We’ll launch our Virtual Gala page on Saturday morning, April 4th, and the Virtual Gala fundraising campaign will conclude on Tuesday night, April 7th.

Watch a few short videos. Meet our new CEO Alyssa Macy, and hear from our former CEO Joan Crooks and other folks who support WEC.

Raise your paddle the virtual way. Your gift during WEC’s biggest fundraising event of the year will directly support our year-round policy, advocacy, and civic engagement work so we can fight for clean air, clean water, sustainable forests, and healthy communities.

Bid on an online auction item or two. Here are just a few of the many exciting auction packages:

WEC remains committed to protecting the natural resources that sustain us all. As we reshuffle our daily life to protect the health and safety of our families and communities, we also continue the critical work advocating for Washington’s environment. The bar remains high for what we must achieve to address climate pollution, prepare for its impacts, clean up Puget Sound, fight for sustainable forest management, and stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in our state.

I look forward to joining you online on Saturday, April 4th, from the comfort of your own home, for a short and sweet evening of community – something we all need during this time!

Onward,  

Tina Montgomery
Business Relations and Events Manager

Healthy Communities + a Healthy Environment

Washington’s legislative session ends on March 12 and we want to ensure legislators take bold action on climate now. We are championing a critical piece of legislation forward: the Clean Air Act Authority bill. You’ve probably asked yourself, “How can I make a difference and take meaningful action to address the climate crisis?” Here’s how! Contact your legislator and ask them to pass the Clean Air Act Authority bill. Communities across Washington are suffering from dirty air and all the health impacts that come with climate pollution. We cannot delay action. Washington’s Clean Air Act was passed in 1967 and is in need of an update. The Clean Air Act Authority bill will help us update our state’s Clean Air Act and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for the pollution they create and the harm they cause.

Fighting Together in Olympia

We’re proud to be one of the nearly 25 statewide organizations in the Environmental Priorities Coalition working to safeguard our environment and the health of our communities in the Legislature. As part of the coalition, we’re supporting the Partnership Agenda that includes legislation focused on voting justice, healthcare, and safe train practices. Can you help push forward the bills that are still alive? Take action to support youth voting for 17 year olds that would be 18 by the General Election, modernizing the redistricting process, and establishing minimum crew sizes for trains carrying oil and other hazardous materials.

Harvey,

Welcome to the last day of WEC’s first-ever Virtual Gala! Be sure to tune in today if you haven’t had a chance yet.

There is still some money left in our challenge fund, so today we’re matching donations of all sizes, until the challenge is gone. Hurry – this won’t last long! Our virtual paddle raise will be open until 11:59PM and, with your help, we can end strong and have the resources needed to power our advocacy work during these uncertain times.
Please donate today.

Together, we have defeated 10 massive oil and coal terminals, passed the most equitable 100% clean electricity law in the nation, and protected millions of acres of habitat and forestland across the state! We hope you''ll come together with us once more to accomplish this goal of raising $200,000 to power WEC’s year-round policy, advocacy, and civic engagement work so we can fight for clean air, clean water, sustainable forests, and healthy communities for all Washingtonians.

Bid on exciting auction items starting at $25 and up!The auction will close at 6pm TODAY.

Please help us spread the word with your community across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Thank you for joining our virtual gala! We greatly appreciate your support of WEC’s work.

Tina Montgomery
Business Relations and Events Manager 
 

Harvey,

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting almost every aspect of our community, including the U.S. Census. We wanted to make sure that you have all the information you need to be counted in the 2020 Census.

The Census is conducted only once every decade and the results are used to determine political representation and funding for community services and our most critical environmental and health programs for the entire country. Especially in these uncertain times, it is critical that everyone is counted and communities can access these critical services.  

Make sure you are counted: Complete the 2020 Census today!

To complete the Census you will need your 12-digit Census ID that was already mailed to you and access to a phone, computer, or mail. Due to COVID-19 you will now have until August 14th to complete the Census on your own, but completing it as soon as you can will reduce the need for Census workers and other groups to follow up with you. Over half of Washingtonian households have already completed the Census but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure everyone is counted and limit the need for in-person follow ups and support.

Complete your household’s Census and share this with your community to ensure every Washingtonian counts.

Remember, you fill out the Census by household so make sure to count everyone living in your house! If you have questions about filling out the 2020 Census, you can find numbers to call on the U.S. Census website here.

Thanks for all you do,

Emily Krieger
Civic Engagement Manager

GiveBIG starts today! Help us reach our match of $15,000 by making a gift and supporting Washington’s environment!

Your gift today will be matched and help us tackle goals that will make Washington better, protect the health of Washingtonians and the environment we cherish.

Your gift today will help us:

• Address the climate crisis and invest in a clean energy future. Working together we can have a future where we’re addressing the impacts of climate change while reducing climate pollution.
• Create a healthy Puget Sound, by reducing toxic stormwater runoff, protecting shoreline habitat, and safeguarding the ecosystems that orcas and salmon call home.
• Move 1 million acres of commercially harvested forests to models of sustainable forestry by supporting community forests, carbon projects, and other incentives that help landowners manage their forests sustainably.
• Keep Big Polluters out of our communities. We’ve been winning against out of state polluters for years but we know Big Polluters are always looking to add Washington to their fossil fuel highway.

These are BIG goals and GiveBIG is your chance to pitch in.

We are more powerful together and your gift is more powerful when it is matched. Your gift today will make an impact for Washington’s environment.

Thank you,

Alyssa

Alyssa Macy
CEO

Harvey,

Across Washington state, protestors are joining millions across the country to call for justice for victims of police violence, to defend Black lives, and to put an end to destructive institutionalized white supremacy in all of its forms.

Those calls have centered on two major demands:

1. Defund the Police
2. Invest in Black Communities

WEC supports these demands and those calling for these structural changes. The right to peacefully protest and call for change is protected by the U.S. Constitution and deeply embedded in our work to protect our environment. Without an open and fair democracy, we will never build the cleaner, healthier future we want to see.

Join us in signing the petition created by Movement for Black Lives.

As our country takes an honest look at our racist history, we as an organization need to be honest about our own action and inaction. WEC has not always been the ally Black communities needed us to be. We have not always spoken quickly or often enough. But our first task is listening to calls from those communities who are most impacted. We join them now in their calls to defund the police and reinvest in Black communities.

Police violence against Black Americans is just one of the most visible symptoms of a system of oppression that exploits Black communities. Climate change and runaway toxic pollution in our air and water rely on "sacrifice zones," places where polluters have intentionally dumped the worst impacts of a fossil fuel economy on Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. These enormous impacts require we have people who are considered disposable, a mindset permitted by systemic racism.

The racist and exploitative systems that allow for these injustices to flourish are the same extractive systems that treat our natural world as resources to plunder. We all need to see ourselves in this struggle and recognize that, to achieve our environmental goals and build a resilient future, we must dismantle these systems and fight for racial justice together.

