Weekly Call To Action - August 6, 2023

Quote of the Week:

“We have an obligation to our children and to generations to come to do all we can to restore, advance, and protect our aspiration to truly have a system that is by, for, and of all of the people of this country.”
​--David Rothkoph, The Daily Beast

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Election Results:

​Who Is Moving to the General Election?

Who is moving to the general election? That would be all of our endorsed candidates.

Although the results are not yet final, here are the two candidates per district who will be moving forward to the general election. 

In the general election you will have the opportunity to vote for two open County Commission seats, one from each district.

District 4
Vivian Eason for Thurston County Commissioner    58%
Wayne Fournier for Thurston County Commissioner    42%

District 5
Emily Clouse for Thurston County Commissioner    45%
Terry Ballard for Thurston County Commissioner    22%

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In the general election you will have the opportunity to vote for three open Port Commission seats, one from each district.

District 1
Jasmine Vasavada for Port Commissioner    55%
Bill McGregor for Port Commissioner    38%

District 4
Rose Gunderson for Port Commissioner    33%
Maggie Sanders for Port Commissioner    24%

District 5
Sarah Tonge for Port Commissioner    47%
Troy Kirby for Port Commissioner    37%

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​Local Actions:

Thurston County Needs Your Input

Take a few minutes to tell Thurston County what is important to you! Thurston County! Survey began on 7/10/2023.

Now is your opportunity to list all the things that are important to you such as: Trees, Climate, Transportation and Housing. 

Some Suggested answers for for 3 main questions:

Is something currently missing from your local community?
Closer connection/understanding between local tribes and other county residents. Walkable cities. Solar canopy over parking lots.

What are the biggest challenges you face now or expect to face over the next decade?

• Affordable Housing 
• Deforestation of Legacy Forests
• Clean Air and Water
• Clean Accessible Transportation
• Ugly Warehouses
• Assuring the community is a welcoming place for all people
• Obtain all legal health and wellbeing services 

What does your ideal Thurston County look like 20 years from now? What services, spaces and opportunities will it have?
Affordable housing close to transit. Tracts of preserved legacy forest land and long term agriculture. Walkable cities. A thriving local farm economy. Focus on local businesses rather than industry from elsewhere seeking I-5 access.

Action: Take this brief survey: HERE

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​Federal Actions:

Stop MAGA Voter Suppression Plans

MAGA Republicans have laid out a strategy for achieving voter suppression on a state level in places like Idaho, Arkansas, and Florida, and now they’re trying to take disenfranchisement national. Rather than shifting their policy goals to match up with the will of the American people, MAGA Republicans’ guiding principle right now is, “if you can’t win, cheat!”
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But Democrats are on the offensive. Congressional Democrats have re-introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, which would do the exact opposite of the Big Lie Bill -- expand access to the ballot box while shrinking the influence of corporations in our elections. Here’s a handy graphic laying out the differences:

Republicans have been working to rig voting laws across the country for decades, we cannot allow them to steal more elections.

Action: Share this graphic. We can’t allow Republicans to control the narrative about elections. They are attempting to sow as much disinformation as possible to hold power. We have to make sure people know exactly what they are doing, and it starts with spreading the word. Use the link above to share on Twitter, and then share on Facebook, share on Instagram, and share on Threads too! The more eyes, the better. 

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Tell The EPA to Finalize Strong Power Plant Pollution Standards

For too long, fossil-burning power plants have had a free pass to pollute. Coal and gas-fired power plants are responsible for more than 30% of U.S. carbon pollution, and they also emit other pollutants that harm our air, water, and health. And yet, there are almost no limits on the amount of climate-warming pollution these plants emit. You can help change that.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a much-needed step to rein in climate pollution by proposing limits on carbon emissions for power plants. You can play a pivotal role and send your comment urging EPA to adopt the strongest possible emissions standards and community protections.

The EPA’s proposed carbon pollution rules are an important step forward — but we need to make sure the agency commits to holding the fossil fuel industry accountable. 

Action: Tell the EPA to finalize the strongest possible standards and deepen its commitment to protecting communities.

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​Campaigns, Get Active:

Wayne Fornier for Thurston County Commissioner
General Election Kickoff:

• Saturday, August 12, 2:00 to 5:00 PM Join us to support a great candidate for Thurston County. Hosted by Sandra Romero, former County Commissioner, and Carolyn Cox, Lacy City Council Member. There will be light refreshment, and community conversation. You’re invited. RSVP here for location. 

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Jasmine Vasavada for Port of Olympia Commissioner
Fundraiser:

• Friday, August 11, 5:00 PM
  Join us for a summer soiree in support of an amazing Port of Olympia candidate at one of Olympia's Urban Futures Farm, 928 Wilson St NE, Olympia. As a potluck, we encourage you to bring your favorite dish to share! Sign up on our Potluck Meal Train. Let us know you are coming, sign up here.

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Have You Scheduled This Event?

Olympia Indivisible’s Garden Picnic 
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We Can Promise You a Rose Garden!

We have tackled some thorny issues in the six years we have been activists together. And there will be more action ahead. For now, let’s rest in fellowship, celebrate what we have accomplished, and lift a glass of lemonade to ourselves and to each other. Let’s get together on

When: Sunday, September 10, 2023, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm
Where: Squaxin Park’s Rose Garden

It's an Olympia Indivisible all-member picnic! We'll meet under the shady Rose Garden shelter at Squaxin Park (2600 East Bay Drive NE). Family and friends are welcome! 

Bring your picnic lunch and eating utensils. We'll serve iced tea, lemonade and cake to celebrate six years of Olympia Indivisible's pro-democracy activism. We'll also share news about what we’ve been up to and where we are headed. And offer some inspiring opportunities for our members to be a part of!

​You Might Also Like to Attend:

Learn about Digital Trade’s Global Impact

SOURCE: From our friends at Trade Justice Education Fund

Many of the countries involved in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Seattle this summer are also part of the ongoing Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) trade negotiations. IPEF already includes fourteen countries, and between them, would set rules governing approximately 40% of the world's economy. More countries are expected to join IPEF, too, and it is likely to become the template for additional U.S. trade deals across the Americas, Africa, and beyond. 

If big corporations get their way, IPEF will set rules that facilitate more offshoring of good-paying jobs, exploitation of workers abroad, rip-and-ship resource extraction that accelerates global warming and deregulation for Big Tech in areas like consumer privacy, AI accountability and anti-monopoly. 

Action: Sign up to virtually attend the Monday, August 7, 4pm Town Hall on “Digital Trade.” Join Representative Pramila Jayapal and local and national experts for a conversation on current “digital trade” proposals and their implications for worker rights, AI discrimination, consumer privacy and anti-monopoly in the Pacific Northwest and around the globe. 

In addition to Rep. Jayapal, participants include Lori Wallach of Rethink Trade, Cherika Carter of the Washington State Labor Council, Josua Matta with SENTRO, Jen Lee of ACLU Washington, and Julie Bouanna of the Washington Fair Trade Coalition.