See Below
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Thurston Climate Action Team is looking for help with county-wide, community-based Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
The Greenhouse Gas Inventory will tell us actual GHG emissions for all homes, businesses, and other activities within the county. We’re proposing to use this greenhouse gas data to start a county-wide conversation about GHG reduction goals, strategies and actions, starting with elected officials.
TCAT is in the final stages of data gathering, and preparing to calculate and analyze the data using a spreadsheet provided by ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability). If you have skills with Excel and have 4 or 5 hours available between now and the middle of February, you could make a big difference for this effort! Contact Graeme Sackrison (graeme.sackrison@gmal.com) or Tom Crawford tom@praxisnw.com to volunteer.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HEARING FOR SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH BILL (Washington Health Security Trust)
Fri Feb 1, 1:30 p.m. House Hearing Room B of the John L. O’Brien Building in Olympia
Single-payer (“Medicare for all”) supporters are still pushing for this profound reform in Washington State. The revised bill to create the Washington Health Security Trust (WHST) was filed on January 15 as House Bill 1085 (HB 1085) by Rep. Sherry Appleton. The updated version of this bill is designed to be workable under the federal government’s 2010 health care reform bill, but the basic provisions are similar to WHST’s versions going back 13 years. The House Health and Wellness Committee will hold a hearing on Fri. Feb. 1 at 1:30 p.m. in House Hearing Room B of the John L. O’Brien Building in Olympia, just SW of the Capitol Building. We need to pack the hearing room to show legislators that there is much public support. You can sign in as a supporter of HB 1085. Info: www.healthcareforallwa.org and www.leg.wa.gov
DAY OF RE-SKILLING: TAKE 2
Sat Feb 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., NW EcoBuilding Guild EcoHouse, 911 Adams Street SE, Olympia.
10-12 am “From Ewe to You: Working with Wool” $5
10-12 am “Basic Hand Sewing and Repairs” $5
1-4 pm “Weaving From Weeds: Basketmaking” $5, $25 materials fee
To register or for more information: www.transitionolympia.org Susi O’Bryan 754-4021
COMMUNITY UPDATE ON CLIMATE CHANGE & SEA LEVEL RISE (see attached flyer)
Mon, Feb 4, 7 pm, Olympia Center, Room B, 222 Columbia Street NW, Olympia
The City of Olympia, along with Transition Olympia and Confronting the Climate Crisis (FOR), will host the third annual community update on climate change at the Olympia Center.
This year’s discussion will focus on Olympia-specific implications and response to climate change and sea level rise. Andy Haub, Planning and Engineering Manager with the City of Olympia, will provide an update on the City’s ongoing sea level rise work. He will also summarize a recently-released Federal study of potential sea rise rates along the Pacific Coast including Washington. Rhonda Hunter, The Climate Reality Leadership Corps and past Ecology statewide Environmental Education Manager for Climate Change, will discuss climate change & action from the State to the individual level. Ample time will be provided for comments and questions.
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND FISH It’s not all about the clams, with Squaxin Island tribe fisheries biologist Scott Steltzner
Thurs, Feb 7, 7 pm, LOTT WET Science Center, 500 NE Adams, Olympia
South Sound Estuary Association presents the last in the 2012-2013“Discovery” Speakers Series. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Come early and view the LOTT WET Science Center exhibits. The event is free and open to the public. Presentation begins at 7:00 and will end by 9:00 pm
For more information, please contact Leihla at 360-888-0565 or leihla@sseacenter.org.
FIRST EARTH Uncompromising Ecological Architecture
Mon, Feb 11, 7-9 pm, MIXX 96 Meeting Room, Corner of State & Washington, Olympia
A documentary about building healthy houses in the old ways, out of the earth itself, and living together like in the old days, in villages. Shot on location from the West Coast to West Africa. Sponsored by Transition Olympia www.TransitionOlylmpia.org
THREAT TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS: Intervention on the Corporate Addiction to Power & Greed
Wed, Feb 13 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. at The Evergreen State College’s Seminar 2 Bldg Room C1107
Enjoy a provocative afternoon discussing corporate personhood with Scott Silber, lead faculty at Johns Hopkins University Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development Youth Organizing Institute; human rights and Environmental organizer, and former director of organizing at Colorado’s Public Workers’ Union. Scott is the director of National Intervention, calling for a 28th constitutional amendment to eliminate corporate personhood and money equals speech via Supreme Court-created doctrines. www.nationalintervention.org 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. at The Evergreen State College’s Seminar 2 Bldg Room C1107 today, and other presentations on Thurs Fri 14 and Fri Feb 15 (see below). This event is co-sponsored by Move to Amend, Olympia & Social Justice Committee of the Olympia Unitarian Church, and WashPIRG students. PLEASE REGISTER at www.movetoamendolympia.org. As of January 15 the sponsors anticipated 50 people, and they need to track size of the group, so your registration is important. More info: www.nationalintervention.org
CHARLES KOMANOFF CALLS FOR A CARBON TAX
Wed, Feb 13 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Traditions Fair Trade Café, 300 5th Avenue SW
Mr. Komanoff, Director of the Carbon Tax Center in Washington DC, will explain the need for a nationwide carbon tax at Traditions Fair Trade Café, 300 5th Avenue SW, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Mr. Komanoff will be more than life-size as he will appear, and answer audience questions, via Skype. The event is free, and everyone is welcome. The Carbon Tax Center is the pre-eminent source of information on this tax, which has reportedly moved from preposterous to essential with no steps in between. Mr. Komanoff will answer vital questions such as whether such a tax would be a hardship to ordinary Americans; and whether people would actually cut emissions in response, or simply decide to pay the extra. He can tell us whether any other scheme is likely to bring about the changes we want. The event is sponsored by the Green Party of South Puget Sound, an organization with a long record of concern for environmental and economic health. Info: Janet Jordan, 360-232-6165, janetjordan@fastmail.fm
THREAT TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS: Intervention on the Corporate Addiction to Power & Greed
Thurs, Feb 14, 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm, 902 Columbia St, (9th and Columbia Bldg.), Third floor conference room
(See the listing for Wed Feb 13, above.) Info: www.movetoamendolympia.org and www.nationalintervention.org
THREAT TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS: Intervention on the Corporate Addiction to Power & Greed
Fri, Feb 15, 6:30 to 9:00 pm, Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia.
(See the listing for Wed Feb 13, above.) Info: www.movetoamendolympia.org and www.nationalintervention.org
ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBY DAY at Washington State Legislature
Tues Feb 19: Start at The United Churches, 110 11th Ave SE, Olympia, at 8:30 a.m. and continue at the Capitol until 4 pm. Connect with the state’s leading conservation groups and hundreds of citizen advocates to push for the legislative priorities of statewide environmental groups. Students pay $10, and other adults pay $15. An optional lunch costs $12. Please register online at this link: Register online The environmental community’s three priorities for the 2013 legislative session are: 1. The Toxic Free Kids and Families Act; 2. Clean Energy Solutions; and 3. Conservation Works. More about the three priorities and the events are at www.environmentalpriorities.org. Info: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1608&EID=13700 More info: rein@wecprotects.org