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  • A New Story to Spark the Future of Climate Action

    "We need to write a new narrative of climate change action. A narrative that compels, empowers, and attracts people across industries and geographies to think of climate change not as an intractable problem, but as a space for innovative solutions." ~The Institute For The Future In the Institute for the Future's New Story to Spark the Future of Climate Action they identify emerging "Zones of Opportunity" (levers) that open "new possibility spaces for reframing the narrative around climate change and accelerating climate action: Activated Youth Women as Climate Action Leaders Organizing Without Organizations Climate as a Growth Space Algorithmic Action Watchful Eyes Immersive News Media for Good" .The New Story "poses provocative questions to stimulate ideas for altering power dynamics rather than focusing on current prevention, mitigation, and adaptation efforts, and it predicts the frictions we may encounter as we work to advance climate action: Legacy Energy, Short-termism; Rise in Disposable Incomes; Attention Scarcity; Fact Resistance: and Protectionism." I have been impressed by the young women climate action leaders" at Rogue Climate and their activating youth as local "signals of hope" Rogue Climate is a non-profit founded in 2013 in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon with a mission "to empower Southern Oregon communities most impacted by climate change, including low-income, rural, youth, seniors, and communities of color, to win climate justice by organizing for clean energy, sustainable jobs, and a healthy environment." This sounds very much like "a new story to spark the future of climate action. Our climate emergency is a justice/moral issue about people and all living things; it's not just about physics. The Climate Crisis is not a science problem. It is a human problem. The ultimate power to change the world does not reside in technologies. It relies on reverence, respect, and compassion - for ourselves, for all people, and for all live. This is regeneration. ~ Paul Hawken Rogue Climate was instrumental in bringing communities together to stop the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal in Coos Bay. They also participated in MRG Foundation's Rogue Valley Relief Fund along with Siskiyou Rising Tide, Rogue Action Center and SO Health-E, bringing relief to those impacted by the Almeda, South Obenchain, and Slater fires in 2020, .

  • The Big Picture: What Every Earth Activist Needs to Know

    Creation In Crisis is presenting Rev. Michael Dowd on July 7, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT, speaking on The Big Picture: What Every Earth Activist Needs to Know. REGISTER HERE He will be presening a second half of his talk on August 4, 2022  "What elements of “eco-mysticism” are most vital and which aspects of The Great Story are most relevant for staying sane, grateful, and on-purpose in these most challenging of times? And what special tools and gifts do those of us grounded in the Epic of Evolution and Creation Spirituality have to offer?" "Creation in Crisis gathers online on the first Thursday of each month "to consider the work and ideas of a notable presenter on themes of eco-justice, spirituality, sustainability, and adaptation to the consequences of rampant industrial development. TWO VIDEOS YOU MAY WANT TO WATCH For those wishing to prepare for this session, Michael considers these to be his two best short supportive videos... Beyond Hope and Fear: Clarity, Compassion, Courageous Love-in-Action New Serenity Prayer: Emotional Support for Climate Anxiety and Environmental Dread Rev. Michael Dowd was once called "America's Evolutionary Evangelist." His mission now is to convey an inspiring "deep-time" understanding of our place in the Universe, based entirely on the evidential resources of mainstream science. He is an "eco-theologian and pro-science, pro-future advocate" whose 2009 book, Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World, "was endorsed by 6 Nobel Prize-winning scientists, noted skeptics, and by religious leaders across the spectrum." Interestingly, Dowd now disavows that book because it portrayal is too optimistic and unrealistic. In 2014 he "came out" as "Rev. Reality" after being convinced of Overshoot: The Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change.(1980). Watching the 2012 TEDx talk by David Roberts Climate Change is Simple was a turning point in his thinking. He has also conducted three online conversation series: The Advent of Evolutionary Christianity (2011): The Future Is Calling Us to Greatness (2015) Post-doom: Conversations exploring overshoot grief, grounding, and gratitude (2019-present) Dowd's current passion is "sharing a hope-free message (beyond hopeful or hopeless) of inspiration grounded in Big Picture evidential mysticism and Love-in-Action." His main website is https://postdoom.com. Rev. Dowd is controversial because of his views: i.e. his definition of God ("Reality with a personality" - not a person outside of reality); a "kin-centric" worldview; "Living, Nested Primary Reality"; Sustainability = Faithful; Life Centered, not human centered; Overshoot; criticism of "hopium addiction"; and the inevitability of civilization collapse. Critics say Rev. Michael Dowd "brings a progressive Christian spin to apocalyptic environmentalism," and ponder if he is perhaps best seen as a "Death-cult Environmentalist?" Dowd doesn't actually call himself a "Progressive Christian," but rather" an evolutionary ,Christian Naturalist, saying "I have no supernatural beliefs or other worldly beliefs at all, zip, nada, not one. I’m a Christian Naturalist.." Rev. Dowd delivers his polished messages reading from well scripted PowerPoints. He has the unwavering assurance and power of an experienced evangelistic speaker, leaving his audience with provocative doubts about the validity of their climate activism.

