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Sunday and Monday June 19-20, 2022 we pause to remember and celebrate Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when federal troops marched into Galveston, Texas to announce that all enslaved people were free. Juneteenth celebrates the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. It became a national holiday in 2021. From Blessed Tomorrow: "In celebration of Juneteenth, let us learn about the intersections of racism, environment, and climate change. Did you know…. Black Americans are disproportionately impacted physically and emotionally from environmental problems. Black people are more likely to live in communities with poor air quality and to have asthma than white people. The water quality in black communities is more likely to be poor and slower to be corrected than in white communities. Toxic sites are more likely to be in or near black communities. Black Americans suffer more from the rising temperatures due to global warming than white Americans. The mental and emotional impacts of the climate crisis are more greatly felt in black communities. Jim Antal, author of Climate Church, Climate World says that "climate change intensifies every system of injustice, discrimination and disadvantage" and that "climate change represents the greatest moral crisis humanity has every faced - a moral emergency of unprecedented proportions." Others call it "environmental racism." "The good news is that organizations like Blessed Tomorrow are raising awareness. Blessed Tomorrow is a coalition of diverse religious partners united as faithful stewards of God´s creation. They partner with denominations and other faith and climate organizations for just climate solutions." In celebration of Juneteenth, they offer the below links to Let’s Talk Climate webcasts on the topic of Climate and Environmental Justice. Let’s Talk Climate Episodes: Doing Justice: The Faith Path to Climate Equities The Moral Case for Climate Action Make Me An Instrument of Peace: Bring People Together to Care for Creation Energy Justice Is Loving Our Neighbor Eating Our Way Toward Climate and Racial Justice Why Faith and Climate "People of faith share a calling to love and care for God’s creation, one another, and especially the most vulnerable. Today, the health and stability of creation is threatened by our changing climate. We see the negative impacts of climate change in the suffering of our neighbors and in damage to the natural world. Living our faith means leading on climate change as stewards of God’s creation. The leadership of faith communities adds distinct moral perspectives to the climate change movement and motivates millions of Americans to act out of love." ~ Blessed Tomorrow Resources Blessed Tomorrow offers downloadable Resources and Guides for: Communications and Engagement; Events and Webinars; Impact Reduction; Research and Polling; and Success Stories Blog Subscribe to the Blessed Tomorrow blog to receive notification of the June, July, and August 2022 episodes.

A June 2022 study on Climate Change and Youth Mental Health by the Oregon Health Authority found that "for youth who see their future lives and wellbeing at stake, the burden and weight of climate change can seem both overwhelming and unfair." "Young people see their future at stake at decision-making tables where climate action is being debated, and yet they are not able to represent themselves at those tables. OHA’s report spotlights the effect of the enormous burden of climate change on our youth. We see their determination and resilience to make change." "We also see a clear-eyed assessment that the adults and institutions with power over their lives are not doing enough to address the causes of climate change. The strength and resilience of youth are calling us to relentlessly step up our efforts to protect the future of our youth, the planet and future generations." "As climate impacts grow, so have our awareness and understanding of how climate change affects our mental health and emotional well-being. Research is showing three main pathways climate change adversely affects our mental health: Increased extreme weather events and climate-related disasters Chronic climate stressors, such as water and food insecurity, and Increased awareness of climate change, leading to climate anxiety. "Communities affected by climate-related disasters such as wildfires may experience severe psychological and emotional distress after the disaster. Disasters can damage and even destroy homes, communities and safe spaces, and disrupt services critical for meeting basic needs such as housing. The process of recovering these basic needs can take a long time. In terms of mental health outcomes and risk factors, extreme weather events and disasters are known to cause: Trauma and shock; post-traumatic stress disorder Anxiety and depression Stress-related physical health symptoms Strains in social relationships, and Community displacement and migration "In March 2020, Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order (EO) 20-04 directing State Agencies to take action on climate change. The EO includes a number of general directives to state agencies, as well as three directives specific to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The Climate and Health in Oregon 2020 report is their first deliverable."

