Sno-Isle News December 2020

 

Celebrate ♦ Environmental Journalism ♦ Navy surveillance in parks ♦ Story of Plastic ♦ Georgia Elections ♦ Volunteer & more...
December 2020   
In this issue...
Photo by Bill Anderson
Celebrate With Us!
Dec. 17 from 6 to 7 pm
 
Third Thursday Social.  We will be honoring friends and organizations for their successful work this past year on important environmental and social justice issues. What people, groups and projects should we recognize? Make your Nomination.

Please RSVP to let us know you're coming.
On December 17th,  Join Us On Zoom
Take Action
Navy SEAL Training in State Parks

The Navy wants to conduct covert training exercises at Deception Pass State Park, on the north end of Whidbey Island. There are another 27 state parks they want to access for SEAL training. Training focus is sneaking up and spying on unsuspecting people in the park.
Deception Pass State Park
Sign Petition to Take Back Our Sound

Cooke Aquaculture's Atlantic salmon "farming" was banned in Puget Sound after repeated disasters. Despite their past failures, and without a complete Environmental Impact Statement, their latest plan to farm steelhead was initially approved.
Help protect and restore Puget Sound -- Take Action!
 
Reject Irresponsible Development

Support the Sno-King Watershed Council in opposing Ironwood, an 88 home development in a critical area with a wetland and large trees. SKWC points out that this land provides catchment for the Lake Washington watershed, which includes habitat for salmon runs.

The project designer wants to clearcut the land before permitting is final, as was done with his failed Frognal Estates project.

Comment to hearing.examiner@snoco.org

Donate to support SKWC
Environmental Journalism

The Snohomish County Climate Alliance, along with the Sierra Club, successfully partnered with the Everett Daily Herald to initiate an environmental climate reporting series. Several impressive articles have been published, reaching an enormous local audience with key climate concerns. 

To ensure future reporting, a dedicated fund will endow a permanent climate reporter on the Daily Herald staff. The Sierra Club has contributed $1,000 to this fund.  Please make a tax-deductible donation to this educational fund. Donate Now

Read the first article by Julie Titone: From Worriers To Warriors
Events
Lower Columbia River, Estuary: “One River, Ethics Matter”
Wed. & Thurs, Dec. 9 & 10
Starts at 9 am each day

This virtual conference will focus on the heritage and rights of the Indigenous peoples of our region as they relate to the Columbia River system and the struggle to save our salmon.

Hosts: Cowlitz Indian Tribe and Washington State University – Collective for Social and Environmental Justice, Native American Affairs

Information and Registration.
 
The Story of Plastic
Wed. Dec. 16 at 7 pm
Free, on Zoom

Join 350 Eastside and Oceana for a special screening of the Story of Plastic, followed by a discussion panel that will focus on the connection to the climate crisis, and how you can take action.

Sign up Now
Elections

Georgia On Our Minds

The two Georgia US Senate runoff elections on January 5th are crucial to our ability to promote national environmental legislation. If Mitch McConnell and his minions continue to rule the Senate, they will continue to obstruct environmental protection.

Stacey Abrams, former Georgia state representative, has been leading her project to ensure voter rights: Fair Fight 

The Sierra Club is also working hard to Get Out The Vote. You can join our mobilization team.  Sign Up!
Celebrating: Get Out The Vote Success
 
Sno-Isle Sierra Club activist, Cynthia Jones, is featured in a video about the national Sierra Club political mobilization effort that reached 1.9 million voters in critical battleground states and helped elect the Biden Harris team.

See the Victory Thank You Video
Equity and Justice
Native American Heritage Month
 
November was Native American Heritage month. Here are some resources to further our understanding and appreciation.
 
Good News

Court Rules Against Methanol Plant

Required federal permits were denied, sending the Kalama project back to the Army Corps of Engineers for a full, transparent review. The previous review ignored the cumulative impact of greenhouse gas emissions, the new pipeline involved, and costs to the public.

Alaska Pebble Mine Permit Rejected

The Army Corps of Engineers acknowledged decisive scientific evidence that the mine would cause irreversible harm to the Bristol Bay watershed and its valuable salmon fisheries.

Alaskans and environmentalists everywhere have been fighting for two decades to stop this massive copper and gold mine in Southwest Alaska. Even Donald Trump Jr. is opposed to it, having fished in the area.

Protecting Edmonds Perrinville Woods

Comments from approximately 90 concerned citizens convinced the Edmonds City Council to reject city staff proposals ceding city land to a developer. The decision ruled against use of city right of ways in the proposed 14 home development. The goal is to save as much of the 5 acre woods as possible. Council also voted for a moratorium on new permits for wooded lots, in hope of a new tree code to protect urban forests.
Volunteer Opportunity
Marine Resources Committee

Snohomish County is recruiting new members for the Marine Resources Committee, which is focused on protecting and restoring the marine and estuarine environment. Serving on this committee involves members in creating and piloting marine ecology research and tools.

Read More
Photo by Bill Anderson
Help Set Our 2021 Goals
 
The Sno-Isle Sierra Club group wants your ideas and recommendations for our focus in the coming year.

Please Take the Survey
 The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie --
deliberate, contrived and dishonest --
but the myth --
persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.

Too often we hold fast to the clichés of our forebears.

We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. 

We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.

~~ John F. Kennedy


from the Sierra Club Daily Ray of Hope 
 
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