Image description: A logo that reads “Take 5 for Advocacy, “ featuring the words “Take 5” in red, with the 5 in a circle of lines that indicate a watch face, and the words “For Advocacy” in green. The words sit in front of a pattern that looks like a mosaic of stones, with a green cross surrounded by multicolored blocks.
Actions You Can Take This Week
GET UNSHELTERED FOLKS INSIDE: The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance is asking people to tell Gov. Inslee to use emergency resources to help get indoor shelter for people who are unsheltered or living outside. This includes placing people in hotels, unused dorms, and other vacant spaces, in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. They're also asking people to tell Gov. Inslee that the state should also ensure that everyone who lost their home to fire has adequate shelter, and ensure that low-income households who lost homes are prioritized in the recovery. Protecting people experiencing homelessness is equally important and urgent. Shelter should be made available to anyone without a safe, indoor space, who is living in an area with unhealthy air, not limited to people who have been displaced by the fires. Raise your voice and send your message by clicking here and filling out the advocacy form.
RAISE YOUR VOICE ON KALAMA REFINERY PROPOSAL: The time is NOW to give your comments to the Washington State Department of Ecology, about Northwest Innovation Works' and the Port of Kalama's application to build the world’s largest methanol refinery in Kalama. The Department of Ecology will take public comments through October 2 both online and at public hearings, which will be conducted remotely when possible. You can read more about the comment process at the Department of Ecology's web site here, and leave a comment online here. You can also register to participate in the first public hearing, which will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 17, online here. Future public hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sept. 22, also online. Rich Voget has provided this handout to help guide your comments and make them more effective. He also shared this flier (download here) on the Kalama Refinery and why Sierra Club opposes it, to find out more about the training workshops, and connect with Sierra Club at monthly meetings on the topic every third Thursday on Zoom. Email sept.gernez@sierraclub.org for the Zoom link.
"TEXT BANKING" THE VOTE: Last month some members of Keystone took part in the Environmental Voter Project's "text-banking" day of action, where they sent texts to voters and asked them to commit to voting on Election Day. Our texts were part of the 27,000 that were sent by members of the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC on that day. The Environmental Voter Project is inviting folks to do more text banking in the weeks leading up to the election. Every Wednesday, starting on Sept. 16, from 2-4 p.m., folks can send texts to encourage people around the country to vote, with training for those new to the project scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21, and Wednesday Sept. 23. Sign up to join this effort here. For more information, e-mail Roberta Rominger, who is part of the PNC's environmental justice task force, or talk with Pastor Yuki about how you can get involved.