The demands to defund the police and invest in Black communities will look different across the state as individual communities make decisions. Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities can and should decide for themselves how best to invest in and set the right policies for their community. Our state leaders need to listen to their calls. And it is our job as public advocates to listen first and lend our support.

Sign on to the Movement for Black Lives’ petition and support these demands with us.    

It should be seen as a call to action for our cities, counties, and state government to reverse the decades-long trend of spending more resources on incarceration and criminal justice than community health and wellness. WEC will be evaluating ways to leverage our political power to help make these demands a reality. Without our members we wouldn’t be here and we will make sure you are a part of this process with us.

The global coronavirus pandemic has opened our eyes to how important it is for communities to support one another. It has also revealed how hundreds of years of oppression has left so many vulnerable.

This is a time for bold action and we hope you will remain in solidarity with Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities leading the fight for justice.  

Without racial justice, there is no environmental justice.

In solidarity, 

WEC Staff

Graphic icons created by Movement for Black Lives

Harvey,

It’s Super Tuesday, a big election day for the Presidential Primary. Voters across the country will be headed to the polls today, but in Washington we vote on March 10. We vote by mail and if you are eligible and registered to vote, you should have received your ballot by now. So all you need to do is fill it out and get it in your mail or a drop box by March 10!

Once you have voted in this primary there are still a few more dates to remember. Save this graphic so you remember to get your ballot in for all the 2020 elections, and share it with your friends and family.

Didn’t receive a ballot in the mail? Contact your county auditor right away.

Is voting by mail difficult or do you need help? Find your county''s accessible voting center here.

Thanks for all you do,

Emily Krieger
Civic Engagement Manager

Harvey,

I’m so grateful for my 25 years at WEC, doing good work with good people to protect the Washington we love. With strong new leadership in place, the time is right for me to explore new ways to put my experience and skills to work for good.

I’ll be leaving WEC later this month and I make this transition with gratitude, pride, and many good memories. I’ve played roles from Office Manager to WEC President, and had the pleasure of mentoring many talented staff along the way and working together for a better future for our state and region.

I started my policy work fighting for improved management of our state and private forest lands. As our organization grew I took on new work, including kick-starting policies that would drive green building, stopping fossil fuel projects while expanding clean, efficient energy, and integrating the advocacy work of People For Puget Sound into WEC. But our policy work is only as strong as the base of people fighting for it, and it’s been an honor to help to grow our grassroots power—the kind of power that I believe is most needed because it propels transformational change.

I’m especially grateful to have been a partner in driving learning around how our movement has failed to address the structural inequality facing communities of color, Tribal Nations, and people with low incomes. And to have joined with others to begin to embrace our responsibility to advance racial and economic justice—in both policy and process. We have a long way to go, but we have started on the journey and know that success in our mission requires we stay committed.

Working with partners to create and build the Climate Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy—the kind of broad, diverse coalition that we need to overcome the climate crisis—and advancing innovative, nation-leading policy together has been the most satisfying work of my career. I’m excited too that WEC is working with partners to expand community-owned and managed forests—a tool that supports clean water and healthy habitat while creating economic benefits for rural communities. In this time of dangerously deep divisions, these examples of working together give me hope.

Our collective future will be so much better as we refuse to take the bait of powerful economic interests who pit good folks against each other, and instead do the hard work of building new solutions together. 

Thank you for your partnership, and your ongoing commitment. Wherever my new adventures take me, I will remain a supporter of the essential work of WEC and our partners at Washington Conservation Voters to build and advocate new solutions.  

I hope to see you at a march, at a public hearing, or doorbelling before long. But first, I’ll take a little time off, which will include taking a few more sailing lessons on South Lake Union, so I can safely bring a boat in without being a hazard to folks on the dock! Here’s to learning and living together in this glorious place. 

With gratitude,
Becky

Becky Kelley
WEC President 

The LWCF provides $900 million dollars of non-taxpayer funding for our public lands every year, but Congress regularly diverts much of that money. When signed into law, the GAOA will make sure this money is fully devoted to its intended use – improving and creating parks, trails, wildlife refuges, and other public outdoor spaces across the country. The GAOA also includes $9.5 billion to address the long list of maintenance needs in our national parks.

Many of our Congressional Representatives are ardent supporters of public lands and helped make sure this historic bill becomes law. Help us thank them for passing the Great American Outdoors Act!

As the pandemic continues to hurt our families, communities, and economies, we must ensure that public lands and waters can accommodate a recovering Washington and country with ample infrastructure in good, safe working condition. The Great American Outdoors Act will help invest in outdoor-related businesses, small and large, in urban and rural communities. It will help restore and create jobs, and expand access to public, close-to-home recreation opportunities as we continue to rely on the outdoors for our mental and physical health.

Thank our Reps now!

Community members, activists, and legislators have been working for decades to achieve permanent and full funding of the LWCF, to make sure this vital conservation program supports outdoor access, recreation, and community spaces for generations to come. Passage through the House is the second-to-last step. This landmark bill now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Thanks for all you do,

Sally Paul
Evergreen Forests Program Associate

Coming out of this global pandemic we are going to need a higher degree of civic engagement – and that includes more people voting to ensure our leaders in office reflect our values.

Pledge to vote and remind three friends to vote. You can receive reminders when it’s time to get your ballot in.

Across our state, 20% of Washingtonians who are eligible to vote are not registered. That means you likely know a few people who are not registered, need to update their voter registration, or who turned 16 or 17 recently and are now eligible to pre-register.

With the Primary Election coming up in August and the General Election in November, there’s still time to ensure your friends and family can have their voice heard. Here’s everything you need to know about registering voters remotely and pledging to vote yourself.

Thank you for being an active voter and engaging in our democracy during these critical times.

Onward,

Emily Krieger
Civic Engagement Manager

I know the urge to head to your favorite trail right away is a strong pull, but crowded parks lead to closed parks. If too many people are out on a single trail it may be shut down for even longer. Try to find a less trafficked area close to home that you may have never tried before, where you can both socially distance and recreate safely. Not all public lands and trails are open yet, so make sure to check before you go.

Here is a helpful guide from our friends at Washington Trails Association for ways to stay safe and prepared if you head outside this weekend.

It’s also important to remember that not all of our neighbors can go outside right now. Many live in areas without adequate funding for parks and trails, don’t have access to transportation, or cannot risk their family’s health. This is a great time to check up on friends and neighbors who you know won’t be outside and make sure they know that even though we can’t be together, they aren’t alone.

Times like these remind us why we fight so hard to protect the lands we all share. Be thoughtful, stay safe, and remember we are all in this together.