In her 2022 book IMAGINABLE: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything—Even Things That Seem Impossible Today, author Jane McGonigal "draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show us how to train our minds to think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable. She invites us to play with the provocative thought experiments and future simulations she’s designed exclusively for this book, with the goal to: Build our collective imagination so that we can dive into the future and envision, in surprising detail, what our lives will look like ten years from now Develop the courage and vision to solve problems creatively Take actions and make decisions that will help shape the future we desire Access “urgent optimism,” an unstoppable force within each of us that activates our sense of agency" "Imaginable teaches us to be fearless, resilient, and bold in realizing a world with possibilities we cannot yet imagine — until reading this transformative, inspiring, and necessary book." The book is divided into three parts, approximately equal in number of pages: Part I - Unlock Your Mind - mental habits that professional futurists practice and some social games they play. (pages 3-105) Part 2 - Think the Unthinkable - learn techniques used by IFTF to forecast (pages 109-236) Part 3 - Imagine the Unimaginable - social simulation games putting to test the skills and habits learned in the first two parts (pages 239-258) Part I is good start if you are new to futures thinking and not sure if you want to invest the time to learn forecasting or social simulation games because it promises to "make you feel better today... increase hope and motivation for the future and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety" - techniques helpful for "post-traumatic growth for our post-pandemic planet." Part I explains the science behind how futures thinking strengthens key pathways in the brain to build realistic hope, creativity, and more resilient response to stress." Urgent Optimists Urgent Optimists is an Institute For The Future (IFTF) individual membership community managed by Jane McGonigal - an online extension of her book Imaginable. Here you can: "collectively search for signals of change; discover new future scenarios; play future forecasting games with people from around the world; increase your own urgent optimism; and learn how to build it in any team, group or community." Signals of Hope On June 13, 2022 Urgent Optimists started a week-long scavenger hunt for "Local Signals of Hope." The challenge is to take a photograph of change you can see with your own eyes in your own neighborhood or community that gives you authentic hope for the future. A signal of hope is: A real thing that is already happening. (No purely hypothetical ideas, wishes, or fiction, please.) If you can take a photo or screenshot of it, that's real enough! Surprising or different from the normal. Photos of puppies and babies and rainbows will make us all feel good, but that's not what we're looking for... we want to see evidence of change, experimentation, resistance, innovation, disruption, and any other alternatives to the old ways of doing things! Recent or new. Please share stories and images of signals that are happening RIGHT NOW, not a photo you took last year or last decade. :) A clue to how the future could be better than today. Show us something that gives you authentic hope or makes you excited to imagine what's possible. The best signals will be ones that could scale up... what if this example became more common or widespread? Future Simulation Senarios "We all start with the same future scenario. Then, we each imagine what we personally would do in that strange new reality. How would we feel? What actions would we take? What would we need help with? How might we try to help others? Then as a group we all share stories and ideas drawing on our unique points of view." "Through collective imagination, we build empathy for other people's futures. We discover otherwise hard-to-predict consequences of potential future events. We feel ready for anything - even things that seem impossible today! And most importantly, we each find our own unique role to play in making a better future today." ~ Jane McGonigal

According to a recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world has less than three years for its greenhouse gas emissions to peak and head into a relatively rapid decline. Careful discernment is needed on where people of faith and conscience should place their time and energy in organizing for the policies that will lead us to a more just and hospitable world. Should the focus be on climate legislation currently being considered in Congress? Should the focus be upon presidential emergency powers? Some answers to these questions are discussed in a webinar held on Thursday, June 9, 2022 (now on YouTube) featured three leaders in the climate movement: Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of U.S. Climate Action Network Miranda Ehrlich, Federal Field Director for the Sierra Club Jean Su, Energy Justice Director for the Center for Biological Diversity Here are some links from the June 9, 2022 presentation Action Alert for the National Climate Emergency Act Petition to Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Utilities (Deadline Extended) Endorse Resolution Declaring Utilities as a Human Right Disruptive Humanitarianism to Address Climate Crisis Action Alert for Environmental Justice for All Environmental Justice for All Fact Sheet Environmental Justice for All Tour UCC Action Center Sign-Up This monthly installment of Creation Justice Webinars is co-hosted by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt who serves as the Minister of Environmental Justice for the United Church of Christ and the Rev. Michael Malcom who serves as the Executive Director for Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and the People's Justice Council.

