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SPECIAL FILM SCREENING of Kiss the Ground Everyone is invited to a free viewing of this 45-minute film, followed by Q & A. When: Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Where: First Presbyterian Church, Medford: Fellowship Hall, 85 S. Holly Street, Medford, OR 97501 “Kiss the Ground” is a new film about how regenerating the world’s soils has the potential to rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies. This film explains why transitioning to regenerative agriculture could be key in rehabilitating the planet, while simultaneously invigorating a new sense of hope and inspiration. Directions: Go to the right when entering the church through the door at the church parking lot on 8th Street. Street parking is not enforced on Sundays. See the trailer at https://kissthegroundmovie.com/ Presented by Medford Congregational United Church of Christ; The First Presbyterian Church of Medford; & The First United Methodist Church of Medford OR.

This YouTube video from Climate Reality Project is a message from Earth, to stand up for the people and all other species and advocate for solutions that will ensure the health and success of current and future generations.

One Earth Film Festival is having a Virtual Watch Party Mini Fest April 18-24, 2022 featuring the following films: (For tickets, click film title below) Eight Winning Short Films from One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Monday, April 18, 5 p.m. CDT Clean Energy Revolution: 3 Short Films Tuesday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. CDT Monty & Rose 2 Bob Dolgan/2021/53 min/Wildlife, Conservation Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. CDT The Ground Between Us Galen Knowles and Zeppelin Zeerip/2020/60min/Conservation Thursday, April 21, 6:30 p.m. CDT Ascension Jessica Kingdon/2021/98 min/People & Cultures, Waste Friday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. CDT Eating Up Easter Sergio Mata’u Rapu and Elena Rapu/2018/70 min/Waste & Recycling, Climate Change, People & Culture Saturday, April 23, 3 p.m. CDT Mottainai Kitchen David Gross/2020/95 min/Waste/Recycling (Food Waste), Sustainable Food/Agriculture Sunday, April 24, 3 p.m. CDT Unless ticket price is indicated, tickets are free, with a suggested $8 donation. This schedule is subject to change. Events to be added. Check back soon to discover new top enviro films and discussions Hosted by One Earth Film Festival and the City of Chicago you are invited to watch powerful films and discussions in a weeklong celebration of Earth Day. "Watch topnotch films and participate in engaging conversations that will help you understand topical issues and move toward concrete actions to mitigate climate change, address environmental justice and more."

From: Alan Journet, Cofacilitator of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now "Many climate activists have been watching the efforts of Julia Olson and Our Children’s Trust (OCT) for many years as they assist our youth in holding governments accountable for failure to act to protect the nation’s natural resources, managed in trust for future generations." "I start with the conclusion: this is one of the most powerful and persuasive video efforts I have seen to make the case that our institutions are failing us and that we urgently need action to address the climate crisis." "This video offers an entertaining and informative compilation of video depicting the reasons the young people initially engaged in the action combined with coverage of the ups and downs of the last few years of the campaign ending with a Court deciding that the courts have no authority or ability to establish and monitor a program that would address the climate crisis. Tellingly, we learn the court fully accepted two of the three basic elements required to compel judicial action: that the plaintiffs have been damaged and will be damaged by global warming and that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activity are responsible. Despite that, and the courts being the last resort, by a 2:1 vote the three-panel bench declined to act. Following this defeat, an undeterred OCT has filed a motion that would amend their complaint to focus on obtaining a declaratory judgment that the nation’s fossil fuel-based energy system is unconstitutional." I was particularly struck by the segment that so very effectively responded to the perceived need of the plaintiffs to demonstrate that the government knew of the problem and its cause but simply failed to act. Rather than responding appropriately to the science presented to them, Administration after Administration has for decades assiduously dug its heels in to promoting fossil fuels rather than clean renewable energy. This transparently (now, at least) was undertaken despite frequent placating words from both Republican and Democratic Presidents about how they vowed to protect our climate and environment for future generations. "While it is clear that, as Julia Olson argued, none of this would have happened had it not been for the energy and commitment f the plaintiffs, I think I also evident that none of it would have happened absent the dedication, commitment, and abilities of Julia Olson. Julia’s ongoing energy, enthusiasm, and support for the plaintiffs was conspicuous throughout the film. Kudos to Julia Olson!" "As I reflected on the film, the current failure of legislators and state agencies in Oregon to hold the gas companies accountable for the misinformation and disinformation that they use to promote their product came to mind. The depressing realization that legislators, agencies, the culpable corporation executives themselves, and now the courts will not acknowledge and respond appropriately to the climate crisis led me to what seems the only remedy: if our institutions will not hold the perpetrators accountable, then we must do it ourselves. We know that racial justice, gender equality, and LGBTQ rights, for example, have made huge progress over the years. We have seen how rapidly, after years of activist pressure, the change in public acceptance occurred once inroads were made into the public perception of the constitutional requirement for basic human justice. The message, it seems to me, is that those of us who are aware of the urgency of the climate crisis must redouble our effort to develop the public / political will for action on this overarching problem. The data on communication tell us that most Americans simply do not talk about the crisis. It is almost inevitable, therefore, that they will not consider it an issue demanding their attention. Our task, then, is to get out there and talk to people about the problem and what we can do to turn this glacier-bound ship around." ~ Alan Journet The film is available through Netflix.

