what we do
Centuries of colonialism, capitalism, and white supremacy have embedded us in systems that prioritize profit and result in environmental degradation, severe social inequity, and climate change. This comes at the cost of our natural environment, our health and well-being, and our collective future on Earth. We are witnessing the unfolding of catastrophe, with increasingly frequent natural disasters, extreme weather, public health crises, and social and economic desperation. Governments, large businesses, and other wealthy, ruling elite have and will not implement a transition to an economy that supports and protects workers, the historically marginalized, and the environment. We cannot count on those who created and benefit from this crisis to save us from it.
We need bold, creative, and urgent solutions that do not reinforce historic injustices or create new human rights violations. The climate crisis disproportionately harms already-marginalized communities and many of these communities are leading battles for a better, healthier, safer planet. These are the communities we support and the battles we fight.
our work
Breach is a nimble organization with the capacity and expertise to support movements at varying stages of development with divergent approaches to making an impact. Our mission is to build power within the climate and labor movements through organizing, legal advocacy, education, and storytelling.
Currently, our work is centered around:
Fossil fuel resistance, including natural gas
Building electrification
Labor movement building
Movement education
Internal anti-racism work
our project & partners
Stop Zenith Oil: We work with a broad contingent of neighborhood organizations, nonprofits, and elected officials in Portland to stop the expansion of Zenith Energy and ensure a rapid, managed decline of fossil fuel infrastructure in the city’s Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub.
Fossil Free Eugene & other Oregon anti-gas and building electrification work: We are a member of the Fossil Free Eugene coalition holding the City of Eugene accountable to its Climate Recovery Ordinance by demanding building electrification policy and a just transition to renewable energy. We connect with grassroots organizations in other cities around the state to help propel similar initiatives at the local government level. We are involved in efforts to expose the truth about “natural” methane gas and the deception of the natural gas industry to portray the dangerous fossil fuel as a safe climate solution.
Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP, formerly Memphis Community Against the Pipeline): We were one of MCAP’s first partners when it formed in 2020 to successfully fight construction of the proposed Byhalia Connection Pipeline through Black neighborhoods in Southwest Memphis. After this victory, we continue to support MCAP as they protect Memphis’ groundwater from pollution and broaden their advocacy to include other environmental justice issues.
Support Unionizing Efforts in Other Nonprofits: We collaborate with staff at our union, Communications Workers of America, to create resources and foster a unionization movement at nonprofit organizations and in other climate-vulnerable workforces.
Internal Anti-Racism Work: We work to proactively identify, take accountability for, and dismantle components of white supremacy and hierarchy in our internal culture and workplace dynamics.
Movement Education: Breach provides ongoing education courses and trainings for activists, organizers, storytellers, attorneys, and other interested members of the communities we partner with. Our 2021 course, “Organizing the Green New Deal,” attracted hundreds of participants and showcased cutting edge thought in the climate justice movement.
Breach in the press
“Our city officials intentionally worked with Zenith to issue them a new permit, allowing them to continue bringing oil tankers down our river and oil trains through our neighborhoods.” - Josie Moberg in the Mercury
“Without the work of passing laws and re-seizing the reins of politics and going to the ballot box, we can’t win. We should celebrate, sure, but we should be realistic about the work ahead.” Nick Caleb in the Guardian
“Prosecutors providing assurances that a new terrorism law will only be used in the most narrow and responsible ways in Oregon doesn’t ease my worries in the least…The Secretary of State report on extremism demonstrated that there’s little appetite to actually grapple with the abuses of anti-terrorism laws and institutions that have arisen in this country over the last several decades, so Oregon is at high risk of repeating history.” - Nick Caleb in The Intercept
“Suddenly there’s enough Democrats that also think labeling things as terrorism will have an effect on stopping that type of disruptive activity.” - Nick Caleb in Grist
“I think that's probably a next step ... trying to figure out how we as unionized workers and workplaces can start pressuring funders to not support organizations whose management is actively engaged in union busting or contracting with notorious union- defense firms.” - Danny Noonan in E&E
“The most information we got out of the meeting was how scared the city is of getting sued…You can always cite fear of litigation when you’re citing industry over community, but that’s a very frustrating answer for the community to hear.” - Josie Moberg in the Pacific Sentinel
“Portland is ready to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy.” - Nick Caleb in the Oregonian
“We advocated for additional measures to ensure community oversight of major polluters and protections for communities living near large liquid fuel storage tanks, but these recommendations were ignored by [Portland] city staff and City Council.” - Nick Caleb in the Oregonian.
“The ‘deal’ does nothing to protect Portland’s residents from dangerous trains or fuel storage facilities. The city fast-tracked this decision without any community involvement and with full knowledge of how many residents and elected officials spoke out against Zenith’s operations last fall.” - Nick Caleb on Zenith in Oregon Public Broadcasting.
“We hope that this is just the beginning of building electrification policy in Eugene, and we hope they stay the course and move expeditiously on the timelines they set themselves.” - Danny Noonan on KLCC.
“NW Natural has been exceptionally successful for many, many years running a marketing campaign to convince people that they're a green company. Even their name makes them sound like an organic grocer rather than a fracked gas supply.” - Nick Caleb in the Mercury.