In John Doerr's 2021 book Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis he "presents a compelling 10-step plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 – the global goal we need to reach to ensure a livable Earth for generations to come." In an Amazon review of the book, Mark P. McDonald says "Doerr organizes Speed and Scale into 10 chapters outlining 55 statements of Objectives and Key Results (OKR’s). Using this approach Doerr treats the climate crisis as a management problem rather than the existential crisis it is. Breaking down the big problem into smaller chunks makes sense, however it does not drive action as individual companies, leaders and human beings can say 'I am taking care of this part' without addressing the root causes." The new Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability will launch in September 2022. "It will be a home to traditional academic departments related to topics such as planetary science, energy technology and food-and-water security. It will also feature several inter-disciplinary institutes and a center focused on developing practical policy and technology solutions to the climate crisis.” the school aims to provide context and analysis around climate change issues, but would stop short of advocacy." “Climate and sustainability is going to be the new computer science,” ~ John Doerr The new Stanford School of sustainability is a signal of hope, but a May 4, 2022 article in the New York Times Stanford Gets $1.1 Billion for New Climate School From John Doerr David Callahan, author of The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age points out that “billion dollars could be better spent trying to move this up on the scale of public opinion. Until the public sees this as a top tier issue, politicians are not going to act.” ”

"Earth’s weary lovers are tired, perplexed, and battered from all directions. Their hearts have so often been broken. It’s hard to go on, but it is morally impossible to quit. How do Earth’s protectors find the heart to continue the struggle?" ~ Kathleen Dean Moore Kathleen Dean Moore's new book Take Heart: Encouragement for Earth's Weary Lovers, to be released June 14, 2022, promises to offer solace, inspiration and hope. To find out more attend a live on zoom book launch on on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 6 p.m. PDT. The event will feature an interview-style conversation between author Kathleen Dean Moore and the book's illustrator, Bob Haverluck, as well as music and book giveaways. Register Here. "We'll think together about how we might collect our thoughts, confront our dismay, obliterate our obstacles, gather our courage, summon our communities, and reclaim our laughter and joy for the work ahead." This book launch event is hosted by the Spring Creek Project and co-sponsored by OSU Press, Grass Roots Books & Music, OSU's Environmental Arts and Humanities Initiative, 350 Seattle, 350 Eugene, Corvallis Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Safina Center, the Post Carbon Institute, and McKenzie River Trust. University of Oregon's (Corvallis) Spring Creek Project "brings together the practical wisdom of environmental science, the clarity of philosophy, and the transformational power of the written word and the arts to envision and inspire just and joyous relations with the planet and with one another."

The Chaplaincy Institute, an interfaith seminary and community, based in Berkeley, CA, is offering a three-day, 1.5 credit hour elective class on Eco-Ministry on from Friday, June 10, 2022 at 9 a.m. through Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 5 p.m. "Bringing curiosity to our deepest ways of knowing, courageously questioning our lifestyle choices, and prophetically imagining a regenerative future is what The Chaplaincy Institute (Chi) calls Eco-Ministry. "In this 3-day course, participants will learn ancient and innovative, life-affirming and healing practices for Earth and the systems on which humans depend. In addition to presentations with subject-area experts, this course takes us outdoors to learn with Earth, and to local venues where new and indigenous practices are showing us the way forward. Art and Ritual are part of the daily experience, honoring our need for expression and integration at every level." "CHI was envisioned by clergy from a variety of faith traditions who saw a need for deeper Interfaith dialogue, and for building bridges of understanding across religious divides to bring peace and understanding to today’s world." Click here for more information or Register for Chaplaincy Institute Open Courses. The fee for the three day course on Eco-Ministry is $510.