May 20, 2022 is the 17th annual Endangered Species Day. "Words are not enough to express the magnitude of the loss and urgency of action. And so we turn to music, weaving words into Rachmaninoff's "Variations on a Theme of Corelli" which expresses the heartbreak, anger, bewilderment and responsibilities of living in the sixth great extinction. ~ Kathleen Dean Moore In this unique creative collaboration, classical pianist Rachelle McCabe and essayist Kathleen Dean Moore carry us through a process: Recognition of the fragile inter-relatedness of all life on earth; next sorrow, anger and despair; then seeking creative solutions; and finally, transformation and action based on deep love and moral resolve.. This artistic expression asks: What do we love too much to lose? This process is similar to the path of Creation Spirituality, based on the work of Matthew Fox, and Marcia McFee's liturgy from WorshipDesignStudio.com: Via Positiva - Recognizing Inherent Goodness - The first path invites us to celebrate! The pulse of creation is singing the goodness of God and God's gift of goodness in all things. We become more aware of the beauty of all that is and tap into gratitude as our first task in creating more goodness in the world. Via Negativa - Befriending the Dark Places - This second path recognizes with open hearts the pain that coexists with goodness and gratitude. We listen to the groans of the world and the Spirit helps us to grief and to intercede on behalf of all those who suffer, letting go of our fear that can make things worse at times. Via Creativa - Exclaiming the Divine Creative - The third path creates spaces to explore how God is working in and through us and all of the universe to renew each day every direction. Each moment offers opportunity to express our God-gifted creativity. We hear messages - ancient and new - that express and affirm the Divine at work and encourage us in our creative collaboration with the Divine. Via Transformativa - Embodying Compassion and Power - The fourth path will lead us out. We pray for movement within our own hearts to embody - peace and passion - compassion and power - on behalf of spreading goodness throughout the week. We are not at the mercy of "the way it is," we can claim our agency to be fully present and fully active in the world into which we now go. Note: My suggestion is to set aside 54 minutes to allow uninterrupted attention to this video, to feel what words alone cannot describe.

