Weekly Call To Action - September 17, 2023

Quote of the Week:

“Violence is the method by which the ruthless few can subdue the passive many. Nonviolence is a means by which the active many can overcome the ruthless few.” -- Jonathan Schell in The Unconquerable World

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Campaigns, Get Active:

Stay Updated on Candidate Support Opportunities

Action: Access OI’s Endorsed webpage for the latest opportunities to help our endorsed candidates turn out the vote for the upcoming General Election. At any time put the words Olympia Indivisible in your browser and you will find our website. 
Note there are upcoming events for:
​

• Emily Clouse
• Jasmine Vasavada
• Wayne Fournier

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School Board Corner:

Exceptional Candidate For School Board 
​
Esperanza A. Badillo-Diiorio (Espie) - North Thurston Public Schools District Position 4

Espie has been endorsed by her opponent Stephanie Scott. 

Espie is also endorsed by the National Women’s Political Caucus of WA and the Thurston County Democratic Women. Read more about Espie on her website. 

Espie has outstanding qualifications and deserves your support! 

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​Local Actions:

Ask Thurston BoCC to Acquire Chehalis Basin Water Rights

The Thurston Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) has a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to acquire low cost water rights.

Power generation company TransAlta currently owns the water rights for its coal-fired Centralia Power Plant operations.

The Centralia Power Plant is expected to close in 2025, so the company is making its water right available for purchase at $2,750 per acre-foot.

Associate Planner Bryan Benjamin said that staff reviewed recent water rights purchases of other entities in the state and found that a comparable purchase would be typically priced around $10,000 to $25,000 per acre-foot.

Background:
County mulls options to acquire water rights in Chehalis Basin

Action: Ask Thurston BoCC to Acquire Chehalis Basin Water Rights

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​Federal Actions:

Deny Grant for Bullet Train Boondoggle

Photo credit: Adam E. Moreira, Wikimedia Commons gallery

This action is endorsed by Tacoma Indivisible and Vashon Indivisible.

The left coast has dismal rail service. There are two competing proposals to upgrade it. The "Ultra" proposal has a cost estimate over $100B and might be done by 2050. The other one, "Acela-like," is already planned, has a cost estimate under $50B and could be completed within a decade and can thus assist in climate mitigation.

Background

• Cascades as Emerging High Speed Rail 
• This Popular Amtrak Route Will Now Go More Than 100 Miles per Hour

 
Action: Sign this petition to Pete Buttigieg, Secretary Of Transportation; Amit Bose, Fra Administrator: Deny Grant for Bullet Train Boondoggle - Urge WSDOT to Implement Existing Plan for 110mph trains & hourly service on Amtrak Cascades.

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​Have You Scheduled This Event?

Action Cafe 2023,
Every Monday at Noon

Chef Lisa and the Action Cafe crew are back! The Cafe is a weekly Monday Zoom noon-hour gathering where OI members meet, make new friends, and take actions together. Every Cafe comes with a side order of live music and a heapin’ helpin’ of good cheer!

Cafe patrons receive an email on Sunday with a sneak-peek at what we'll do at the cafe the next day. On Monday morning, Chef Lisa will send you a pdf "Menu" which has links to the actions we'll take together at the Cafe. 

Action: Register HERE. We will send you a Zoom link and tomorrow morning, Chef Lisa will send your "menu." 

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Is the Port on Your Sonar  for the Upcoming Elections?

Port of Olympia 1922, Courtesy of the Port of Olympia

​Free 35 minute slide talks presented  by Jon Ceazan and Carla Wulfsberg, Port of Olympia Action Team of Olympia Indivisible.

What will be covered:

• Find out what concerns motivated the creation of public Ports in Washington State and how many of those same concerns resonate today with the citizens of Thurston County about the Port of Olympia. 
• Through historic slides, see how the Port has changed over the past century. 
• Learn about the Port candidates who could bring significant change to the Port and Thurston County. 
• Get your questions about the Port answered in the Q & A following the presentation.

 For more information: [email protected] 
 
Action: Attend one of two sessions.

• Tuesday, September 26,  7:00 p.m.
  Traditions Fair Trade, 300 Fifth Avenue SW, Olympia 98501

 

• Saturday, September 30, 2:00 p.m.
  Lacey Library Meeting Room, 500 College Street SE, Lacey, 98503

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​You Might Also Like to Attend:

​The Democracy Middle

A FREE lecture by Professor David Domke

This lecture discusses four key ACTIONS – the “Democracy Middle” that has formed, Gen Z political engagement, fighting for reproductive rights after the Dobbs decision, and holding Donald Trump legally accountable – that are undergirding today's successful struggle for American democracy. 

What: “Democracy is Winning: It’s Time for 2023 and 2024”
When: Wednesday, September 20, 5 pm PT
Where: On Zoom, register here.
Note: This lecture is a repeat of one delivered on September 6. 

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Snake River Campaign Procession in Olympia

Please join indigenous and faith leaders in Olympia as they raise their voices to support treaty rights in the Columbia River basin and the health of the Salish Sea bio-region by bearing witness to the urgency of breaching without further delay the Lower Snake River Dams. 

What: All Our Relations Snake River Campaign Procession in Olympia
When: Saturday, September 23rd, 1 to 4:30 pm 
Where: United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Ave SE, Olympia

Action: RSVP (details provided online) and show up! 

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Canopy of the Titans - Book Signing & Talk

What: Talk and book signing about trees and forests

• Squaxin Tribal Member Redwolf Krise will speak about some of his tribe's traditional teachings related to our local forests. 
• Then authors Jessica Applegate and Paul Koberstein will talk about the global importance of these same temperate rainforests, the work they have done in this field, and the book they wrote. 

When: Saturday, September 23, 4 - 6 p.m. 
Where: Traditions Café and Fair Trade Gallery (300 5th Ave SW, Olympia)

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