Thanks for all you do,

Sally Paul
Evergreen Forests Program Associate

Harvey,

Today, May 10, marks the second anniversary of the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone, which is a common sense solution that requires all vessels to store sewage onboard and use pump out stations around the Sound where sewage can be properly treated. Thousands of you sent in letters of support in multiple rounds of public comment at the Department of Ecology and at the Environmental Protection Agency. While we are celebrating your work to recover the Salish Sea, unfortunately there is a sneaky effort underway to repeal the No Discharge Zone designation for Puget Sound.

For more than seven years, the American Waterways Operators (AWO), on behalf of American Cruise Lines, Foss Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corporation, and others, fought tooth and nail to oppose common-sense measures to keep the Salish Sea clean and free of partially treated wastewater. AWO lobbies nationally for the U.S. tugboat, towboat, and barge industry that bills itself as the "most environmentally friendly...mode of freight transportation."

However, for the past several years, AWO has spent considerable effort in Washington, D.C., to undermine the No Discharge Zone, repeatedly meeting behind closed doors with Trump’s EPA. AWO filed a lawsuit against EPA in December 2018 to repeal the designation, and we expected Trump’s EPA to simply agree and let it lapse. WEC and our partners, represented by Earthjustice, intervened to stop AWO and EPA, and we were joined by the Attorney General’s office on behalf of the Department of Ecology.

Recently, Trump’s EPA filed a motion in federal court asking a judge to allow them to rethink the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone – a breach in public trust even worse than AWO’s attempt to undermine environmental protections. This action continues a long list of Trump’s environmental rollbacks at the request of industry that undermine basic public health protections.

Take action: EPA needs to hear from Washingtonians to stop AWO’s attempt to repeal this clean water rule that you and thousands of others support.

Puget Sound residents have strongly expressed their support for a No Discharge Zone. We know that it is important that all vessels do their part to keep our waters clean. We know the maritime community values Puget Sound, with many already doing the right thing, and we’re confident that the remaining vessels that don’t have proper holding tanks onboard will do so to protect their neighbors.

This simple and common-sense approach will protect public health, keep our waters clean, protect sensitive marine waters, and support important shellfish harvesting areas.

Puget Sound, a national treasure, needs this type of protection and should not be treated like one industry’s sewer. EPA needs to uphold its mission to protect the environment and human health.

Thanks for all you do,

Rein Attemann
Puget Sound Campaign Manager 

Harvey,

The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers has shaken the entire country. Over the last several days we have all seen millions marching in the streets demanding justice, but we have also witnessed disturbing images of open attacks on peaceful protestors, arrests of journalists, and a militarized response to calls for change.

We grieve for those who have lost loved ones and stands with those demanding real reform. George Floyd was by no means the first unarmed black person who lost his life to police brutality and anti-black violence. Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade’s deaths have all sparked outrage just in the last several weeks. Here in Washington state, the killings of people like Che Taylor, Charleena Lyles, and John T. Williams echo what we’ve seen across the nation.

So this week, WEC will not be sending any emails to you. We won’t be making any asks or pushing any of you to support actions for our core work. But as someone who supports WEC, here’s what we are asking of you. Take time to grieve. If you can, protest safely. Consider how you can change on a personal level. And support calls for justice.

• Here are 5 things you can do right now to support police reform and justice
• For those of you who are white and are hoping to be better allies in this moment, here is a helpful guide for how you can best show up in this work  
• Check out this aggregated list of ways you can take action, donate, learn, and more
• Donate to NW Community Bail Fund, BLM Seattle Freedom Fund, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund

The right to peacefully protest and call for change is deeply embedded in our work to protect our environment. Without an open and fair democracy, we will never build the cleaner, healthier future we want to see. Without racial justice there is no climate justice.

Black Lives Matter.

Thank you for all you do,

Alyssa Macy
CEO

This vote is the result of a decades-long effort to ensure full and permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Next, the House will need to pass the legislation and the president will need to sign it.

Washington’s senators have been vocal advocates for public lands for years, and were co-sponsors on this legislation.

Thank Senators Cantwell and Murray for their strong support of public lands and the Great American Outdoors Act!

This broadly-supported, bipartisan legislation was already in the queue for action in Congress before the COVID-19 crisis hit. In the months to come, our nation’s parks, trails, and outdoor spaces will be integral to our nation''s coping and recovery. These public lands are a critical economic driver for communities big and small, urban and rural, across Washington. If signed into law, the package will ensure the dedication of $900 million annually for public lands, and provide billions more to address maintenance backlogs.

The Senate’s passage of the Great American Outdoors Act brings us a step closer to ensuring strong, permanent funding of public lands. Thank our Senators for their incredible work in passing the Great American Outdoors Act!

Great parks and open green spaces make stronger, healthier communities, and everyone deserves safe access to the outdoors and the countless benefits parks provide. Now more than ever, we need to make sure that everyone has close-to-home access to outdoor recreation, and that these places are protected and maintained so they can continue to provide these benefits for decades and generations to come.

Thanks for all you do,

Sally Paul
Evergreen Forests Program Associate

Join us for the  Justice for Farmworkers Action Webinar >>

Harvey,

Over the last several weeks, quarantine and COVID-19 have shown us that all of our communities are connected. This disaster has touched each of our lives. But our neighbors who are on the frontlines of the fight against climate change and toxic pollution, are the same people who need our support now more than ever.

Each week WEC will be leading an action to support those affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Right now, the Farmworker Coalition, including Familias Unidas por La Justicia, an independent farmworker union of Indigenous families, is calling for our support and solidarity as they continue to do essential work without needed protective equipment, hazard pay, or childcare.

As our climate changes, we need to be prepared for the worsening effects of pollution. How we respond to this crisis today will be the blueprint for the future. We must fight together and ensure all Washington communities are protected no matter who they are or where they live.

WEC is responding to the COVID-19 crisis by continuing to rely on our organization''s strengths: fighting for strong environmental protections and collaborating with partners to support the fight against environmental injustice.

Join us next Thursday for a webinar to learn more and take action!

What: Justice for Farmworkers Action Webinar
RSVP Here
When: Next Thursday, April 16th, from 6:30-8 p.m.
Who: Edgar Franks from Familias Unidas por La Justicia will speak about climate, COVID-19’s impact on farmworkers, and how to take action in solidarity

For farmworkers in Washington state, work and daily living were already dangerous and difficult before the coronavirus pandemic. Despite Governor Inslee’s declaration that farmworkers are essential, many large corporate farms are laying off workers and leaving others without social distancing and sanitizing practices.

Disasters like COVID-19 reveal the inequities in our communities, exposing decades of environmental racism and injustice that have left communities vulnerable. As we continue to advocate for policies that fight climate change, clean up toxic pollution, and restore our forests and shared waters, our environmental work must also model what effective equitable community response looks like in a time of crisis.

I hope you can join us for this webinar and future WEC actions!