What it means to be human in an interconnected world? Are humans in Nature or part of nature? Do Nature and nonhumans have "rights"? Wikipedia has a thoughtful discussion of the Rights of Nature. "Rights of nature or Earth rights is a legal and jurisprudential theory that describes inherent rights as associated with ecosystems and species, similar to the concept of fundamental human rights. The rights of nature concept challenges twentieth-century laws as generally grounded in a flawed frame of nature as "resource" to be owned, used, and degraded. Proponents argue that laws grounded in rights of nature direct humanity to act appropriately and in a way consistent with modern, system-based science, which demonstrates that humans and the natural world are fundamentally interconnected." The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER) works to establish the Rights of Nature laws. "Rights of nature laws exist at the local to national levels in 17 countries, including dozens of cities and counties throughout the United States. They take the form of constitutional provisions, treaty agreements, statutes, local ordinances, and court decisions." CDER traces the timeline for drafting Rights of Nature provisions in Pennsylvania (2006), Ecuador (2008), Bolivia (2010), India (2012), Colorado (2014), New Zealand (2014), Sweden (2015), Mexico City (2017), Brazil (2018), Uganda (2019), New Hampshire (2020), the Klamath River (2020), Orange County FL (2020) and the Moon (2021), to name a few. So far in 2022 "the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe has filed a “rights of salmon” case agains the city of Seattle seeking to protect salmon, and the rights of tribal members to fish for salmon. Panama has adopted a national rights of nature law. Ecuador's Constitutional Court issued a ruling in the Estrellita Monkey case, finding that “Animals are subjects of rights protected by the rights of Nature." Chile’s Constitutional Convention approved of rights of nature provisions to be included in the country’s draft constitution. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in India declared that “Mother Nature” is a “Living Being” with constitutional rights for its “survival, safety, sustenance and resurgence.” On October 19, 2021 CDER’s Thomas Linzey, and Wesley J. Smith of the Discovery Institute, engaged in a lively debate on the Rights of Nature. The debate was hosted by the Center for Climate, Society, and the Environment at Gonzaga University, and moderated by Professor Brian Henning. The debate focused on the practical, ethical, and moral considerations of the Rights of Nature, and how that applies to humankind. You are invited to watch the debate recording here or click the YouTube image above. The Center for Climate, Society, and the Environment (CCSE) at Gonzaga has a variety of events planned in 2022 that may be of general interest: July 13, 2022 - Economics for a Full World September 8, 2022 - Documentary Screening: Youth v. Gov September 28, 2022 - Polar Bears and Global Warming: Connecting the Dots to the Rest of Us October 17, 2022 - Integrating Science into Climate and Environmental Policy November 1, 2022 - The Emotional Life of the Climate Justice Movement November 15, 2022 - The Credibility of Climate Models Also find CCSE's past event library on their YouTube channel. Subscribe to the channel to be notified of future events. Does protecting the rights of nonhuman sentient animals, such as Happy, the Asian elephant in the Bronx zoo, mean they are a "person"? The Elephant in the Courtroom article in the March 7, 2022 issue of New Yorker Magazine describes the legal crusade of the NonHuman Rights Project to redefine personhood. This raises profound questions about the interdependence of the animal and human kingdoms. The Associated Press on May 18, 2022 further recounts this story of Happy, saying that a court verdict is expected in June 2022. If Corporations can be considered "persons" perhaps elephants can too?