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is presenting a webinar on Wednesday June 1, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PDT on Collaboration Opportunities Between the AMS and Spiritual/Faith-Based Organizations to Build a Weather-Ready Nation. The webinar aims to "bring together perspectives on the roles of spiritual/faith-based communities and organizations in building a Weather-Ready Nation, and identify opportunities to work together to strengthen community resilience from high-impact weather events." It is part of a Finding Common Ground Among Science, Spirituality, and Environmentalism Series co-sponsored by Interfaith Power & Light and Creation Justice Ministries to build a weather-ready nation. Presenter: Doug Hilderbrand, National Weather Service HQ Panelists: Dr. Carlos Javier Martinez, NCAR/AMS COSMOS Bruce Jones, Midland Radio Rev. Susan Hendershot, Interfaith Power and Light Director Marcus T. Coleman Jr., DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships The Q&A, chat file, anonymous survey results, and attendee list from this webinar will be shared with its organizers. "Spiritual and faith-based houses of worship are often places of safety, volunteerism, and crisis management during and after high-impact weather events (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, flash flooding). Hence, spiritual and faith-based communities can be an integral part of Building a Weather-Ready Nation."

The SOCAN Monthly General Meeting on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 6 p.m. will address Climate Justice 101. There is no charge for joining the ZOOM meeting, but registration is required: bit.ly/SOCANClimateJustice101 The May meeting will be dedicated to a discussion of the importance of understanding climate justice as we work to address the climate crisis. Presenters Rodrigo Narbona from the Northwest Justice Project and Virginia Camberos, Rogue Valley Regional Director of Unite Oregon will be joined by Unite Oregon Climate Justice Committee Speakers - Anahi Cervantes & Jose Antonio Bucio who will be sharing their stories. "Vulnerable communities across the globe, including in the United States, have long suffered disproportionately from environmental degradation that results from inconsiderate and irresponsible behaviors. No proposal addressing the climate crisis can be effective unless it also recognizes and redresses years of inequity. We cannot successfully remedy the climate crisis if our efforts maintain or heighten the social injustice that is already evident throughout our society."

On Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. PT join Bill Twist, co-founder of the Pachamama Alliance, in a 60-minute webinar conversation with Peter Fiekowsky, author of the new book Climate Restoration: The Only Future That Will Sustain the Human Race. RSVP for the WEBINAR "Peter Fiekowsky invites us to shed the talk of “mitigation” and “net-zero” and replace them with goals that will achieve what we want: "a livable planet for generations to come." Peter’s work is both inspiring and grounded in existing, feasible solutions available today that could drastically change the trajectory of climate chaos by 2050." "Peter is an MIT-educated physicist and engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a social innovator who has spent the last 30 years working to address global poverty and climate issues. He is the founder of the Foundation for Climate Restoration who unites the public, policy-makers, and technical and business experts behind the common goal of reversing global warming and restoring a healthy climate for future generations."

Project Drawdown has a new report, Climate–Poverty Connections: Opportunities for Synergistic Solutions at the Intersection of Planetary and Human Well-being and is offering a two-part webinar to explain it in depth. "Panelists will share concrete evidence of how climate solutions can also help meet human well-being* needs and alleviate poverty in rural communities in Africa and South Asia." Part 1: Climate–Poverty Connections: Improving Agriculture and Agroforestry, Providing Clean Electricity, and Adopting Clean Cooking on Thursday, May 26, 2022 5 a.m. PDT "Global experts in international development, environmental health, clean energy, and natural resource management will discuss how climate solutions focused on improving agriculture and agroforestry, providing clean electricity, and adopting clean cooking can yield substantial socioeconomic, health, equity, and environmental gains." Register now Part 2: Climate–Poverty Connections: Protecting and Restoring Ecosystems and Fostering Equality on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 5 a.m. PDT "Global experts in cross-sectoral conservation and health initiatives, climate adaptation, girls’ education, and environmental conservation will focus on how climate solutions that protect and restore ecosystems and foster equality can lift people up while drawing down greenhouse gases." Register now "The analysis provides solid evidence for enormous direct and indirect human well-being* co-benefits and ripple effects arising from the 28 solutions in five climate solutions groups: Improving Agriculture and Agroforestry: Abandoned Farmland Restoration, Conservation Agriculture, Farm Irrigation Efficiency, Improved Rice Production, Multistrata Agroforestry, Nutrient Management, Reduced Food Waste, Regenerative Annual Cropping, Silvopasture, Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders, System of Rice Intensification, Tree Intercropping. Protecting and Restoring Ecosystems: Coastal Wetland Protection, Coastal Wetland Restoration, Forest Protection, Grassland Protection, Indigenous Peoples’ Forest Tenure, Peatland Protection and Rewetting, Temperate Forest Restoration, Tropical Forest Restoration. Adopting Clean Cooking: Biogas for Cooking, Improved Clean Cookstoves. Providing Clean Electricity: Distributed Solar Photovoltaics, Geothermal Power, Micro Wind Turbines, Microgrids, and Small Hydropower. Fostering Equality: Health and Education. *The 12 dimensions of human well-being used in the Drawdown Lift Human Well-Being Index are: Education, Energy, Food, Gender Equality, Health, Housing, Income and Work, Networks, Peace and Justice, Political Voice, Social Equity, and Water and Sanitation."