Thanks for all you do,

Dre Say
Field Organizer

Photo by Familias Unidas por La Justicia

Itukdi kadux (Good day),

I am the daughter of activists who, prior to my birth, were raising the issue of Tribal treaty rights and sovereignty to the Federal Government in the early 1970s. The movement brought them together and they raised me with a deep understanding of justice, respect for our planet, a love for my people and culture, and a belief that when we work together we can solve complex challenges.

I am a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon and was raised on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Much like many of the regions in Washington, Central Oregon is breathtakingly beautiful – with snow-capped mountains, mighty rivers, endless sagebrush, towering timber stands, magical waterfalls, and remnants of explosive volcanic activity. These beautiful lands are dotted by rural communities, ranchers and farmers, Tribal Nations, and resilient, hardworking people. I count myself as one of them.

Like many Indigenous communities, we have been witnessing climate change impacts to our ability to hunt, fish, and gather in usual and accustomed places. Salmon runs in the Columbia River are at historic lows and deer and elk populations struggle as ecosystems degrade. The times of gathering traditional foods, like roots and berries, come sooner. The snow-capped mountains are sometimes barren during summer months and waterways are becoming warmer. The threat to our cultural lifeways is painfully real.

I’ve also seen the impacts of climate change to this region – especially the increasing challenges with balancing water needs between Tribal Nations, communities, agriculture, ranching, and economic development. I’ve seen how some communities started to take action to mitigate climate change impacts, and the consequences of those who have not yet started to pivot away from extractive natural resource industries.

It is with these experiences and a deep love for this region that I come to WEC and WCV. I stepped into this role at an unprecedented time. Our planet is suffering and with it, people. I’m excited to join an organization that has been a leader in addressing critical environmental challenges in our region, believes deeply in partnership and collective power, and is committed to ensuring that those most impacted by environmental degradation are at the table in meaningful ways.

I’m honored to be leading a talented staff and working with committed boards of directors to develop smart, innovative policy to curb climate change impacts, and bring our collective strength forward to advocate for these policies. We must unequivocally act with expedience. We owe it to those who have come before us, those that are here with us now, and those yet to come. 

Make sure to keep up-to-date with WEC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

I look forward to working alongside you toward a better future for all.

Alyssa Macy
CEO

Demand that the Trump administration protect our public lands! Sign the petition today >>

Take action today: Demand that the Trump administration protect public lands.

It’s more important than ever to protect our public lands like Arches and Carlsbad Caverns from toxic extraction. Experts say that we have fewer than 10 years to avert the devastating effects of climate change, and U.S. emissions are increasing under Trump.

Our climate’s future depends on your immediate action, and we can’t afford to waste a single second letting the Trump administration get away with this handout to fossil fuel companies.

SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that the Trump administration protect our public lands!

To stop the Trump administration from co-opting a crisis to help Big Oil, we’re standing with our friends at the Sierra Club and counting on 50,000 environmental defenders who care about a just, sustainable future to speak out.

Thanks for all you do,

Kristi Nakata
Digital Communications Manager

GiveBIG ends in 8 hours and so does your chance to have your gift doubled. GiveBIG before time expires, we are $1,641 away from our matching goal!

Harvey,

Lisa is right. The challenges facing our environment are only becoming more complicated and COVID-19 has only made tackling those challenges more difficult.

But you and I both know that our important work must continue. We need to stop new fossil fuel terminals, fight to reduce climate pollution, work to restore our waterways, protect our forests through sustainable management, and expand our democracy.

By donating to WEC before GiveBIG ends you can help us do all of this and more. We are so close to our matching goal and your gift will be matched!

Your support will allow us to tackle the biggest challenges facing Washington’s environment and work to protect our communities.

WEC has a 50+ year track record of success. GiveBIG today and help us continue to build on that legacy of environmental protection.

Thank you,

Alyssa

Alyssa Macy
CEO 

GiveBIG ends today. We are $2,800 away from our goal of $15,000 to support Washington’s environment. Donate now and help us reach our goal!

Washington’s environment and communities continue to face threats from the climate crisis, air and water pollution, overharvested forests, and corporate polluters working to rollback protections.

But with your support WEC can tackle these threats the way we always have, by building powerful coalitions and advancing smart policy.

We are continuing to push for reducing climate pollution and increasing clean energy; fighting back against Big Polluters and fossil fuel terminals; working to protect Puget Sound; sustaining our evergreen forests; and making voting more accessible.   

All of this work relies on the contributions of people like you.

When you GiveBIG to WEC today you are showing your support for tackling complex environmental issues – and bringing people together so we can do more.

You power our work and we won’t be able to do this work without you.

Best,

Lisa

Lisa Remlinger
Chief Policy Officer

P.S. Thank you so much if you have already made your gift. If not GiveBIG ends at midnight, make your gift now and have your support doubled!

Harvey,

We are $6,307 away from our goal of $15,000 for GiveBIG.

Your gift before tomorrow at midnight will help us address the biggest challenges to Washington’s environment. While COVID is impacting our state deeply, we continue to face the climate crisis, pollution in our waterways, and Big Polluters trying to undermine environmental protections. WEC is ready to tackle all of these environmental challenges and more.

And we can do that because of the people like you who support our work.

I hope you will join us before midnight tomorrow so that we can tackle these challenges together.

GiveBIG to WEC before time runs out!

Thank you,

Kathy

Kathy Malley
Development Director

P.S. If you have already made a gift to WEC today thank you so much for your support!

GiveBIG starts today! Help us reach our match of $15,000 by making a gift and supporting Washington’s environment!

Your gift today will be matched and help us tackle goals that will make Washington better, protect the health of Washingtonians and the environment we cherish.

Your gift today will help us:

• Address the climate crisis and invest in a clean energy future. Working together we can have a future where we’re addressing the impacts of climate change while reducing climate pollution.
• Create a healthy Puget Sound, by reducing toxic stormwater runoff, protecting shoreline habitat, and safeguarding the ecosystems that orcas and salmon call home.
• Move 1 million acres of commercially harvested forests to models of sustainable forestry by supporting community forests, carbon projects, and other incentives that help landowners manage their forests sustainably.
• Keep Big Polluters out of our communities. We’ve been winning against out of state polluters for years but we know Big Polluters are always looking to add Washington to their fossil fuel highway.

These are BIG goals and GiveBIG is your chance to pitch in.

We are more powerful together and your gift is more powerful when it is matched. Your gift today will make an impact for Washington’s environment.

Thank you,

Alyssa

Alyssa Macy
CEO

Harvey,

This year you and I both know that Washingtonians need to vote for candidates at all levels of government who will uphold our collective values and support all of our communities. This has only become more important with the coronavirus pandemic and the many instances of police violence against Black Americans making clear the shortcomings of our democracy.

Every year, Washington Conservation Voters endorses dozens of candidates across the state who will stand up for clean air, clean water, and clean energy for all. Today, we wanted to highlight a few priority races and how you can get involved.