November 1, 2022, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT Alan Journet of SOCAN will present Climate Pollution and Southern Oregon Session 8 (The biological consequences of global warming; impacts on individual species; impacts on terrestrial natural ecosystems, impacts on aquatic natural systems.) For more information, visit the course web page. This is a Southern Oregon University( SOU) Osher Lifelong Learning Institute( OLLI) course offering For information on registration, visit OLLI @ SOU. November 1, 2022, 11 a.m. PT on Zoom. Richenda Fairhurst will discuss Loss and Damage with a focus on Pakistan with Haris Bin Saqib, founder of the non profit Zariya, who will join from Islamabad, "The catastrophic flooding in Pakistan, and the growing diplomatic and moral call for ‘loss and damage’ funding.". Register here. November 1, 2022, 4 p.m. PT on Zoom, Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth presents Spirituality & Climate Crisis. What does the developing climate crisis mean for the life of our faith communities? How can our spiritualities help inform the ways we respond to climate crises.? Register here. November 3, 2022, 9 a.m. PDT on Zoom - Institute For The Future (IFTF) is having a Foresight Talk: How to Forecast Environmental Change without Being an Environmental Scientist. Register here November 3, 2022, 1 p.m. PT on Zoom. Third Act presents their second webinar in their Responsible Finance Seminar: Better Banks and Credit Cards with Bank for Good, Green America, and speakers who have moved their money. Register here. Jessy Tolkan will share the criteria for better banks and credit unions and demonstrate Drive Agency’s Bank for Good search tool. Fran Teplitz will share Green America’s resources for finding greener banks, credit unions, and credit cards and a step-by-step guide. Jim Thompson will share his story of switching banks and credit cards and founding This! Is What We Did to address climate change. November 5, 2022, 8 a.m. PT to Noon on Zoom. The United Church of Christ will be partnering with ecoAmerica to offer online Climate Ambassador Training. This is a great opportunity to learn about effective faith-based climate messaging and pathways to climate solutions. Featured presenters include the Rev. Carol Devine, the Rev. Emma Brewer-Wallin, the Rev. Michael Malcom, and Andrew Wells-Bean. Training participants will receive a free copy of Cathedral on Fire: A Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis. Register here. November 6-18, 2022 - The United Nations Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Conference COP27 will take place where leaders from the world’s nations will be convening in Egypt. November 8, 2022, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT. Alan Journet of SOCAN will present Climate Pollution and Southern Oregon Session 9 (the current scientific understanding of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on our climate, and physical and natural systems and economy including our ocean.) Register at OLLI @ SOU. November 8, 2022 11 a.m. PT on Zoom. Richenda Fairhurst will discuss Homesteading and an Abundant Life with Nivek Anderson-Brown of Leaf and Bean Farm in south central Virginia. Anderson-Brown is an urban professional turned rural homesteader who reaches out to share her journey with those interested in local farms and homesteading. Register here. November 9, 2022, 10 a.m. PT on Zoom - The United Church of Christ’s Creation Justice Webinar topic this month's is Centering Africa at COP27. Register here. November 9, 2022, 7-8:30 p.m. PT on Zoom - Ashland Climate Collaborative is having their Electrify Ashland Now! Monthly Community Discussion and Support Group online meeting to learn how the Inflation Reduction Act will help you save thousands of dollars when you electrify your home. Experts will explain federal, state and local rebates and tax credits. Register Here November 15, 2022, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT Alan Journet of SOCAN will present Climate Pollution and Southern Oregon Session 10 (the current scientific understanding of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on our climate, and physical and natural systems and economy including our oceans.) Register at OLLI @ SOU. November 15, 2022 11 a.m. PT on Zoom. Richenda Fairhurst will discuss Community Resistance: a Tale of Two Pipelines with Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator for Appalachian Voices, as we dig in to the community action surrounding the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines. Register here. November 29, 2022 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. PT on Zoom - SOCAN Monthly Meeting: Election 2022 – Now What? Register Here.

The New Hampshire UCC and Southern New England UCC are hosting two free online webinars on Environmental Justice and the Youth Movement on Thursday, November 17, 2022, from 4-6 p.m. PST and Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 6-9 a.m. PST. Click here for a link to the lineup of presenters and to register. The Inter-religious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN) is a faith-based environmental non-profit organization in Connecticut committed to justice; grounded in hope; and dedicated to positive, hopeful action on behalf of the earth - the one thing we all share and the one place we all call home, The IREJN is. a network of faith-based environmental that provides the latest information on local and national environmental issues.