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), based in Portland, "envisions communities of faith in ministry together creating a more peaceful, just, sustainable and compassionate world." They are "committed to bringing the faith community’s voice to the policy-making process at the Oregon Legislature, as well as advocating in communities statewide, to create systems, institutions and public policies that ensure a life of possibility for all Oregonians." "The Creation Justice programs of EMO activate congregations seeking to improve their practices of environmental stewardship and environmental and ecological justice. Our current projects include Oregon Interfaith Power & Light. Our mission is to love God’s Creation through education, relationships and advocacy." Sign up to receive EMO's monthly newsletter Creation Justice in Oregon. Check out the EMO Facebook page. In addition to creation justice, EMO also focuses on community service, advocacy/action, and education/dialogue on such issues as: peace & justice, racism, homelessness, emergency food program, immigration and refugee assistance, HIV assistance, vaccinations and more. The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon as a tax-deductible, 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

Solutions to the climate crisis are not found just in physics, science and logic; society and policy makers must become activated by ethics, morals, spirituality, a cosmic worldview, plus strong emotions of love, compassion, awe, wonder, humility, outrage, grief and courage - to overcome the greed and lies of powerful self interests. "Climate change is a moral challenge, not simply an economic or technological problem." ~ Kathleen Dean Moore Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael Nelson are editors of 87 inspiring essays in the 2010 book Moral Ground: Ethical Action For a Planet in Peril - diverse voices including Desmond Tutu, Gus Speth, the Dali Lama, E. O. Wilson, Barack Obama, John Paul II, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Thich Nhat Han, Bill McKibben, Thomas L. Friedman, Sallie McFague, Marcus J. Borg, Wendell Berry, Thomas Berry, Mary Evelyn Tucker, Brian Swimme, Terry Tempest Williams, Barbara Kingsolver, Paul Hawken and many more. The book is organized in 14 section with reasons for an answer "YES" to the question: "Do we have a moral obligation to take action to protect the future of a planet in peril?" for the survival of humankind for the sake of the children for the sake of the earth itself for the sake of all forms of life on the planet to honor our duties of gratitude and reciprocity for the full expression of human virtue because all flourishing is mutual for the stewardship of God's creation because compassion requires it because justice demands it because the world is beautiful because we love the world to honor and celebrate the Earth and Earth systems because our moral integrity requires us to do what is right Each section is followed by calls to Ethical Actions - How we can save the Earth; minimize human suffering throughout the world (particularly among the poorest and most vulnerable);; protect other species; repair fragile ecosystems; promote long-term prosperity, happiness and wellbeing; and transition into more equitable and sustainable economic systems." Find empowerment and firm moral ground to take necessary actions.

Climate Cafe MultiFaith is "an opportunity for faith leaders and clergy to get together to share experiences, and engage a discussion, with a short presentation & Q&A, around the subject of climate change, climate effects and climate solutions—hope! " Climate Cafe MultiFaith is held every 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesday of the month, at 11:00 a.m. PDT. Together we can build a deeper understanding climate change, as well as learn together ways to respond within faith communities, and how a faith-led response could benefit the whole community. Climate Cafes started in Scotland in 2015. Check out their official page on the Climate Cafe Hub, an article featured in The Guardian about how Climate Cafes began, and also from Avocado Magazine. Email Richenda Fairhurst to be added for information on Faiths4Future Climate Cafe Multifaith upcoming gatherings. Find their archive here.

