Weekly Actions: Week 5

      150 150 34th Democrats

      Urgent Actions

      Letter regarding US Navy Growler:

      Post in comment field on this website:  http://www.whidbeyeis.com/Comment.aspx

      I am concerned about multiple deficiencies in the USN Growler Electronic Warfare Proposal Environmental Impact Statement.

      • Wildlife impacts – noise. Inadequate noise profiles of the USN Growler and insufficient or erroneous assessments of wildlife impacts due to noise (feeding / mating interruptions, damage to hearing much more sensitive to humans) must be properly evaluated.
      • Wildlife impacts – collision. The low altitude flight profiles of the USN Growler significantly increases aircraft / bird collision.  Endangered species, like the Marbled Murrelet, frequently transit the proposed Electronic Warfare practice area.  Lack of altitude separation will create more bird deaths.   This specific species is in decline more than 4% per year.  The full impact of deaths due to airborne collision must be taken into consideration.
      • Economic harm to rural western Washington communities. Our rural western Washington communities are already under severe economic stress.  Past timber over-harvest has reduced the resource extraction based economy.  Tourism and recreation represent opportunities for economic viability.  This is not possible when noise from USN Growler overflights is present.  Hiking, car camping, hunting, fishing, lodging and climbing are all negatively affected.  These communities need economic support, not further economic distress.

      A comprehensive, accurate and balanced Environmental Impact assessment of this project must be done.  This has not been accomplished to date.

      Thank you,

      Kevin Jones

      Address

      Phone number

      Email address

      General Actions

      Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)
      • Fossil Fuel Free Puget Sound Energy
        • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
        • Join the team to develop alternatives to build a natural gas power plant
          • And prepare material to inform the community
        • Join the community outreach team to spread the word about this “once in a lifetime opportunity” to replace PSE coal plants with renewable energy and conservation
        • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
      • Earth Day Vashon (well, the day AFTER the official earth day)
        • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
        • Join the team who is imagining, defining and recruiting talent for this Vashon High School event:
        • Sign up here
      • Become a Vashon School District Green Team supporter!
        • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group (I sense a trend here…)
        • Provide support for Green Team events and activities
        • Encourage Green Team advisors for all school grade levels
        • Are you a VSD student or parent that seeks a meaningful, vibrant and growing Green Team? Join us!
        • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
      Letter to REI

      Subject:  US Bank Contract renewal – bad policy

      I understand you want to hear from REI members who support the Standing Rock Sioux and stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

      I am opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline, which has not completed Environmental Impact Statement assessment, have not addressed the risk of pipeline breakage and have not considered the climate change damage that will result if the fossil fuel the pipeline carries is brought to market.

      As an environmentally friendly company, who sponsors our ability to appreciate our natural world, it is inconsistent that you would do business with financial institutions who invest in projects that are likely to harm the environment.

      Please review your policies and divest from financial institutions that support the Dakota Access Pipeline.

      http://www.naturalnews.com/055870_Sunoco_pipeline_leak_environmental_damage.html

      http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/22/us/california-oil-spill/index.html

      http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pipeline-santa-barbara-coast-20150519-story.html

      http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/1/21/oil-pipeline-burst.html

      Thanks,

      Your Name

      REI #  xxxxxx

      Praise

      • Jimmy Carter – for opposing Citizen’s United (big $ in politics) – Petition:
      • Thank Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): 202-224-4543
        • Script: Thank you for introducing your Presidential Conflicts of Interest bill in the Senate. I’m grateful for your efforts. This president must do what’s best for the country, not what’s best for his businesses around the world.
      • Thank Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA):  202-225-2836
        • Script: Thank you for introducing your Presidential Conflicts of Interest bill in the House. I’m grateful for your efforts. This president must do what’s best for the country, not what’s best for his businesses around the world.
      • Thank Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA):  202-224-2023 & Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL4):  202-225-4035
        • Script: Thank you for co-sponsoring bills to protect the National Security Council from political interference. Extreme partisans like Steve Bannon have no place on the NSC, so I’m grateful that you’ve taken a stand
      • Thank CNN host Don Lemon: for calling out commentator Paris Dennard for making fake news and telling lies.
        • Send a note: Don Lemon, ℅CNN, 10 Columbus Circle, NY, NY 10019
        • Call: 212-275-8030