The United Church of Christ and Blessed Tomorrow will co-host a Zoom Ambassador Training webinar on Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT and will include several breaks throughout. Featured presenters include the Rev. Carol Devine, the Rev. Emma Brewer-Wallin, the Rev. Michael Malcom, and Andrew Wells-Bean. Training participants will receive a free copy of Cathedral on Fire: A Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis, by Brooks Berndt, UCC Environmental Justice Minister. "With this training, and a cohort of like-minded leaders, you will be able to engage your congregations and congregants, colleagues, the public, and policymakers to inspire climate solutions that help protect our families and communities now, and ensure a prosperous, just, and secure future." "Upon completion of the training, you will be invited to sign the Ambassadors agreement and become a Blessed Tomorrow Climate Ambassador. Signing up gives you access to: Tools, resources and events to act and advocate for climate solutions. Access to a private online community of Ambassadors from across the nation who are passionate about being a voice for climate solutions. Quarterly calls with all Blessed Tomorrow Ambassadors. This online community is for sharing and collaboration, and is also where you will access the support and resources for the Climate Ambassador program including the slides from the training and talking points to use in your own climate action. Learn more by reviewing our Ambassador Agreement." "This webinar will be recorded via Zoom and the links for the recorded webinar will be provided to all who register, but individuals interested in becoming Blessed Tomorrow Ambassadors must attend the webinar and then sign the agreement." "Americans are growing more concerned about climate change. As they witness and experience impacts on their health, livelihoods, and communities, they are increasingly looking for guidance on solutions, from people in their daily lives – including faith leaders like you. This training will equip you with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and resources to speak and act confidently on climate change and solutions."

Today, October 24, 2022 is International Day of Climate Action, a worldwide movement initiated by young people concerned about climate change and global injustice. "What is climate action? All those helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (which worsen climate change), improve our adaptation to climate-caused issues, integrate climate change measures into policies, and more."

"Wake Up World: A Curriculum on the Climate Crisis for the Church provides an ecumenical tool for education and motivation of the adult laity of faith groups, including green teams. Using it is an opportunity to bring your group together, move members to a common understanding, and motivate meaningful action." There are seven classes: Class One - Introduction and discussion of the social issues that motivate people of faith to care for creation and take action. Class Two - explores how we have gotten to this point in history and what the current scientific understandings of the crisis are. Class Three - looks how our lives intersect with the climate crisis and how our daily choices can make a difference. Class Four - explores how justice is connected to the climate crisis. Class Five - examines the roles and responsibilities of societal groups (the United Nations, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), corporations, businesses, organizations, agencies, and churches) in saving creation. Class Six - identifies sources of hope and how each of us can move to action. Class Seven (optional) - Let's Get Started review Bob and Anita Dygert-Gearheart wrote this curriculum as their gift to creation. It is free of charge. Currently, you can access all class materials at www.wakeupworld.earth. The website has quotes, scriptures, and songs to inspire climate action; a glossary of climate terms; slideshows; a list of some books on the ecological crisis; and the complete written curriculum.

Rev. Richenda Fairhurst's zoom Climate Cafe Multifaith gathering on October 18, 2022 featured Robert J. Shields talking about Making Spaces for Climate Action. Shields is a Bahai engaged in organizing Future Cities in Alaska - "reimagining local and global cities with renewable power and sovereign food-systems that root from the local community." Collective Sun has the vision to empower non-profit, tax-exempt, and mission-driven organizations with the ability to access clean, renewable energy solutions." They "engage value-aligned capital to address social and environmental challenges." Shields and the Alliance for Reason and Knowledge (A.R.K.) organized the Future Cities Tour on October 2, 2022 in Fairbanks Alaska. DiscoverE's Future City is an international, project-based engineering program that challenges middle school students to imagine, design and build cities of the future. The 2022-2023 theme is The Climate Change Challenge. The Future City Competition is "a hands-on STEM program that will create lasting learning, collaborative skills, creative and critical thinking"; registration closes October 31, 2022. "Not only is change difficult, but there are many actions to take, everything from community solar, to housing and hospitality, to land restoration, organizing, urban farming, national and local legislation, emergency management and …climate touches everything." ~ Rev. Richenda Fairhurst Climate Reality Leadership Corps and Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary trained many of those who are part of Faiths4Future. #ClimateRealityLeadershipCorps #CenterforEarthEthics #UnionTheologicalSeminary #Faits4Future

