Cherice Bock, Creation Justice Advocate for Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) has invited our Rogue Valley Interfaith Climate Action Group and Rev. Richenda Fairhurst (EMO's Creation Justice Committee Chair who lives in Ashland) to participate in an Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit 2023. The theme will be Building Neighborhoods of Climate Resilience.
The Summit is scheduled for February 5, 2023 from 1:30-5 p.m. PST with the local gathering at First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, located at the southeastern corner of Walker and Siskiyou Blvd. Save the date!
EMO's last annual Earth Summit was held in Portland in 2017 and was subsequently restricted by Covid 19, but in 2023 it will be a hybrid event with both Zoom and regional, in-person gatherings held around the state.
The initial plenary Zoom session will be arranged by EMO with speakers addressing how faith communities can help neighborhoods during climate-related emergency events. This will be followed by time for local participants to get to know one another and discuss how faith communities can plan local actions for organizing neighborhoods. The Summit will end with a public witness such as a silent vigil and candle lighting.
Statewide climate resilience legislation in Oregon is currently being proposed by Representative Khanh Pham in the northern part of the State and Representative Pam Marsh. working with Rogue Climate.
Unite Oregon leads a fight for social justice in Oregon "by empowering communities ignored by the powerful." They focus on six interrelated issues: Climate Justice; Housing Justice; Community Safety; Education Equity; Economic Justice; and Health Equity.
Oregon Just Transition Alliance (OJTA) "is a movement of communities facing environmental racism, climate change, and economic exploitation – the frontlines of injustice and the frontlines of change."
Cherice expects to email more organizational details in early December 2022. For more information about the Summit contactor Cherice at cbock@emoregon.org or 503-314-7908 or Richenda at richenda@circlefaithfuture.org and follow this Rogue Valley Voice blog for updated information.