Search Results

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

Jefferson Center (Salon Series), SOCAN Ashland Climate Action Project, and Ashland Climate Collaborative are co-hosting a Zoom presentation/discussion on “The Future of Water in the Rogue Valley” on May 22, 2022 at 4 p.m. To join the Zoom event, please register in advance for this meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsf-uvqDwiG9MPlpu0dtMi6CLqN6CJaB-0 "The program will feature Julie Smitherman and Cody Scoggins from Medford Water, with Joseph Graf from the Jefferson Center." "This program will address: Where does Rogue Valley water come from? How is that water being used? What threats do we face? Discussion will focus on what citizens and government agencies, especially local ones, can do to provide water in our area and distribute it fairly." "This event is part of the Salon series at The Jefferson Center, a Rogue Valley non-profit focused on critical thinking using secular humanist values to understand and engage with issues important to our community. Co-hosts for this event are the SOCAN Ashland Climate Action Project, which works to ensure that climate action is a top priority in Ashland, and the Water Action Team of the Ashland Climate Collaborative, a hub for community collaboration on climate solutions."

The Shift Network is sponsoring a free online event with Matthew Fox on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 5:30 p.m. PDT: Sacred Earth, Sacred Self: Harmonize With Nature & Reconnect to the Human Community Through the Wisdom of Eco-Prophet Thomas Berry. Register free HERE "In this free online event, you’ll: Find that when you take action to save the Earth, and connect to Source, you are taking steps to save yourself and future generations Discover humanity’s most basic flaw — and its resulting consequences Explore why embodying a sense of sacredness is a vital element of human survival — emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and environmentally Discover why academic barbarism (when the left brain devours your values by overpowering the right brain) leads to the destruction of the planet by prioritizing profits over respecting the sacredness of the Earth Experience a Tai Chi breathing and movement exercise to invite you to breathe in and embody Earth consciousness The event website is HERE

Corvallis Interfaith Climate Justice Committee (ICJC) is comprised of 10 area faith-based groups in Corvallis, Oregon including: First United Methodist Church Corvallis First Congregational UCC Corvallis Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis First United Methodist Church of Corvallis Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, Corvallis Corvallis Interfaith Climate Justice Committee has 35 individual members who have been communicating through Gourps.io since 2016 Corvallis ICJC) currently serves as the Steering Committee for the Corvalis Climate Offset Fund (CCOF). The CCOF is an official Community Project of the City of Corvallis Climate Action Advisory Board and the Imagine Corvallis Action Network. The Board oversees the implementation of the Corvallis Climate Action Plan. The Network provides a framework and integrates public-government relationships to establish and reach for the goals of the future. Brian C. Lee is the principal visionary and architect of the CCOF. Corvallis ICJC is a partner organization of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Corvallis Climate Action Alliance. The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition had a successful Town Hall in 2019. It has liaison with 350 Corvallis and the Eugene- Springfield Interfaith Earthkeepers.

Eugene/Springfield Interfaith Earthkeepers is a coalition of Eugene communities of faith in Eugene, Oregon who: celebrate the beauty of land, sea and sky speak up for the powerless and endangered participate in the repair and regeneration of every place activate communities of conscience to serve and keep our sacred Planet Interfaith Earthkeepers offers a website, Facebook Page, Twitter posts, monthly meetings on zoom, meeting minutes archives, news blog posts, podcasts, videos, links to related organizations, lifestyle strategies, recycling solutions, local healthy food resources, funds to offset carbon footprints and more. Representatives from member communities connect Earthkeeper work to action teams in their home faith community. Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month. The 13 member faith communities take turns hosting, Central Lutheran First United Methodist St. Mary's Episcopal Central Presbyterian Unitarian Universalist Resurrection Episcopal United Lutheran First Congregational UCC First Christian Eugene Friends Meeting Eugene Mennonite Unity of the Valley Westminster Presbyterian The Call: "The health of human communities is dependent upon the health of every interlocking piece of creation: the forests, plains and oceans and all the creatures that inhabit them. Let us go forward to live in right relationship with the whole of creation." Eugene also has an active 350Eugene.org group.