"Designing Sustainable Futures (DSF) is a practice and a mindset that draws on the power of futures thinking, the creativity of design, and the capacity of collective leadership." On May 24, 2022 at 8 a.m. PT join a conversation about DSF with Institute For The Future's (IFTF) Joseph Press & Quinault Childs, hosted by Vanessa Mason. "Learn how DSF will enable you to strengthen your ability to and resilience for making an impact, regardless of what sector or industry you work in or what your background may be." NOTE: This is a public webinar. Anyone may join! But you must register: Registration is required here. Designing Sustainable Futures: Applying the Power of Design to Imagine and Transition to a more Sustainable World is also an eight-week intensive program to develop the skills and mindset of practitioners who are passionate about building a better world. This course, provided by Institute for the Future in collaboration with POLI.design, will run from October 7, 2022 – December 12, 2022 and costs $4,200. "Starting with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (see www.sdgs.un.org) with specific industry focus and a community focus, participants will explore and practice the essential skills of strategic foresight, world building, and transformation." "At the Center for Creative Leadership, Joseph Press collaborated and advised corporates, start-ups, and academia to help leaders face challenges and co-create solutions requiring innovation and necessitating transformation. To deepen the understanding of leadership, he led the founding of IDeaLs with the Politecnico di Milano. This an action-research community of over 10 global corporate partners investigates how to engage people with innovation and design to make transformation happen. Joseph is currently the Global Ecosystem Catalyst of FutureMakers, "a platform to bring together a global network of seasoned practitioners and academics to empower leaders in organizations to accelerate transformation into more sustainable and meaningful futures.:

From: Alan Journet, Cofacilitator, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now "Oregonians should know and hold accountable those who joined the campaign to undermine the viability of our planet for future generations. If global warming and its climate change consequences continue unchecked, they are likely to destroy our natural ecosystem (forests, woodlands, grasslands, deserts, etc.) by the end of the century, along with our agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. It’s difficult to imagine how the economic impact of this could be overestimated or ignored. Meanwhile, among those concerned about the economic impact of the climate crisis, none is more engaged than the insurance industry. Swiss Re, possibly the largest global reinsurance company, has assessed the potential economic cost of climate change. They estimated that warming of just 3.2⁰ Centigrade above pre-industrial conditions would globally cost over 18% of Gross Domestic Product (meaning over $15 trillion in current terms). Oregon’s share would be some $48 billion. Meanwhile, the global cost of keeping warming to 1.5⁰C would be about $1.8 trillion, less than 12% of the cost of inaction that would allow warming to continue unabated. Unfortunately, the Business As Usual global temperature is expected to warm over 4⁰C, much worse than the Swiss Re modeling. For years, climate activists have supported the Oregon legislative efforts to establish programs that would curtail greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon and contribute our share to addressing the climate crisis. These efforts have consistently been thwarted by Republican resistance, notably by their walking out of the chambers and the state to prevent bills from being enacted. They have justified this action with distortions about the economic consequences of the proposals. These distortions have been echoed by others who irrationally think the outcome of a continued climate crisis is less damaging and costly than addressing it. Following the 2020 Republican walk-out, Governor Brown signed Executive Order 20-04 charging state agencies with developing programs to establish reasonable emissions reduction and carbon dioxide sequestration trajectories. Notable among the agency efforts was that of the Department of Environmental Quality. In order to assure those potentially affected by a climate plan would have input, DEQ established a Rulemaking Advisory Committee composed of representatives of the major stakeholders including many members of the affected industries. Over many months, DEQ sought input from this committee as it developed its Climate Protection Plan (CPP). Throughout discussions, industry representatives claimed to be concerned about the climate crisis and contributed input to the developing plan that would address it. The program developed by DEQ was approved by the Environmental Quality Commission. While the goals and trajectory were not as rigorous as many of us would like, at least the CPP places the state on a trajectory of meaningful emissions reductions. Now, many participating businesses have filed lawsuits to overturn the CPP. They generated our need for rigorous action by declining to reduce their emissions when the 2007 voluntary emissions reduction program was signed into law and served on the RAC. Now they sue to terminate life on the planet as we know it. Leading the charge, of course, is the trade association, Oregon Business and Industry. Joining that perpetual opponent of climate and environmental protection are: Oregon Farm Bureau; Oregon Manufacturers & Commerce; Alliance of Western Energy Consumers; Associated Oregon Loggers; Northwest Pulp & Paper Association; Oregon Association of Nurseries; Oregon Forest & Industries Council; Oregon Trucking Associations; and Western Wood Preservers Institute. They’re joined by two private businesses, Otley Land & Cattle and Space Age Fuel. It is absolutely no surprise that legal action includes NW Natural, Avista, and Cascade Gas since gas companies have consistently promoted the lie that theirs is ’the clean fossil fuel.’ Neither are we surprised that deceitful Big Oil is joining the campaign through the Western States Petroleum Association – representing the largest polluters in the world, including Shell, Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips among other out-of-state oil companies. While these industry representatives collaborate to undermine climate action, some business organizations recognize the problem and have not joined the suit: Oregon Businesses for Climate, the Main Street Alliance of Oregon, and Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility are notable among these. Oregonian consumers deserve to know which companies are committed to the end of life on the planet as we know it." Oregon Business and Industry Sues to Undermine Climate Action pdf version As it appeared in the Eugene Register Guard May 18th, 2022

