TAKE ACTION ON DISASTER RELIEF: Expand the Western States Pact
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Oregon Governor Kate Brown
There should be an expansion of the Western States Pact directly for disaster relief. This is a pact in place currently between five states that came together in 2020 to combine resources to implement policies and work together regarding the coronavirus pandemic. They shouldn’t lose their momentum by stopping this interconnected action just because they have nearly achieved their goals of reopening respective state economies. In their original announcement of the Western States Pact, the three original state representatives (California, Washington, and Oregon) stated: “COVID-19 doesn’t follow state or national boundaries. It will take every level of government, working together, and a full picture of what’s happening on the ground.” Wildfire also doesn’t follow boundaries, which is why a dozen states were on fire in 2020, not even including the impacts that were felt by Mexico and Canada.
There is an expanded version of Western States Pact phrasing and how the mission directly works alongside disaster relief that can be found here.
In the Western States Pact, a point was made to say that “Each state will work with its local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what’s happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed-upon approach” (Newsom, etc., 2020). Does this include frontline activists? Indigenous communities? People in places most highly at risk? All of these people and more are already on the frontlines, putting in the labor without help from our political leaders. Now we need support.
These actions are already happening in the communities we live in. Are political leaders ready to take the next steps? On the ground, people are not about to have another bloodbath because somebody didn’t have access to food and water in the middle of a crisis. Organizations, collectives, and individuals have already started the hard work to not only supply aid but demand assistance. The ask of those a part of the Western States Pact is to join in, listen to their people, and then take action.
The Western States Pact can and should repeat their one trillion dollar request for states to get aid in the middle of a crisis to support civilians who are just trying to survive. The difference this time is that this won’t only have the momentum and support from dozens of mutual aid, environmental, and poverty assistance groups, all of which gain excellent traction in the political realm.
Justice is only made of all of us working together. People in these five states and more are taking action to provide evacuation supply packs and other essential items to people losing their homes. The right side of history is here. Justice is with all of us together, if only you'd join us.
Petition by
Sponsored by
To:
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Oregon Governor Kate Brown
From:
[Your Name]
As a citizen, we're begging for assistance regarding the disasters rapidly hitting our communities. This is why we're asking for the time, dedication, and funding that went into Western States Pact action to go into expanding the program for more states and a vital cause. Disaster relief.
There should be an expansion of the Western States Pact directly for disaster relief. This is a pact in place currently between five states that came together in 2020 to combine resources to implement policies and work together regarding the coronavirus pandemic. They shouldn’t lose their momentum by stopping this interconnected action just because they have nearly achieved their goals of reopening respective state economies. In their original announcement of the Western States Pact, the three original state representatives (California, Washington, and Oregon) stated: “COVID-19 doesn’t follow state or national boundaries. It will take every level of government, working together, and a full picture of what’s happening on the ground.” Wildfire also doesn’t follow boundaries, which is why a dozen states were on fire in 2020, not even including the impacts that were felt by Mexico and Canada.
In the Western States Pact, a point was made to say that “Each state will work with its local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what’s happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed-upon approach” (Newsom, etc., 2020). Does this include frontline activists? Indigenous communities? People in places most highly at risk? All of these people and more are already on the frontlines, putting in the labor without help from our political leaders. Now we need support.
These actions are already happening in the communities we live in. Are political leaders ready to take the next steps? On the ground, people are not about to have another bloodbath because somebody didn’t have access to food and water in the middle of a crisis. Organizations, collectives, and individuals have already started the hard work to not only supply aid but demand assistance. The ask of those a part of the Western States Pact is to join in, listen to their people, and then take action.
The Western States Pact can and should repeat their one trillion dollar request for states to get aid in the middle of a crisis to support civilians who are just trying to survive. The difference this time is that this won’t only have the momentum and support from dozens of mutual aid, environmental, and poverty assistance groups, all of which gain excellent traction in the political realm.
Justice is only made of all of us working together. People in these five states and more are taking action to provide evacuation supply packs and other essential items to people losing their homes. The right side of history is here. Justice is with all of us together, if only you'd join us.