Brian Ettling, in his excellent blog review of Michael E. Mann's 2021 book The New Climate War: the fight to take back our planet says: "I can’t stress this enough as a climate organizer, PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO TAKE CLIMATE ACTION." Fossil fuel companies have waged a thirty-year campaign to deflect blame and responsibility and delay action on climate change. Part of their marketing strategy has been to place inordinate emphasis on individuals making changes to their behavior rather than focusing on the producers making necessary systemic changes. "Meanwhile, they've blocked efforts to regulate or price carbon emissions, run PR campaigns aimed at discrediting viable alternatives, and have abdicated their responsibility in fixing the problem they've created." As concerned citizens we need to: Force our governments and corporations to wake up and make real change. Vote out of office those who do not support or oppose effective solutions to our climate emergency. Not allow the enormity of the challenge be so overwhelming that we don't take action Keep positive conversation going among our friends, community and institutions, stressing urgency and agency about our climate challenge Be clear about priorities and impacts of change without oversimplifying a complex situation. Tell others what they can do. Debunk the false narratives and arguments that have worked their way into the climate debate and driven a wedge between even those who support climate change solutions Inspire awe, wonder and love of nature/mother earth and responsibility to future generations Take appropriate individual actions, but not expect that they will be sufficient without systemic changes Yes, taking small, visible actions are important as they raise community awareness and conversation leading to systemic changes. An example is for faith communities in Rogue Valley to let their lawns go brown this summer in response to climate change caused drought. Brown is the New Green.

Medford Water Commission and other organizations throughout North America are observing Drinking Water Week, May 1-7, 2022. "To commemorate the week, water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools and others throughout North America and beyond are encouraging consumers to learn more about the importance of water and water infrastructure, especially in times of crisis." Medford gets its potable water from the Rogue River watershed, which include the Big Butte Springs Watershed (see map above.). Lost Creek Lake, which captures Rogue River water primarily for flood control and fish habitat, has reached 72% of capacity. This means that recent rains will allow release of sufficient cold water from the Lake to preserve fish habitat and provide drinking water to those in the service area.. Meanwhile, farms in the Rogue Valley are preparing for a very dry summer, particularly those served by the Talent Irrigation District in the Bear Creek Watershed. Emigrant Lake is only 20% full; Hyatt is 21% full; and Howard Prairie is only 15% full. At the TID Board of Directors regular board meeting held on May 3, 2022 "there was lengthy discussion on the water supply and potential start date for the irrigation season. The water supply is approximately 3,000-acre feet below where it was on this date last year. The total water supply is at 19,201-acre feet, or 17% of capacity. We currently have a little over 30 days of water in storage to deliver this summer." The extended drought in Rogue Valley, is visible evidence that the climate is changing due to global warming. This has prompted some in Ashland to propose a "brown lawn movement" When it comes to yards, green isn’t always green (for the environment). Turf grasses are the most irrigated crop in the U.S. so as the climate changes and droughts continue, brown lawns will become more common. The LA Times reported on April 22, 2022 "Southern California residents are bracing for less water and many brown lawns as drought and climate change leave a large swath of the region with a growing water shortage. In a remarkable indication of drought severity, officials with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have declared a first-of-its-kind action limiting outdoor water use to one day a week for nearly 6 million residents." New restrictions take effect June 1, 2022. In addition to heavy water usage, lawns are also problematic for those of us concerned about mitigating global climate change because of lawn maintenance practices (usually involving use of polluting two and four stroke mower engines and the heavy use of fertilizers and chemical weed control.) But even better than allowing lawns to turn seasonally brown is the notion of replacing turf with native plants, better adapted to a warming climate. Some are even planting vegetable gardens in their front yard. There are many inspiring stories of people who believe that humans can fight climate change and help repair the world right where they live. “People need something more: To reconnect with nature and experience the sort of spiritual transcendence he feels in a forest, or on a mountain, or amid the bounty of his own yard. It’s a feeling that, for him, is akin to feeling close to God... People have to love the Earth before they save it,” So love is the key. We don’t do doomsday stuff.” ~ Bill Jacobs A No-Mow Movement is a conservation initiative intended to create a healthy and sustainable ecosystem,. There is a new Interfaith Climate Action Team forming in Rogue Valley under the leadership of Bob Morse. If you are interested in participating contact Bob at morse@mind.net The group is encouraging places of worship in the Rogue Valley take action this summer regarding lawns: "Brown is the New Green." by stopping watering and let their turf turn brown.