Volunteer with WCV and the Evergreen Future campaign to elect these environmental champions! >>

Volunteer with WCV’s Evergreen Future campaign from the safety of your home to elect these environmental champions!

In the face of deep budget cuts and an economic recession, we need leaders who prioritize public health and good jobs for workers and will fight for investments and policies that address climate change, clean up toxic pollution, and restore our forests and shared waters. We need to make our world better for current and future generations.

This is possible in Washington state, where with the right leadership, we can advance ambitious climate action and environmental justice policies. We passed the strongest 100% clean electricity bill in the nation in 2019 and Washington can continue to lay the groundwork in 2020 for state action that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of all people in our state.

Thanks for all you do,

Emily Krieger
Political & Civic Engagement Manager

Support the Clean Air Act Authority bill >>

Harvey,

Washington’s Clean Air Act was passed in 1967 and is in need of an update. This outdated Clean Air Act includes a loophole that leaves huge portions of our state’s polluters off the hook!

The Legislature is currently considering the Clean Air Act Authority bill (HB 2892/SB 6628) that would hold the whole fossil fuel industry accountable for climate pollution. This is the type of major climate action we need this year.

Tell your Senator to pass the Clean Air Act Authority bill!

Just last month, the State Supreme Court gave the Legislature a clear message – the state needs additional authority under the Clean Air Act to be able to tackle the climate crisis.

The Clean Air Act Authority bill, introduced by Senator Reuven Carlyle and Representative Joe Fitzgibbon by request of Governor Inslee, responds to the Court decision. This policy makes a commonsense and narrow update to this 1967 law that helps bring it into the 21st Century. 

Please contact your Senator now and urge them to pass the Clean Air Act Authority bill.

Communities across Washington are suffering from dirty air and all the health impacts that come with climate pollution. And, one sector of the economy – the sellers and distributors of fossil fuels – accounts for a huge amount of our state’s climate pollution. Yet, they are not held accountable to those impacts.

HB 2892/SB 6628 would enable the Department of Ecology to regulate greenhouse gas emissions associated with those fossil fuel sellers and distributors, updating our state''s ability to tackle climate pollution.  

The role of the Legislature is to pass and update laws: Now is the chance to update the Clean Air Act to ensure the state has the authority it needs to address the climate crisis.

Thanks for all you do,

Rebecca Ponzio
Climate and Fossil Fuel Program Director

Harvey,

Imagine hearing a constant, loud, and piercing noise that you cannot escape from. That is what marine mammals, especially the Southern Resident orcas, will experience for the next seven years if the U.S. Navy under the Trump administration is allowed to increase training, underwater explosions, and sonar testing in Washington waters.

TAKE ACTION: Protect orcas and other marine mammals like porpoises and gray whales from underwater explosions and noise.

Recently, the Navy requested the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to “take” marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities that in the Northwest Training and Testing Study Area in Washington. “Take” as defined under the Endangered Species Act means "to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct." Incidental take is an unintentional, but not unexpected, taking.

The NMFS rule on incidental take from Navy activities would increase training and testing that will negatively impact orcas for the next seven years without sufficient protections. After the environmental community commented on the draft that the Navy was not using current information on where Southern Resident orcas spend time, the Navy amended its application to increase numbers of “Level B” harassment from 2 to 51 orcas. Level B harassment means it interferes with breeding, nursing, and foraging.

However, the Navy did not add any additional mitigation measures, even though these incidents could impact 68% of the Southern Resident orcas every year. NMFS also found that this Level B harassment would have negligible impact on this critical population of only 72 individuals. These are not inconsequential impacts to a highly endangered orca population.

Urge NMFS to change its preliminary determination of “negligible impact” and require additional mitigation measures to significantly reduce harm to Southern Resident orcas.

Orcas need quieter waters in an increasingly noisy world to effectively communicate with one another, to forage for food, to nurse their young, to breed, and to migrate. Monitoring by NOAA indicates that both Southern Resident and Northern Resident orcas would be present off the coast of Washington in the same months as Navy exercises would occur. Just one incident of training and testing activities can cause significant harm, death, or displacement from their preferred habitat.

In a time when we should be taking action to decrease threats facing the Southern Residents, the Navy’s proposed activities increase risks. The Navy can and should change its practices to accommodate this endangered species.

Thanks for all you do, 

Rein Attemann
Puget Sound Campaign Manager

Harvey,

We are left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude after our first-ever Virtual Gala! We are inspired, humbled and proud to see the outpouring of support from friends new and old, from board and staff alumni, to sponsors and partner organizations, to friends and family. The number of folks who tuned in virtually showed your commitment to the importance of WEC’s work by giving generously – all told, we raised over $275,000 to fuel our work ahead!

Highlights of this memorable experience:

• Thank you for giving me such a warm welcome into the WEC community! Over the weekend, I met with 13 Virtual Tables (video calls organized by table captains) and it was so much fun for me to get to know you.
• I want to give a deep bow of appreciation for Joan Crooks’ leadership for the last 27 years. Gathering together would have given us the opportunity to honor her legacy in the way she deserves. She led the environmental community to be more strategic, effective, and collaborative in how it approaches environmental advocacy.
• One benefit of a virtual event was that we brought the event into your homes! While an in-person event would have been 500 people, this Virtual Gala reached over 2,000! Thank you so much to those of you who made gifts and bid on auction items.
   

All of our work – whether it’s fighting against oil and coal terminals, working with rural communities to build a sustainable future, restoring Puget Sound, or firmly committing to our partnerships as we push for climate action – takes YOU choosing to make a difference. Together, we are working toward the lasting change we know our state needs.

I also want to thank those of you who supported WEC and our partner Front & Centered’s COVID-19 rapid respond fund. We know that when we come out of this, there will be a lot of work to do to make sure we have a healthier and more resilient state that is built to protect and provide opportunity for all Washingtonians, no matter who they are or where they live.

On behalf of the entire board and staff of WEC, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you for supporting our work and helping to make our first-ever virtual event fun and exciting!

Thanks for all you do,

Alyssa Macy
CEO

P.S. If you made a donation, please be sure to see if your employer will match that gift.
 

Harvey,

As this health crisis quickly took hold and schools and businesses across Washington began to close, hundreds of thousands of our neighbors instantly became vulnerable to food insecurity. In fact, the need in our state nearly doubled from 850,000 in need of food assistance to 1.6 million.

During the last month, COVID-19 has revealed and exacerbated the existing inequities in our communities. And while this pandemic has touched each of our lives, those with no access to or who cannot afford enough food are living on the edge.

Access to healthy, affordable food was a health and environmental issue long before this crisis. As we continue to advocate for policies that tackle climate change, clean up toxic pollution, and restore our forests and shared waters, our environmental work must also model what effective equitable community response looks like in a time of crisis.

Click here to support the COVID-19 Hunger Response Fund for over 375 Washington food banks.

