Backbone Campaign

Mission

Backbone Campaign amplifies the aspirations of "We the People" with creative strategies and artful activism to manifest a world where life, community, nature, and our obligations to future generations are honored as sacred.

Description

From our headquarters on Vashon Island and organizing across the country, Backbone Campaign's focus is in three primary areas:

1. Harnessing railroad infrastructure for the public good

Created in partnership with the public, railroads have historically been treated as semi-public utilities. The critical national infrastructure they control intersects and impacts every sector of our society. 

But today’s corporate railroads operate with impunity. While making record profits, these Wall Street companies refuse to respond to any demands for electrification, better service, improved working conditions, or even increased public safety.

 Solutionary Rail locks arms with rail labor, environmental justice allies, and communities to put rail back in service to the public interest, in order to prioritize long term public interests over short term private profits.  

Our book, "Solutionary Rail: A people-powered campaign to electrify America's railroads and open corridors to a clean energy future" offers a blueprint for rail as a solution to so many crises facing us, including the climate crisis. Our work has built support for a national Supergrid located along rail lines, and our current campaign advocates for railyard electrification, in solidarity with labor and EJ communities.

2. Trains Can Save Salmon Campaign

From the Biden White House to Senator Patty Murray and Governor Jay Inslee, policymakers at all levels of government see the writing on the wall for the Snake River dams: the dams' future is highly uncertain. Meanwhile farmers deserve reliable and cost effective options for getting their wheat to market, and salmon and tribes need solutions that work sooner rather than later; we are in a race against extinction.

Washington State has committed millions to studying SE Washington's rail and road transport systems, but Solutionary Rail has already done the research. We've consulted with stakeholders in the area and with rail planners, and together, we've come up with a proposal for the Rosalia to Pasco Shortline Access Corridor. 

Our Trains Can Save Salmon Plan is a blue print for building out our State's rail assets so that farmers can get their grain to market, utilizing the short-line rail system in SE Washington. Our Plan is resilient, robust, and cost effective. And it can be completed much faster than the State is moving. More info is at SolutionaryRail.org/rosalia2pasco.

3. Creative Activism

Backbone Campaign is celebrating its 20th year this year! Over these last two decades, we have helped hundreds of communities stand up to protect what they love. We train community groups across the US how to get their message out in a big, bold way that is enrolling and beautiful.  Using light projection, kayaktivism, bannering, inflatables, and LEDs, we support progressive/environmental issue campaigns by making a visual impact and earning media coverage. For examples of some of our work, check out BackboneCampaign.org/recentactions 

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If you believe in problem-solving that builds a more just, sustainable, and dignified future, we hope you'll support our small but impactful and nimble organization with a tax deductible gift today.  We are grateful for your help that keeps these actions and trainings, and this solutions-oriented organizing growing!