Transition Design is a trans-disciplinary approach used by Carneige Mellon University to address the many ‘wicked’ problems confronting 21st century societies: climate change, forced migration, political and social polarization, global pandemics, lack of access to affordable housing/healthcare/education and many others. These problems are interconnected, interdependent and always manifest in place and culture-specific ways. Transition Design argues that new knowledge and skill-sets are required to address these problems, and that their resolution is a strategy for igniting positive, systems-level change and societal transitions toward more sustainable, equitable and desirable long-term futures.” Service Design or Social Innovation solutions differ from Transition Design. Service design is “the activity of planning and organizing a business’s resources (people, props, and processes) in order to (1) directly improve the employee’s experience, and (2) indirectly, the customer’s experience.” “Design for Social Innovation (DSI) is really interaction design in the broadest sense; it’s interaction between people that takes responsibility for positive, systemic impact.” A Multi-Level Perspective with regard to sustainability, investigates the fundamental changes in energy, transport, housing, agro-food systems that are needed to address the problem. #Sustainability

Thinking about buying an electric vehicle to ameliorate climate change and avoid the high cost of fossil fuel? Electrek reports most electric cars are cheaper to own from day one according to a new report from Energy Innovation. Find the latest news from the Electric Vehicle Association blog or check out their Facebook page. Southern Oregon Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Association (SOHEVA) promotes the use of electric cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and bicycles from Roseburg south to Shasta in northern California. Local SOHEVA members offer guidance on buying, leasing, sustainably fueling, operating and maintaining all forms of electric transit. They participated in the Community Earth Day Celebration on April 24, 2022 as part of the nationwide Drive Electric Earth Day event. SOHEVA members Bruce Borgerson and Jim Hartman taught a 3-part class about EVs for the spring term of OLLI, concluding on April 21, 2022. Under the leadership of president Pete Jorgensen, SOHEVA is starting lobbying initiatives to address EV charger maintenance, accuracy of status indication on phone apps, universal payment access and need for pull-through stations to accommodate towing. SOHEVA meets the 3rd Monday of each month from 7-8 p.m. Memberships are $40/yr Unsure about whether EV or gas vehicles pollutes more? Watch this video.

Carole Devine of Blessed Tomorrow says regarding Earth Day 2022: "For the first time since 1991, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Sikhs, Baha’is, Hindus, Buddhists, and Indigenous nations observed sacred celebrations in April 2022." This episode with Nana Firman, Senior Ambassador, GreenFaith and Dahlia Rockowitz, Washington Director, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action covers the importance of honoring our most holy days and celebrating Earth Day through climate action. "Climate and climate justice is the most is the ultimate social justice issue." ~ Dahlia Rockowitz