Our partners at Northwest Harvest have set up a COVID-19 Hunger Response Fund focused on immediate responses across the state to the rapidly increasing need. Northwest Harvest is a nonprofit food bank distributor connected to a network of 375 food banks and is leading the fight for hungry people statewide to have access to nutritious food.  

We are most powerful when we come together. We are all affected by this health and environmental crisis. But we know we can weather this together and ensure that we do not just return to normal, but build a better and more sustainable economy that leaves far less of us vulnerable.

Thanks for all you do,

Darcy Nonemacher
Government Affairs Director

Image by Northwest Harvest

Sponsor Spotlight: Seattle Public Utilities 

Seattle Public Utilities "solves problems at their source," leading to actions supporting waste prevention and product stewardship/producer responsibility. SPU joined the Environmental Priorities Coalition and others in supporting passage of Washington’s Plastic Bag Ban in 2020. In 2006, SPU supported passage of the first full producer responsibility legislation for electronics in the US. They helped pass stewardship for mercury lights, pharmaceuticals, paint, and solar modules, and have new proposals for medical sharps, batteries, plastics, and other packaging. Working together we can do great things for the environment and public health.

Harvey,

In the midst of the COVID-19 public health crisis and this historic moment in the fight for Black lives, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) continues to push a dangerous fracked gas facility in Tacoma that endangers our health and safety, threatening Indigenous, Black, and Brown communities first and worst. 

Right now, PSE is also promoting an outrageous campaign to greenwash fracked gas, targeting children with coloring pages for a "gas town" and a racist mascot called Don Fuego. These tactics echo the tobacco industry’s unconscionable efforts to hook a new generation and spread misinformation about the true impacts of their dangerous products. 

Use your social media today to tell PSE: Our kids need climate action, not misinformation.

Fracked gas in our homes and in our communities endangers our health. And we know that to meet our climate goals we must phase out fracked gas - from our homes, schools, businesses, and electricity system. 

By pushing new fossil fuel facilities and spreading dangerous misinformation about fracked gas, PSE is slowing our clean energy transition and putting their profits above our health. 

It’s time to tell PSE, "Enough." Join the chorus telling PSE to be part of our climate solution, not the problem. Take action and share these posts TODAY. Here is a social media toolkit with a variety of posts you can share.

In solidarity,

Anna Doty
Fossil Fuels Campaign Manager

Harvey,

It is empowering to see how many people in Washington state are taking time in this moment to stand up for racial justice. Many of you have reached out to ask how the environmental community can show up right now and what our role is in the fight against institutional racism. At WEC, we believe showing up requires accountability to ourselves and each other. And that starts with knowing the history of the environmental movement, and how it often ignored and was outright harmful to Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.

The largest environmental organizations in the US, including WEC, have historically been, and largely continue to be, led and funded by white environmentalists. White-led organizations advocated for issues in white communities, where environmental benefits were felt by and centered on them. The environmental movement has and often continues to perpetuate ideas of white dominant culture and institutional racism, leading to a mainstream movement that has sought to preserve the natural world exclusively with white communities in mind. But that does not need to be our future. To be clear, Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities have always cared about and celebrated our environment. But these same communities also bear the largest burden of toxic pollution and environmental degradation.

Census data and science tell us that, more than income or geography, race is still the number one indicator of whether a person will live near contaminated air, water, and soil. Washington is no stranger to these disparities. People living in South Seattle’s much more racially diverse neighborhoods of South Park, Georgetown, and Beacon Hill have a life expectancy that is eight years less than their whiter and wealthier neighbors in North Seattle. That is significantly linked to these neighborhoods’ proximity to large industrial polluters and highways that contaminate the air and water [1].

In the lower Yakima Valley, farm workers and local communities have been exposed to inordinately high risks from pesticides and chemical groundwater contamination [2]. This area, home to Washington’s largest Latino population, has experienced grave health impacts from overexposure to chemicals and has even seen anomalies like “blue baby syndrome” [3] that are linked to nitrates in drinking water.

Because Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities have been excluded or marginalized from the conversation and by failing to help dismantle the racist systems around us, today’s historically and currently white-led organizations will continue upholding these systems, perpetuating environmental injustices. We can, and must, do better.

The exploitative mindset that underlies white supremacy and continues to harm Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, is the same one driving depletion for profit, reckless drilling for fossil fuels, and irresponsible pollution of our waters. White supremacy champions dominion over nature, positions people as apart from the ecosystems we live in, divides us into groups with competing priorities, and leads to the disproportionate harm and death of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people and people of color.

As we work to address our biggest environmental crises, our solutions must confront white supremacy and institutional racism. This means the policies we advocate must:

• Work toward dismantling structural inequities,
• Raise and act in solidarity with partners that represent communities of color in policy and decision-making,
• And work with those communities most impacted to find solutions that provide an alternative to an economy built on extractive and unsustainable activities.

Without these principles, we cannot achieve our mission of protecting, restoring, and sustaining Washington’s environment for all. We are so proud to have you with us in this work. And we will continue to grow together to be better partners and allies in the fight for racial justice.

Over the last week our staff found these stories helpful to understand the intersections of race and the environment. We hope you’ll read these pieces with us:

• I’m a Black Climate Expert. Racism Derails our Efforts to Save the Planet. By Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson in The Washington Post.
• Black Environmentalists Talk About Climate and Anti-Racism. By Somini Sengupta, featuring Sam Grant, Robert D. Bullard, and Heather McGhee, in the The New York Times.
• Why Racial Justice is Climate Justice. By Claire Elise Thompson, featuring Adrien Salazar, Kerene Tayloe, Julian Brave NoiseCat, Mariah Gladstone, and Alvaro S. Sanchez, in Grist.
• We Need You to Fight for Us to Breathe. By April Sims in The Stand.

Thank you for all you do,

Washington Environmental Council 

Sources
[1] KOMO “Study: Duwamish residents have short life expectancy”
[2] Farmworker Justice “Exposed and Ignored: How pesticides are endangering our nation''s farmworkers”
[3] Yakima Herald “Crusade for clean water in the Lower Valley”

Tell Congress now that Big Oil companies shouldn''t receive a single cent of bailout money »

Harvey,

The Trump administration and a group of anti-environment members of Congress are pushing to use the next COVID-19 relief bill to bail out Big Oil and fracking companies.

The fossil fuel industry ALREADY receives $13 BILLION a year in subsidies from taxpayers, despite being one of the main drivers of the climate crisis and toxic pollution that jeopardizes the health of our communities, especially communities of color and low-income communities.

Any bills passed by Congress right now for COVID-19 relief should focus on protecting our health and providing economic relief for the families and small businesses who need it most — NOT helping dirty and polluting industries. The investments we make now will impact our health, communities, and planet.