  • Hydrogen: Useful Tool, or Fossil Industry Ruse?

    The July Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) general meeting scheduled for Tuesday July 26, 2022 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. will be dedicated to a discussion of the role hydrogen might pay in our energy future: Hydrogen: Useful Tool, or Fossil Industry Ruse? There is no charge for joining the ZOOM meeting, but to attend those interested must register at the link on the SOCAN calendar event: https://socan.eco/hydrogen. "What’s the deal with Hydrogen? We know we need to break our fossil fuel habit. But how do we do it? The answer seems to be renewable energy such as wind, water, and solar. There are two important challenges with renewables: how to store the energy when they aren’t available and how to use them in hard-to-electrify applications. A growing chorus is rising for using Hydrogen to meet those challenges. When we burn fossil fuels, greenhouse gases are released. Burning hydrogen, on the other hand, produces only pure water. In a world suffering the existential threat of a climate crisis induced by our use of fossil fuels, hydrogen is increasingly considered to have a valuable role to play." Renewable Hydrogen Alliance founder and former executive director Ken Dragoon, now with Obsidian Renewables LLC., will outline the many colors of hydrogen and its role in addressing the growing climate crisis. He will welcome all questions and concerns. For more information contact: Alan Journet, Co-facilitator, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN); alan@socan.eco 541-301-4107 Ken Dragoon, Director of Hydrogen Development, Obsidian Renewables, LLC; 503-545-8172 kdragoon@obsidianrenewables.com

  • Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos

    Deep Adaptation "is a concept, agenda, and international social movement." The concept of Deep Adaptation was introduced in the 2018 paper "Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy" by University of Cumbria sustainability leadership professor Jem Bendell. It was updated in July 2020. "The conceptual paper was originally intended for an audience of people in the corporate sustainability field. The purpose was to provide readers with an opportunity to reassess their work and life in the face of what Bendell believes to be an inevitable near-term societal collapse due to climate change." In July 2021 the book Deep Adaptation was published with Rupert Reed co-editor.. On March 22, 2022 Jem Bendell, wrote in Resilience.org Toward Radical Responses to Polycrisis: a Review of Reviews of the Deep Adaptation Book. Find out more at Jem Bendell's blog "Deep Adaption presumes that extreme weather events and other effects of climate change will increasingly disrupt food, water, shelter, power, and social and governmental systems. These disruptions would likely or inevitably cause uneven societal collapse in the next few decades." "Climate change is not just a pollution problem, but an indicator of how our human psyche and culture became divorced from our natural habitat." "The word “deep” indicates that strong measures are required to adapt to an unraveling of western industrial lifestyles. The agenda includes values of nonviolence, compassion, curiosity, and respect, and a framework for constructive action." Bendell focuses on relinquishment, resilience, reconciliation and reconciliation, but others have added reverence. The R's ask us: Reverence: In what ways can we recognize and reclaim Reverence as a primary and trustworthy source of guidance? Relinquishment: Where in our lives can we give up certain assets, behaviors and beliefs in order to not make matters worse, or even to feel more free? Resilience: As changes increase or grow more severe, in what ways can we adapt then adapt aging... and again? Resilience = Applied Reverence Reconciliation: As part of the cause and the solution, with whom and what can I make peace to lessen suffering and live more livingly? Restoration: What traditional or ancient wisdom can we bring back (restore) to help us with the coming difficulties and tragedies? Project Adapt is a "collaboration of concerned individuals and organizations committed to interdisciplinary, relational ways of belonging. Project Adapt prepares local communities to become "centers of connected resilience" by embracing reverence for Earth, tending relationships and co-creating just, joyful and regenerative ways of being on the planet." . Lauren Van Ham, Climate Action Coordinator for United Religions Initiative (URI) also organizes Adaptive Circles as part of Project Adapt, which is a non-profit program of Canticle Farm in Oakland, CA.

