350 Montana is in full summer mode. We’ve throttled back a bit. With these summer extremes, I wanted to draw your attention to a great article by Trout Unlimited about Montana’s changing climate. It’s a great overview for skeptical family and friends:

http://www.tu.org/node/107896

I attended a Climate Reality leadership training session in Seattle the last week of June. That’s Al Gore’s group. I got to shake his hand! And, along with 800 other folks from all over the country, we got trained in presenting Al’s climate slideshow. Let me know if you want me to present the show to your group. Send an email to yswolfhowl@gmail.com.

John Woodland, my co-chair, is off to Billings this week for another training with Northern Plains Resource Council. Our leadership team has had several letters-to-the-editor published about the continuing deterioration of NorthWestern Energy’s support for renewable energy. And we’re working on two “white paper” reports about what our utility is doing with its lobbying and public relations. Look for a fall program to address our concerns.

And thanks to everyone who contributed to Leonard Higgins’ defense fund last May. We raised over $4,000. Leonard was one of the “valve turners” who shut off five different tar sands oil pipelines last October.

Thanks, too, to those who enjoyed a fundraising meal at Five On Black in June. We raised $75 on that evening.

I just heard yesterday that Leonard’s trial (on trespassing and criminal mischief charges), scheduled for week after next, July 18, in Fort Benton, has been postponed. There’s no new date yet, but I would imagine we’re looking at the first part of October.

Thanks to everyone who was planning to go to the trial, and I hope you’re still willing next October.

Best,

Jeff Smith, co-chair, 350 Montana