      Election Actions

      Return US House and Senate to Democratic control
      • No actions this week

      Climate & Environment Actions

      Environment Issures
      • Petitions – make this tombstone go away and tell your Senators to not let Trump dismantle the EPA!
      • Support a very special bumblebee.  Write: Office of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240
        • Script: Use a postcard. Draw a bumblebee and add the caption: “Bees are not optional. List the rusty-patched bumblebee as endangered.”
      • Protect the planet at the state level.
        • Call: Your governor’s office.
        • Script: Hi! I’m a constituent calling from _ZIP_. I’m concerned about Scott Pruitt’s appointment to the Environmental Protection Administration. Since he will not pursue the planet’s interests, I’m asking _governor name_ to make a public statement about our climate crisis and support efforts in Oregon to reverse the trend
      • Write a personal comment letter in support of the Conservative Alternative to protect the Marbled Murrelet and about timber cutting levels in the Long-Term Conservation Strategy – both are due by March 9, 5PM.
        • Comments should be submitted to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Center:
        • sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov or
        • SEPA Center, PO Box 47015, Olympia, WA 98504-7015.
        • Subject line for Marbled Murrelet comments should include “SEPA File No. 12-042001”
        • See letter at bottom
        • Subject line for Long-Term Conservation Strategy timber-cutting level comments should include “SEPA File No. 15-012901”
        • See letter at bottom
      • Submit, electronically, your concerns about US Navy Growler Electronic Warfare practice on the Olympic Peninsula at this website:
      • Petition – stop Enbridge from increasing the capacity of its Alberta Clipper pipeline:
      • Petition congress to save the Endangered Species Act:
      Climate Change Issues

       

      • Letter addressing Marbled Murrelet protection:

      To: sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov

      Subject:  Comments regarding SEPA File No. 12-042001

      I am concerned about the Marbled Murrelet as an indicator species on western Washington forest / species health.  Their 4% population decline per year indicates we have not done enough to protect this animal.  The alternatives proposed, all of them, forecast species extermination in the next few decades.  Only the most favorable alternatives and the most favorable assumptions predict species survival.  These alternatives are not acceptable.

      I strongly recommend a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be submitted and evaluated.  This supplemental EIS should include Alternative F plus additional measures to protect or enhance the old growth habitat essential for species survival and increasing the volume of habitat protected.  It appears that only through these measures can we prevent species extinction.

      In addition, the following factors must be considered:

      Climate change:  The partial inclusion of climate change effects, attributed to modeling difficulties, is not acceptable.  In fact, conservative impacts of likely climate change factors should be used.  Climate change science forecasts severe species stress and significant species extinction.  These factors cannot be under-represented.

      Environmental disturbances:  From enlarging timber harvest buffers around habitat and nesting areas, restricting road building and blasting activities to eliminating proposed USN Growler electronic warfare overflights, all these factors must be diligently considered in the EIS.  In particular, USN proposed Growler electronic warfare training is particularly egregious due to extremely loud noise profiles and low flight altitudes.  The noise profiles disturb nesting, feeding and mating activities of the Marbled Murrelet.  Low altitude flight profiles increase airborne collisions as the Marbled Murrelet moves between nesting and feeding grounds.

      In summary, I strongly request a supplemental EIS, considering the current Alternate F (the conservation alternative) plus additional habitat expansion protection measures and the climate change and environmental disturbances factors.

      Thank you,

      Kevin Jones

      Address

      Phone number

      Email address

       

      • Letter addressing Long-Term Conservation Strategy timber-cutting level:

      To:  sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov

      Subject:  Comments regarding SEPA File No. 15-012901

      I am concerned about timber harvest levels proposed for western Washington.  One of the critical concerns is species extinction, specifically the Marbled Murrelet, whose population decline of over 4% per year does not allow species survival.

      Analysis of the Marbled Murrelet protection alternatives indicates more old growth and undisturbed forest is needed.  Timber cutting proposals that ignore this issue, which has not yet been adequately addressed, are not founded in the best available science.  This is not acceptable.

      Another critical problem is the additional forest and species stress likely to occur through climate change.  Climate science forecasts significant species stress and likely species extinction.  Forest removal is a further threat to these species.  This factor has not been adequately addressed.

      Finally, I strongly recommend a joint task force to evaluate simultaneous revenue generation and habitat restoration.  Governor Jay Inslee and Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz should be encouraged to initiate this task force.  The task force should focus on strategies that will identify revenue generation alternatives to timber resource extraction and fully credit the value of a healthy forest environment to tourism associated with economically viable rural communities.

