Maybe it was all the closed major arteries into Seattle making traffic a nightmare; maybe it was having our first meet up on a Sunday rather than a Saturday; or maybe it was the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in full bloom; but the numbers for our meet up yesterday were a little lower than usual.
But it turned out to be one of the most productive and enjoyable ones to date. For me personally it was great to have the chance to really have lengthy conversations with people rather than feeling so rushed.
In fact, the conversations were so engaging we totally spaced out taking any pictures. The camera sat on the table unused while we proceeded to solve the world's problems and plan for our group's future.
We nailed down a few guest speakers to pursue, set the date for the next get together, reviewed some opportunities we have in our area to get involved and make a difference and caught up with our individual activist activities.
The following Kossacks attended
momomia - I believe she's got perfect meet up attendance
Flamingogrrl - an activist force in her local community of Tukwila
MiddleEaarth - a welcome new face and future environmental writer on Kos on behalf of Sierra Club
TBone Apollo - Searching to make room in his life to contribute!
LarisaW - President of Progressive Radio Northwest
bleeding blue - 34th Precinct Captain
notrouble - a welcome new face
John Crapper. - some people say I'm full of it.
John Crapper S.O. one of the people who knows I really am!
Plus we had one guest.
Michael Foster - Founder of Plant for the Planet in the United States.
Follow below the orange hairpiece for more detail on our meet up.
I brought people up to date on my progress in preparing to launch a new environmental communication's hub called Northwest Climate Voices. I've scheduled webinars for the second week in April to orient environmental activists to both the Daily Kos site and Northwest Climate Voices in preparation for the launch. If all goes well, NWCVs will regularly post on Sunday late afternoon.
NWCV's was described in more detail
here.
Our guest, Michael Foster who is the founder of Plant for the Planet in the United States, will hopefully be one of the featured writers for Northwest Climate Voices. I first wrote about Plant for the Planet back on September 10, 2013. Since then things have been happening very quickly.
Michael briefly told our group of some of the more memorable accomplishments his young (ages 8 to 14) Plant for the Planet Amabassadors have had:
For example:
12/14: At the Seattle Westin ballroom in front of 800 people with VP Gore in attendance Plant for the Planet ambassador Abby introduced Governor Inslee.
3/15: Eight young citizens of Washington state filed their opening brief in their climate change case, Zoe & Stella Foster v. Washington Department of Ecology, to King County Superior Court. The young petitioners are appealing the Washington Department of Ecology’s denial of their request that the Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) promulgate a rule that would limit carbon dioxide emissions in Washington according to what scientists say is needed to protect our oceans and our climate system.
“Under the law, the people of this state, including the kids who have brought this case, have a fundamental right to a healthy environment,” said Andrea Rodgers of the Western Environmental Law Center, attorney for the youth petitioners. “Faced with the increasing harms posed by climate destabilization and ocean acidification, the young people brought this lawsuit to vindicate this right on behalf of themselves and future generations.”
To learn more visit
OurChildrensTrust.org
3/15: Plant for the Planet met with Jasmine (Mike O’Brien’s assistant) and William Foster, a city attorney, at the City Hall in Seattle. The goal of the meeting was to start the quest for labels at gas stations telling you about Climate Change.
Michael Foster is ready to help anybody interested in forming their own Plant for the Planet group in their area.
website: Climate Change for Families
e-mail: michael.foster2@comcast.net
We all agreed after getting this brief summation that we wanted to have these impressive young ambassadors address our group in the near future. Michael readily agreed and plans are already in the works to make this happen.
Next, mention was made of a ballot initiative being launched by CarbonWA. They are finalizing their ballot language and will have signature-gathering trainings / kick-offs in Seattle on Saturday April 11 and in Bellevue on Sunday April 19. We briefly discussed the possibility of assisting in this signature gathering effort. I mentioned to the group that I'd met with Yoram Bauman, a member of their executive committee recently. Yoram is a PhD environmental economist (and "stand-up economist") who co-authored the 1998 book Tax Shift with Sightline's Alan Durning. I plan to pursue having Yoram as a guest speaker in the near future and I personally feel this is an excellent opportunity for Seattle & Puget Sound Kos to make a difference. Signature gathering pledges can be made here.
Another effort of interest mentioned with national political implications was the recently launched Climate Hawks Vote Super Pac co-founded by Daily Kos blogger RL Miller, the elected chair of California Democratic Party’s environmental caucus. Their
goal remains steadfast: to elect climate hawk leaders - those who prioritize and speak on the climate crisis. We don't support those who avoid issues such as Keystone XL, Arctic drilling, and coal exports. Climate change is the greatest threat facing ours and future generations, not just another Democratic issue, but too many politicians are afraid to talk about it
.
You can always keep up to date with what is happening in our area by checking in here.
Other possible guest speakers mentioned at the meeting and in the past:
Claudia Balducci trying to unseat Jane Hague in the 45th LD.
Executive Director of Earth Ministry, LeeAnne Beres.
Immigration attorney, Karol Brown, who has a program that details the executive actions Obama has taken with the Dreamers and the recent "deferred action" on certain undocumented individuals.
Finally, reminders were made about being constantly on the lookout for Kossacks to recruit to join our efforts. I mentioned feelers have been made specifically to the Olympic Peninsula and Bellingham Kossacks to form their own groups. Please be especially on the lookout for eastern Washington Kossacks. As the Washington State Community Builder I'd love to get some action going in the red part of the state! Please Kosmail me with any and all leads!
So, as you can see, if you were one of the unlucky ones that couldn't be with us this last Sunday we had a great planning session and meet up.
It was announced that our next meet up will be on 5/30 at the Pyramid beginning at 12:00 and ending by 2:30. Mark your calendars now and reserve the date. Somebody on the list mentioned above will hopefully be our guest speaker.
Our group is the hub of a wheel with spokes emanating from that hub. A place where people can share their reasons for being part of Daily KOS. A place where people can inform others of their activist efforts so like-minded individuals can connect. A place where we can invite others to join our community. A place to make new members feel welcome and connected. And a forum giving us the opportunity to hear from our local leaders and us a chance to share our ideas with them. And a place to gather and have a good time.
If you haven't yet joined our group - do it. If you haven't yet been to a meet up -do it. You owe it to yourself.
Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support of my efforts too! It is appreciated and uplifting!
Happy trails to you until we meet again and
enjoy Spingtime!