Have you checked your mailbox lately?

Just this week, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote, “Republicans have signaled early, in two key State Senate races, that they are ready to go negative with crude attack mailings with November’s election day still 99 days away.”

With the help of extremist big-money donors, Republicans are trying to intimidate my colleagues and me into backing down on our ambitious agenda to build a Washington that works for us all. They plan to bring in so much money that they’ll not only scare off Democrats on the ballot this November — they think they’ll be able to build a big enough war chest that they’ll even intimidate me.

Here’s the thing: They’re wrong. I’m not backing down. But to prove it to them, I need your help.

Click here to donate $5 before Thursday’s July 31 fundraising deadline, and help me keep fighting for a Washington that works for all.

When I walked into the governor’s office, I laid out big goals to improve our state — like creating jobs, fully funding our schools, acting on climate change, and ensuring our roads are safe for truckers and families alike. We can’t reach those goals unless we show our commitment.

Our opponents are already trying to use our agenda as a wedge to divide voters. They’ve committed huge sums of money to defeating my colleagues on Election Day and turning back the clock on our progress. They’ve even asked for more money from their donors to “elect more Republicans to stand up against Jay Inslee.”

That’s why we need to show we’re not backing down. We need to show we have the strength to meet the opposition dollar-for-dollar — even if we have to do it with just a few dollars at a time.

We can show Republicans that we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and we can send their big-money donors a big message. We can tell them that no matter how much they spend to distort my record, we’ll hit them right back.

Show the opposition that you’re not intimidated by their big dollar donors. Click here to contribute $5 now.

Thanks for your commitment to building a better future for Washington.

Very truly yours,

Jay Inslee

I’m not going to tell you to stop using shampoo. Or deodorant. Or to stop eating the occasional donut or fries.

Almost all of us put something in or on our bodies every day that contains palm oil—cookies, moisturizer, potato chips, makeup, you name it.¹ And as you might know, some palm oil production is wiping out rainforests, destroying orangutan habitat, and driving global warming.²

So, what should you do? Stop buying products with palm oil in them? Even if that were practical, it wouldn’t be nearly as effective as what UCS is doing with your help: convincing giant corporations to switch to palm oil grown in sustainable ways that don’t lead to an increase in global warming.

Company after company has changed their ways, thanks to you. But palm oil is just one front in the battle to defend science and our planet—and right now, your donation will have TWICE the impact on that battle. Our matching gift offer ends tomorrow. $250,000 is at stake.

Please, ensure UCS doesn’t miss the chance for $250,000 to fund our critical work. Chip in $10 or more now, and your gift will be doubled.

Palm oil is just one example of how, together, we are changing the way corporations do business. We worked directly with brands like General Mills, Colgate-Palmolive, and Wilmar International (one of the world’s largest palm oil traders) to adopt deforestation-free policies that will prevent tons of carbon pollution. And we’re still at it.

Another example: we helped convince Pfizer to stop funding the Heartland Institute, a “think tank” infamous for billboards equating climate scientists with terrorists.

And our groundbreaking “Ripe for Retirement” report made a compelling business case for utilities to move away from using dirty, polluting coal as a source of electrical power—and we watched as soon thereafter close to two dozen coal-fired power plants closed down.

You see, UCS doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to the battles we choose. We go where science can do the most good now—whether that’s working with local leaders to prepare cities and towns for the impacts of climate change, defending stricter national rules on carbon pollution to fight global warming, or helping corporations adopt strong sustainability policies.

So, I’m not asking you to stop shampooing. I’m asking you to help change the way the food we eat and the products we buy are made. I’m asking you to help push science forward and push corporations and lawmakers in the right direction. We can do this. We already are.

That’s what you’re funding with your matched gift today—making twice the difference to defend science and protect our planet. The matching gift deadline is tomorrow. Please don’t delay

Don’t miss this chance to do twice as much for science and our planet. Double your gift to UCS now >>

No one else combines independent scientific analysis, savvy media outreach, and grassroots power like UCS. It’s a mix that has enormous power—both to convince people who care to act on their beliefs, and to convince those who stand against us to change their tune.

You’re making a wise and necessary investment. Thank you for your generous support.

Sincerely, Ken Kimmell President Union of Concerned Scientists

1. http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/stop-deforestation/palm-oil-and-forests.html
2. http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/stop-deforestation/palm-oil-scorecard.html