Oregon Humanities is sponsoring The Conversation Project "to bring people together to talk about their beliefs and experiences around timely and important issues and ideas." Their objective is to help Oregon resident learn to plant and facilitate "reflective conversations" about vital issues and questions across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds, though online and in-person training They are now accepting registration for in-person trainings in June and August and an online training in October 2022. Read more. To partner with Oregon Humanities and host a Conversation Project an organization or groups first takes a look at their catalog, then applies to host up to three events at a time. They’ll notify you of approval within two weeks. Apply Now Their Conversation Catalog lists The Meaning of Climate Change with David Osborn Portland State University instructor will lead a discussion exploring different meanings of climate change and how our understanding of meaning relates to action. "We live in a time of tremendous transformation as the reality of climate change and its effects on our communities become more apparent with every passing year. While there is still much that can and must be done to mitigate the range of impacts climate change might have, we are confronting the certainty of a crisis that will continue to unfold no matter what we do. What is the meaning of this extraordinary moment in human history? The meanings we construct about climate change affect how we think about it, our feelings about it, and our willingness to take action. ~ David Osborn" David Osborn is interested in "how we construct meaning in relationship to ecological and social crises as well as how we might apply wisdom traditions and contemplative practices to further community-based social change."

Join Joanna Macy, author of Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in Without Going Crazy (to be released June 12, 2022) and Jonathan Gustin, founder of Purpose Guides Institute for a live, free* Video-Zoom gathering on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. PDT. Click here to Register. Note: this event has been rescheduled twice from May as first Jonathan and then Joanna contracted Covid-19. Both are now reportedly recovering well now.. "A powerful and unlikely spiritual teacher has arrived, sweeping everyone into the shadows of its cloak. This teacher has begun to interrupt life as we know it, showing us the impermanence and fragility of our lifestyle and our way of seeing the world. This teacher goes by the name of Climate Change." "You are invited to join in imagining a new future together. In this special gathering you will discover your authentic place in the world and prepare to offer your soul-level purpose as a gift of service to life in this time." Tentative Schedule for Tuesday June 14, 2022 (Times are in PDT) 12:00-12:15 Talk Part 1- Climate Change as Spiritual Practice 12:15 - 1:00 Grief Council - Meeting our Climate Change Fears Together 1:00 - 1:10 Talk Part 2 - From Disheartenment to Empowerment 1:10 - 1:40 Personal Action Exploration: A Guided Soul-Inquiry Meditation 1:40 - 2:00 Collective Action Debrief - Share What You are Called to Do BONUS - Register Now And Receive Up To 5 Free E-Books On Climate Change! Joanna Macy, PH.D, is a scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. A respected voice in the movements for peace, justice, and ecology, she interweaves her scholarship with five decades of activism. The author of more than twelve books, including Active Hope and Coming Back To Life. She is the root teacher of the Work That Reconnects. She is 93. Jonathan Gustin, M.A, MFT, is a purpose guide, psychotherapist, and meditation teacher in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 27 years. Jonathan is the founder and lead teacher of the Purpose Guides Institute and Green Sangha. He has taught purpose discovery at San Quentin Prison and also serves as adjunct faculty at John F. Kennedy University. *NOTE: Registration for the gathering is free, but the organizer will request a $20 donation request at the conclusion of the event for those who are able to contribute. Jonathan and Joanna are doing this event on a gift basis.