      Thank you,

      Kevin Jones

      Address

      Phone number

      Email address

      • Email from REI, in response to my request they not renew their US Bank contract, a DAPL funder:

      From: Memberships Generic E-mail box
      Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2017 3:20 PM
      Subject: Your Inquiry to REI

      Hello,

      Thank you for your email regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline.

      We appreciate hearing from our members on the issues that matter.  In this instance, we have elevated these concerns clearly and on several occasions to senior executives at US Bank.

      US Bank assures us that they do not directly provide project financing for the Dakota Access Pipeline.

      There is some discussion publicly, however, that the bank has, with a group of banks, contributed to a line of credit that energy companies involved have access to.  That is as much as we know.

      Concerning our relationship with US Bank, REI is in the middle of a multi-year contract covering the REI MasterCard.  Please know that feedback, including yours, will be considered when the contract comes up for renewal.

      These issues are complex and so we weigh decisions carefully with the long-term interests of the co-op and the outdoors, front of mind.  As part of that process, we appreciate that we will have customers and members who do not agree with every outcome, but we value hearing from you on important topics like these.  It helps us to form a full picture as we work to provide the highest quality service.

      Please also know that REI has a longstanding and broad commitment to stewarding the outdoors and to running our business as sustainably as possible.  As you are likely aware, we invest millions of dollars annually in more than 300 non-profit organizations who help to protect, nurture and create access for recreation in the outdoors.

      Thank you again for your email and for your engagement with REI.  Your choice to shop with REI directly funds our efforts to support those non-profits.

      Regards,

      REI Membership Services

      Civil Rights Actions

      Healthcare Actions

      • Petitions – Support Social Security and Medicare:
      • UPDATE: Senators Murry and Cantwell vote AGAINST lower cost drug imports – whAAAT??
        Two weeks ago we reported that our Washington senators Cantwell and Murray voted AGAINST the Sanders amendment to allow lower cost imported medications, citing a “lack of consumer protection” in the legislation.  We also mentioned Patty Murray’s Facebook post that says (paraphrasing) “we’re committed to making this happen and we are working with Senator Sanders on a bill that will include important consumer protections”.
        At this time, there is evidence that Sen Wyden (D-Or) has developed an amendment (SA 175) which calls for “Changes in laws … shall bring down the price of drugs as promised by the President-Elect”, which Senator Murray apparently supports (but is not a co-sponsor).  However, this amendment has not yet been proposed (this is still the situation as of 11PM, 2/9/17), meaning it is not yet being considered by the Senate (https://www.congress.gov/amendment/115th-congress/senate-amendment/175 ).

        • Action:  Who would like to visit the Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell Seattle offices to talk with them about this promised legislation?  Let me know by return email and I will work with you to find a day / time to accommodate.

      Gun Safety Actions

      • No actions this week

      Education Actions

      • No actions this week

      Foreign Policy/Defense Actions

      • Action: Support investigation of Russian interference in US elections.
        • On January 6, an official report of the CIA, FBI, and NSA assessed with high confidence that Vladimir Putin ordered a 2016 campaign to undermine public faith in the US democratic process. Thankfully, three Senate and House bipartisan committees are now examining Russia’s actions.
        • Call: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
          • Chair, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) 202-224-3154 (press 2)
          • Ranking Mmbr, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) 202-224-2023 (press 1)
        • Call: House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
          • Chair, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) 202-225-2523
          • Ranking Member, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) 202-225-4176
        • Call: Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism
          • Chair, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 202-224-5972 (press 1)
          • Ranking Member, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) 202-224-2921
        • Script: Hi! I’m calling in regard to _name’s_ role on the _committee name_. I strongly support his work on resisting attempts to “move on” from Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. I am looking forward to learning the outcome of the committee’s findings.
        • Also call your senators:  Ask them to fully support investigations into the Trump White House and Trump Campaign involvement with Russia, to disclose the results of the investigation and to hold individuals to account to the fullest extent provided by law.
      • Petitions – tell the GOP to demand an independent investigation into Trump and his connections to Russia:
      • Petition – Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the Markey-Lieu bill, which would prohibit the president from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war from Congress:  Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.  Note the “first strike” emphasis.  Retaliation?  Still a no holds barred situation…

      Miscellaneous Actions

      Photo of the Week

      Mountain Side Picture
      Contact Elected Officials

      Find your elected officials here!

      Regarding petitions:  To amplify your voice on any petition, contact by phone or email the person the petition is intended for.  Phone calls have more impact than emails.