A vote could happen later today. Send a message to Congress while we can still influence this bill: Absolutely NO bailout for Big Oil »

We can still stop them — negotiations are still underway.

There are so many ways we could address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that address these legacies of environmental injustice to protect families'' health, invest in growing an equitable clean energy economy and solve the climate crisis. We could use this opportunity to improve public health in all communities, starting with cleaning up air and water in communities of color that bear the burden of industrial pollution. We could end our reliance on fossil fuels and expand support for workers to transition to jobs in the clean energy economy.

Washingtonians have been fighting for years to make sure the fossil fuel industry doesn’t take hold of the Evergreen State. We cannot let Congress bend to pressure from Big Polluters and the Trump administration: Tell Congress now that Big Oil companies shouldn''t receive a single cent of bailout money »

I know these are uncertain times. Thank you for contacting your representatives and ensuring that Congress listens to the needs of people, not polluters. We hope you and your loved ones stay healthy during this difficult time.

Thanks for all you do,

Lisa Remlinger
Chief Policy Officer

Harvey,

As we all adjust to the new normal of staying in, social distancing, and using digital tools in new and different ways, WEC is adjusting our 2020 Gala as well. Our preference would be to see you all in-person and have the opportunity to raise a toast to Joan Crooks for her 27 years of leadership and to welcome our new CEO Alyssa Macy, but with COVID-19 we can’t do that. Instead, I hope you will join us virtually and support WEC’s efforts to fight for our land, air, water, and a healthy future for all Washingtonians.

Please plan to join us online on Saturday, April 4th, from the comfort of your own home, for a short and sweet evening of community – something we all need during this time!

This is how our Virtual Gala will work:

• It will not be a live-streamed event. We’ll launch our Virtual Gala webpage on Saturday morning, April 4th, and the Virtual Gala fundraising campaign will conclude on Tuesday night, April 7th.
• Watch a few short videos. Meet our new CEO Alyssa Macy, and hear from our former CEO Joan Crooks and other folks who support WEC.
• Raise your paddle the virtual way. Your gift during WEC’s biggest fundraising event of the year will directly support our year-round policy, advocacy, and civic engagement work so we can fight for clean air, clean water, sustainable forests, and healthy communities.
• Bid on an online auction item or two. A four night escape on Lopez Island, a Wolf Haven International private sanctuary visit, and a Victoria getaway on the Clipper are just a few of the exciting auction packages we will be featuring on April 4th. More sneak peeks coming soon!

WEC remains committed to protecting the natural resources that sustain us all. As we reshuffle our daily life to protect the health and safety of our families and communities, we also continue the critical work advocating for Washington’s environment. The bar remains high for what we must achieve to address climate pollution, prepare for its impacts, clean up Puget Sound, fight for sustainable forest management, and stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in our state.

It is inspiring to see Washingtonians coming together to uplift each other in these uncertain times. I believe we will come out of this more resilient, more connected, and with more humanity. Thank you for standing with us on this journey as we fight for healthy communities across Washington state.

Onward,  

Kathy Malley
Development Director

Schedule your GIVEBIG gift to WEC now, have your gift doubled by a generous donor and help us make an impact for Washington’s environment in 2020.

Schedule your GiveBIG gift to WEC today, have your gift matched and support our work to protect Washington from the biggest challenges facing our environment.

We have to hold the line for Washington’s environment but that isn’t enough. We need to be making progress now if we want a healthy environment for the next 50 years.

We need your support because I know you care about making an impact for Washington’s communities, environment, and the future we’re leaving to our kids and grandkids.

While our tactics have evolved since the first Earth Day, WEC’s core values have remained constant: belief in the power of partnerships, commitment to leadership, and a willingness to learn and change.

With you by our side we will be relying on all of those things as we work to stop environmental rollbacks and pass strong environmental policy.

Your support during GiveBIG will go toward continuing to build a movement that will protect the environment today, this year, and beyond.

As someone who cares deeply about Washington’s environment, can I count on you to GiveBIG for Washington’s environment?

At WEC we are working to keep Washington’s environment healthy no matter what challenges arise. But we need your voice and we need your support.

Thank you,

Lisa

Lisa Remlinger
Chief Policy Officer

Black Americans experiencing more pollution than others is no coincidence. Decades of race-based zoning and housing policies redlined Black and Brown communities into neighborhoods closer to industrial zones, major highways, and waste (3). These areas are known as “Sacrifice Zones”: “fenceline communities” of low-income and people of color, or “hot spots” of chemical pollution where residents live immediately adjacent to heavily polluted industries or military bases, whose residents receive unequal protection (4).

On top of that, we also know that air pollution causes respiratory and cardiovascular issues that are the pre-existing conditions making individuals more susceptible to COVID-19 (5). 

With an unprecedented public health and economic crisis underway at the local, state, and federal levels, we must prioritize protecting people, not provide a clear giveaway to corporate polluters.

Take action now: Demand that the Trump administration protects people and public health. 

The Trump administration’s decision to roll back environmental laws further threatens the health of our environment and communities across the country, especially low-income communities and communities of color bearing the burden of industrial pollution and COVID-19 impacts. From rolling back key vehicle efficiency standards to reducing our ability to protect communities against water pollution, the Trump administration is setting a dangerous precedent.

Join us in demanding that the Trump administration prioritizes public health, not helping polluting industries.

Onward,

Washington Environmental Council

Sources:
(1) https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/race-best-predicts-whether-you-live-near-pollution/
(2) https://www.pnas.org/content/116/13/6001
(3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dREtXUij6_c
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114843/
(5) https://epha.org/coronavirus-threat-greater-for-polluted-cities/

GiveBIG is May 5th and 6th this year but you can show your support for WEC now by scheduling your donation and having your gift matched!

Harvey,

Our state has been deeply impacted by COVID-19 and WEC stands with everyone that has been touched by this pandemic. While we are all staying at home and changing our routines to stop the spread of this disease, at WEC we are also continuing the important work to protect Washington’s environment and communities.

WEC has been successful for over 50 years because of our strong membership. Your support gives us the ability to build coalitions, harness grassroots energy, and move forward smart policy.

The challenges we face as a state now are great, but we know that with you behind us we will be successful in tackling them.

Schedule your GiveBIG gift today and have your gift matched. And you could take it one step further and sign up to be a peer-to-peer fundraiser for WEC!

While we face this pandemic we also know that the environment can’t wait.

Whether it’s fighting against oil and coal terminals, restoring Puget Sound so that it can support the orcas that call it home, or ensuring our evergreen forests are standing for decades to come, our environmental challenges are only becoming more complex.

I’ve been inspired by Washingtonians as we move through this unsettled time. We will need to bring the same strategies of collective action, science based decision-making, and strong leadership to solve the daunting environmental challenges we face.

Fighting climate change and restoring polluted waterways won’t wait and GiveBIG is your chance to help. Schedule your donation today or become a peer-to-peer fundraiser.