Loretta J. Ross wants to build a world that "invites people in instead of pushing them out." Instead of being angry at those with whom one disagrees and treating them as an enemy, seek to become friends with those who are open to agree. In other words, don't criticize, villify and attack, as many politicians do, but offer an alternative worldview based on shared values. This is not easy and I often fail, but it seems like a better way to build a positive social movement. Jonathan Haidt in his book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion references Dale Carnegie and his classic book How to Win Friends and Influence People: "Carnegie repeatedly urged readers to avoid direct confrontations. Instead he advised people to " begin in a "friendly way," to smile," to"be a good listener," and to never say "you're wrong. The persuader's goal should be to convey respect, warmth, and openness to dialogue before starting one's own case. Calling out or "cancel culture" presumes that if someone had done something wrong they should be held accountable and punished for it. But blaming and shaming just invites others to a fight, not a conversation, because you are publicly humiliating them. We are encourage to be brave and speak truth to power. If something feels unfair should be be silent or speak out? "A call-in is a call-out done with love. If you calmly respond "that's an interesting viewpoint, tell me more" you've invited them into a conversation instead of a fight. Doing so reaffirms your optimism and hope that you can make a difference in the world. “Fighting hate should be fun, It’s being a hater that sucks.” ~ Loretta J. Ross Note: TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy.

PBS FRONTLINE examines the fossil fuel industry’s history of casting doubt and delaying action on climate change. This three-part series traces decades of missed opportunities and the ongoing attempts to hold Big Oil to account. "The docuseries traces that history across 40 years and multiple presidential administrations, investigating the lengths to which the industry went to cast doubt on the science, influence public perception and block action from the 1980s to the present day." Part 1 Denial aired April 19, 2022 find on the Frontline YouTube channel Part 2 Doubt aired April 26, 2022 Michael MacCracken, A Government Scientist Warned About Climate Change in 2001. Exxon Mobil Sought to Have Him Removed. Part 3 Delay aires May 3, 2022 at 10 p.m. on Southern Oregon PBS

The next Creation Justice webinar on May 11, 2022 at 10 a.m. PDT is entitled Climate Migration: Responding with Faith, Care, and Equity. Register now! "According to a recent UN climate report, 20 million people have been displaced each year since 2008 due to extreme weather that is often exacerbated by the climate crisis. There is much we can do as people of faith in responding with deeply held values to this critical situation." To inform and guide us, this webinar will feature Drocella Mugorewera from Bridge Refugee Services, Tomas Matom Ramirez from the Indigenous Maya Ixil people, and the Rev. Irene Hassan from the UCC’s Minister of Refugee and Migration Services. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time still sign-up, and Brooks Berndt will send you a recording.

Voters ballots are due May 17, 2022 for Oregon's midterm primary election. Much of the past action addressing our climate emergency came from Governor Kate Brown's executive actions, because of a stymied legislature. That reality makes this race for the Governors office is particularly important. Fifteen Democrats are on the ballot for Governor, but The Oregonian says that House Speaker Tina Kotek and state Treasurer, Tobias Read "were the winner and runner-up in a straw poll of party faithful at Oregon Democrats’ 2017 summit" and "a recent survey commissioned by Read showed the two Democrats in a tight race, with Kotek in the lead and more than 50% of likely primary voters undecided." Kotek says she "voted to put Oregon on a path to 100% clean electricity." Read says "he’ll accelerate our investments in clean energy to battle climate change and prevent wildfires." Click here for a list of climate related actions Kotek proposes; Click here for Read's priorities regarding climate change. Oregon Republican voters must choose from among 19 candidates for governor. The Statesman Journal says that "six have set themselves apart with their fundraising success, each raising more than $500,000 this election cycle, according to state campaign finance records:" Christine Drazan, Bob Tiernan, Bridget Barton, Mayor Stan Pulliam and Jessica Gomez. Christine Drazan is explicit in proposing to "end the costly cap-and trade program - In March of 2020, Governor Brown signed an executive order establishing a cap-and-trade style program in Oregon. This overreach is going to harm critical industries like timber, manufacturing and trucking and result in price increases across the board for Oregonians. I will repeal Governor Brown’s climate scheme on my first day in office." The websites of Bob Tiernan, Bridget Barton, Dr. Bud Pierce , Mayor Stan Pulliam and Jessica Gomez focus entirely on other issues - they may mention forest management and wildfires but do not specifically address climate change as a major issue. Voters will elect Oregon's next Governor based on multiple factors even though climate change poses an existential issue. There are many other issues: gun violence/gun ownership rights; safe streets/homelessness; criminal justice reform/supporting police; mental health/drug abuse; women's reproductive rights/anti-abortion, right to life; wildfires; education; jobs; housing, health care....