  • Climate Cafe Multifaith on Food Justice

    On Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 11 a.m. PDT Climate Cafe Multifaith is hosting a conversation about Food Justice and the Faith Community featuring Kelly Moltzen co-founder and convener of the Interfaith Public Health Network. Register. Interfaith Public Health Network (IPHN) was part of the inaugural planning team for the Faith + Food Coalition Food Systems Dialogues alongside the Center for Earth Ethics. Upcoming in July from Climate Cafe Multifaith: July 5, 2022 - Green Teams in Faith Communities: Building youth & BIPOC leadership & partnerships. Led by William H. Morris, now a Faith Organizer with GreenFaith working with the #PeopleVsFossilFuels Campaign. Tuesday July 5th, 11 a.m. PDT Register. July 19, 2022 - Social Transformation & the Climate Crisis: A Bahá’í View. Led by Gary Reusche--living currently in Kviv, Ukraine--we will dive into truth-telling about a world experiencing multiple crises. Reusche brings his experience at the center of agriculture, finance, climate change, and now the war in Ukraine, to talk about what social transformation could look like. July 19th at 11 a.m PDT. Register. The Climate Cafe movement started in 2015 in rural Scotland and is community led. Now sister Cafés are emerging around the world. Here you can learn about Climate Cafés, connect with others, find out how they work, as well as find support and guidance to start your own. Climate Cafe Multifaith is organized by Rev. Richenda Fairhurst, former minister at First United Methodist Church in Ashland, OR, who blogs about climate activism at Faiths4Future. This Multifaith community "began as an effort of faith leaders, clergy, lay people, leaders of different faith traditions, who recognized the urgency that we face, the impact that urgency will have or our communities, and the necessity of taking action at all levels. Many of who are part of Faiths4Future were trained by the Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps, and the Minister’s Trainings led by the Center for Earth Ethics." Climate Cafe MultiFaith is held on zoom every 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesday of the month, at 11 a.m. PDT. "It 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!" Resources Richenda Fairhurst's Faith4Future offers good resources, timely boosts of important information and you may sign up for Richenda's newsletter here. Richenda Is Chair of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon's Creation Justice Committee and is affiliated with Interfaith Power and Light. Richenda also founded Creation Faith Future, a non-profit operating in Oregon and Washington states. “People of faith have a vital role to play as truth-tellers and hope bringers in addressing the climate crisis.” ~ Rev. Richenda Fairhurst

  • Interfaith Work on Climate Change

    The Tuesday, June 28, 2022 monthly meeting of SOCAN from 6-7 p.m. will include a presentation by Cherice Bock, Creation Justice Advocate, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and Oregon Interfaith Power & Light on Interfaith Work on Climate Change. "All over the country, faith communities are increasingly getting involved in climate action. These efforts are varied, ranging from concerted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to providing support to frontline communities, framed from an ethical or spiritual perspective." Hear an overview of faith-based climate action underway in Oregon and elsewhere and discuss how Southern Oregon climate activists may help stimulate additional faith-based action in our region. There is no charge for joining the ZOOM meeting, but registration is required. Details, including registration - SOCAN Calendar

  • Ministry for Earth

    The annual General Assembly meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations is from June 21-26, 2022 in Portland Oregon. UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) will have several projects at the GA this year; click here for details. "The theme this year, “Migration is Beautiful,” highlights the essential movement and change inherent in our Web of Life, and the intersectionality of climate justice for indigenous communities, immigrants, endangered and threatened species, and land and water. The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP27, will be the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. It will concern adaptation, mitigation, loss, and damage. Working Group II to the 6th Assessment Report of the IPCC provides a vital framing and the scientific basis for this and the following years’ adaptation agenda. As the report underlines, the window of opportunity for adaptation and mitigation action is closing rapidly which poses risks to sustainable development for all. In this context, Parties called for urgent action on and support for adaptation and the transition to a decade of implementation. Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability The Working Group II contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report assesses the impacts of climate change, looking at ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities at global and regional levels. It also reviews vulnerabilities and the capacities and limits of the natural world and human societies to adapt to climate change

  • Environmental Racism

    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.

  • Protecting the Future of Our Youth, the Planet and Future Generations

    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."

  • Unlocking Your Mind

    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

  • Discerning and Deciding: Bold Climate Action

    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.

  • Speed & Scale

    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.” ”

  • Take Heart

    "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."

  • Eco-Ministry

    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.

  • Building a Weather-Ready Nation

    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."

  • SOCAN Monthly Meeting: Climate Justice 101

    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."

  • A Livable Planet for Generations To Come

    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."

  • Drawing Down Carbon, Lifting Up Humanity

    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."

  • Universal: Pertaining to the Whole

    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.

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