When you make a gift to WEC through GiveBIG you show your support for protecting our air, land, and water – and bringing people together so we can do more.

Make a GiveBIG gift to WEC and help us protect the Washington we love.

Best,

Kathy

Kathy Malley
Development Director

Harvey,

June is Orca Month in the Pacific Northwest! Orca Month is a chance to celebrate one of our region’s most iconic wildlife species, but also an opportunity to reflect on the plight of these fragile creatures.

Join us for a month of educational and celebratory virtual events to raise awareness of the threats facing our Southern Resident orca population and what we can do to protect them.

Given the current public health protections in place, the Orca Salmon Alliance decided to move this June’s Orca Month to a virtual format. We’ll work hard to bring you 30 days of orca content from a safe distance.

Visit the Orca Month website and our Facebook page often as we are constantly adding new events and activities to the menu. Want to learn how to build a raingarden? Need a fun kids’ activity? New podcast to listen to? We got you! Also be sure to follow us on Instagram for fun orca posts and daily actions that support orca recovery.

Some of the virtual events in store for June include:

• Orca Story Time – Listen and watch as members of the Orca Salmon Alliance read aloud children’s books that involve or relate to orcas every Friday. Musician Dana Lyons will play a few songs as well!
• Orca Crafts – Get creative with materials you already have around the house and have a whale of a time.
• Salmon School Saturdays – Join us for fun games that will get your creative juices flowing and boost your salmon expertise.
• Orca Concerts – Join musician Dana Lyons for an orca-themed sing-a-long.
• Orca Webinars – From toxics to noise, learn about the issues that orcas and salmon face, and what you can do to take action.

Since we aren’t able to host in-person events in June, the Orca Action Month Kickoff Festival has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 27, and will be renamed "Fin Fest" this year to highlight the important relationship of orcas and the salmon they need to survive. The festival will still take place at the Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. We will be incorporating any needed protocols to align with the state’s regulations on physical distancing in order to help protect the health of our communities. Please hold September 27 on your calendar.

On behalf of the Orca Salmon Alliance, we hope you will join us in making Orca Month 2020 a virtual success!

Thanks for all you do,

Rein Attemann
Puget Sound Campaign Manager

Harvey,

This legislative session one of our priorities is passing Voting Eligibility Restoration (SB 6228) to improve voting justice in Washington. If passed, this critical solution would restore voting eligibility to returning Washingtonians, and allow them to participate even if they can’t afford their legal fees. This commonsense solution has a big impact:

• Improves public safety: People with a conviction history who actively vote have reduced rates of recidivism, or the likelihood that someone will commit another crime.
• Bring more equity to our democracy: Black and brown communities are among the most impacted by environmental degradation and climate change, and are overrepresented in Washington prisons due to an ongoing history of institutional racism and over-policing.
• Has strong support: Formerly incarcerated advocates, survivors of assault, public safety officials, and the Department of Corrections all support this bill.

If passed, Washington will be 20th in the nation to enact this important voting justice policy. Support this crucial reform and urge lawmakers to support Voting Eligibility Restoration (SB 6228).

Onward,

Emily Krieger
Civic Engagement Manager

Image by WA Voting Justice Coalition

Harvey,

The other night, someone sent me a poem by US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, of the Muscogee (Creek) Tribal Nation, titled “For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering Earth in its Human Feet (2015).” When I received it, I remembered the poem and felt grateful to return to it as though it were my first time.

Her poem speaks about pausing in the moment and inviting an awareness of all we have to be grateful for — reconnecting us to the sacred relationship with ourselves and the land.

Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop.
Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control.
Open the door, then close it behind you.
Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean.
Give it back with gratitude.
If you sing it will give your spirit lift to fly to the stars’ ears and back.
Acknowledge this earth who has cared for you since you were a dream planting itself precisely within your parents’ desire.
Let your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time, who will be there after time. They sit before the fire that has been there without time.
Let the earth stabilize your postcolonial insecure jitters.
Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you.
Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down upon them.
Don’t worry.
The heart knows the way though there may be high-rises, interstates, checkpoints, armed soldiers, massacres, wars, and those who will despise you because they despise themselves.
The journey might take you a few hours, a day, a year, a few years, a hundred, a thousand or even more.
Watch your mind. Without training it might run away and leave your heart for the immense human feast set by the thieves of time.
Do not hold regrets.
When you find your way to the circle, to the fire kept burning by the keepers of your soul, you will be welcomed.
You must clean yourself with cedar, sage, or other healing plant.
Cut the ties you have to failure and shame.
Let go the pain you are holding in your mind, your shoulders, your heart, all the way to your feet. Let go the pain of your ancestors to make way for those who are heading in our direction.
Ask for forgiveness.
Call upon the help of those who love you. These helpers take many forms: animal, element, bird, angel, saint, stone, or ancestor.
Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse.
You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return.
Speak to it as you would to a beloved child.
Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long.
Your spirit will need to sleep awhile after it is bathed and given clean clothes.
Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go.
Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short.
Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark.

As we close the chapter that is 2020 and summon the energy to care for ourselves and each other, I pause and feel grateful — grateful for frontline healthcare workers, essential workers, postal workers, educators, parents, scientists, youth climate activists, and all of our neighbors pushing us forward in addressing racism and inequality.

Harjo’s poem also grounds me in my gratitude to you for all that you have done and will do to protect Washington’s environment for generations to come. 

I look forward to working fiercely alongside you through the dark in 2021. Please stay safe and healthy.

With hope, 

Alyssa Macy
CEO

 You can ensure a brighter future for Washington’s environment with a gift of $5 or more before December 31st.

This year we’ve struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic and the deep racial inequities in our country were exposed. We saw fossil fuel companies continue to push to site new terminals and expand existing terminals in our state. The Trump Administration continued to roll-back environmental protections and undermine democracy.

We could be discouraged on this dark day, but we are not. Because time and time again, Washingtonians have made it clear that the environment matters to us, to our children, and to the legacy we leave. And more and more, Washingtonians are calling for environmental justice for those who have been disproportionately impacted by pollution.

We are still 308 gifts away from our goal of 650 donations before December 31st. We need your help to reach 650 donations and make progress for our communities and environment in 2021.

Washington must be a beacon of light and prove that strong action to protect our environment and our communities can take place at a state level. But that only happens with your support.

Just as you will wake up to a little more light coming through your window in the coming days, we can keep making progress for the environment in our state. We are filled with hope—because we know that with you by our side, we can protect, restore, and sustain Washington’s environment for all.

You can help us reach our goal of 650 donors in the month of December to ensure we have the resources we need to fight for Washington’s environment at the beginning of next year. I hope you will make a year-end, tax deductible gift today to help us enter 2021 strong for Washington’s environment.

To brighter days ahead! 

Happy Winter Solstice,

Lisa

Lisa Remlinger
Chief Policy Officer