The good folks at WeBuyItGreen have done a really smart bit of sleuthing and boy, did they uncover something juicy. Close on the heels of the unprecedented $1,000,000 spend that came from the ACC in an attempt to buy Seattle city politics, comes our own version of a smoking gun Read the rest of this entry »
ACC Tops $1,000,000 In Spending Against Bag TaxWe have an important new video exposing the unprecedented $500,000 one-day contribution by the American Chemistry Council, backed by Exxon Mobil and other giants of the oil and chemical industries.
The world’s wealthiest corporations are on their way to spending $1 million to defeat Referendum 1–a grass roots effort by Seattleites to promote reusable bags, protect Puget Sound, and curb dependence on foreign oil.
The Big Oil money is fueling a campaign of outright lies and deceit. The worst: accusations that Referendum 1 will force food banks and other charities to pay a fee for non-reusable bags. Nothing is further from the truth.
We cannot let Exxon and Dow Chemical buy an election in Seattle by pretending to care about the needy. If these polluting industries truly cared about disadvantaged people, they would donate $500,000 to area food banks and to clean up low income communities impacted by their pollution.
PLEASE get involved and stop this cynical attack on our elections process, our environment, and our commitment to social justice.
Thank you. ACC Ramps Up Spending To Defeat Referendum 1The American Chemistry Council is continuing to spend advertising dollars to convince citizens, through misleading and false messages if necessary, to vote against Referendum 1. We need your help now more than ever, with the Council devoting an unprecedented $500,000 more in their attempts to undo Seattle’s efforts to protect its environment. Read the rest of this entry » Seattle Times’ Excellent Coverage of Ref. 1 FightThe Seattle Times today captured the essence of the contest over the green fee, championed by a local grassroots coalition and opposed by out of state corporate interests. They get it that this is about reducing our run-away bag consumption, and not a tax to generate revenue. Take a stroll with usA great opportunity to enjoy this fine summer weather is coming up these next two Saturday mornings, July 25th and August 1st. Join with dozens of other Green Bag Campaign volunteers as we deliver our campaign fliers to voters’ doorsteps across the city. This is a critical piece of the campaign and a great way to help out. Sign up today! If you can’t make these dates, please joing us for an evening of voter contact calling. We have a night that fits your schedule, and the cold beer to keep you talking! New polling shows the Green Bag fight is tight but winnableA new KING TV poll shows the race to approve Referendum 1 is a tightening dead heat: we are leading by 1% with only 7% undecided. But this does not mean we “have it in the bag.” The oil and plastic bag industries have spent over $200,000 and will undoubtedly see these poll numbers and write even more big, out-of-state checks. We can win this, but to do so we need your help to turn out our strong base of voters and persuade those still on the fence about this progressive, needed legislation. Ballots arrive in the mail in four weeks and are due by August 18. Chris Jordan explores plastic waste in his photosThe Seattle Green Bag Campaign held a fundraiser in late June featuring environmental artist Chris Jordan, a mini-bar, wood-fired pizza and corn-based plastic cups. Bag Monster Sighting!The Bag Monster was discovered again by the paparazzi, this time in front of Seattle’s Town Hall. Go check him out! Baltimore Latest City Considering Green Bag LawThe wave of green bag reform is cresting across the country, led by Seattle’s landmark policy that will be before voters Aug. 18. Now, Baltimore is considering a bag fee similar to our city’s. And, predictably, the plastics industry is working behind closed doors to lobby elected leaders to drop the plan. Read the rest of this entry » Legislation Update: D.C. Finalizes Bag Fee!A month ago, we were excited to report that the city of Washington D.C. was considering a fee on all paper and plastic bags, and now we are ecstatic to follow that up with the news that the District of Columbia approved the 5-cent fee. The fee was fought by Republicans and plastic bag industries, but the council was swayed by studies that showed charging for plastic bags could eliminate up to 47 percent of trash in the Anacostia watershed tributaries and 21 percent from the Anacostia River’s main stem. That’s D.C.’s way of saying “NO” Big Oil, we won’t let you pollute our waterways! Safeway Grocery Stores will join the effort by donating to 10,000 low-income families as well as select non-profits. The District has certainly shown us the way and the city of Seattle should stay in this vanguard by approving Referendum 1 on August 18. Seattle Public Utilities estimates the 20-cent fee will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40%— about 112,000 tons over 30 years, roughly 4,000 tons per year or the equivalent of taking 665 cars off the road. Imagine what that will do to protect our own waterways. Like The District, Seattle also has plans to donate free reusable bags to elderly and low-income families. It’s a win-win-WIN scenario for Seattle! |
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