The non-partisan League of Women Voters of Rogue Valley is planning a League Debate with candidates for Oregon House of Representative District #56 (a new district established since redistricting) on October 23, 2022 at 4 p.m. at the Ashpole Community Center 17 Buchanan Avenue South, Eagle Point, OR (adjacent to Eagle Point City Hall.) The League Debate scheduled on October 10, 2022 with Jackson County Commissioner candidates positions #1 and #3 was cancelled because the Republican candidate declined to attend. Ballots will be mailed to Oregon voters on October 21, 2022 for election day Tuesday, November 8, 2022. According to Shirley Weathers, LWVRV Climate Change Coordinator for Jackson & Josephine Counties, "LWVOR’s Climate Emergency Team members... are monitoring activities of state agencies charged with carrying out actions within their authority to effect emissions reduction as mandated by Oregon Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-04... They are also monitoring the various Oregon Senate and House Committee meetings during the Interim, watching for pertinent legislation that may appear in the 2023 General Session, e.g., National Resources, Energy, Budget, Forestry Committees." "LWVRV is also following and monitoring the GTN Xpress (Gas Transmission Northwest) pipeline expansion being pursued by Canadian TC Energy. The LWV opposes expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure." From the LWVRV October 2022 Newsletter: The League of Women Voters on all levels has demonstrated recognition of the urgency of addressing climate change. The national position adopted in 2019 stated that “an international approach to combating climate change—including through energy conservation, air pollution controls, building resilience, and promotion of renewable resources—is necessary to protect public health and defend the overall integrity of the global ecosystem. The League supports climate goals and policies that are consistent with the best available climate science and that will ensure a stable climate system for future generations.”

The Climate Reality Project on October 7, 2022 is presenting 24 Hours of Reality: Spotlight on Solutions and Hope. For 24 hours straight they’ll be sharing stories about ways people are tackling the climate crisis in our communities. Register here.

Mainstream media coverage of Hurricane Ian in Florida has focused primarily on the devastation to human lives and property damage. With a few exceptions little mention has been made of the relationship to climate change. However, Bloomberg emphasized that Ian Delivers Stark Reminder of Climate Risks in Booming Florida. "Some 2.4 million properties in Florida — more than one-third of the state’s total — face a greater than 26% chance of being severely affected by flooding within 30 years, according to Risk Factor, a data reporting tool from the nonprofit First Street Foundation." Time Magazine also reported a study by climate scientist Michael Wehne of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab found that "Climate Change Added 10% More Rain To Hurricane Ian... A long-time rule of physics is that for every extra degree of warmth Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit), the air in the atmosphere can hold 7% more water." The New York Times notes that "waters off the coast [western Florida] were also two to three degrees Fahrenheit warmer than usual for this time of year, according to preliminary data from NASA. And a few degrees can make a huge difference, said Karthik Balaguru, a climate scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, because it provides extra energy for a storm... More than 90 percent of the excess heat from human-caused global warming over the past 50 years has been absorbed by the oceans, and a majority of it is stored in the top few hundred meters." United Nations News says: "The World Meteorological Organization has reminded that climate change is expected to increase the proportion of major tropical cyclones worldwide, and to increase the heavy rainfall associated with these events. Meanwhile, sea level rise and coastal development are also worsening the impact of coastal flooding." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers a Sea level Rise Viewer. "Use this web mapping tool to visualize community-level impacts from coastal flooding or sea level rise (up to 10 feet above average high tides). Photo simulations of how future flooding might impact local landmarks are also provided, as well as data related to water depth, connectivity, flood frequency, socio-economic vulnerability, wetland loss and migration, and mapping confidence." Our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been lost or disrupted.

Image from GreenFaith Facebook page. GreenFaith is planning Faiths 4 Climate Justice, a month-long, global, multi-religious campaign (October 2 to November 6, 2022) taking place around the globe. Click here for a calendar of events worldwide and those nearby you. "A spiritual crisis requires a spiritual response. At the heart of this crisis is complacency, discrimination and polarization, denial and greed. We can no longer politely ask CEOs who continue to bankroll oil, gas, and coal or sit idly by while waiting for government officials to finally treat the climate crisis like the emergency it is." "As people of faith and conscience, we are called to take fierce love-in-action — principled nonviolent direct action rooted in compassion and community. This has proven again and again to be the most powerful force in social transformation." Earlier this year Greenfaith's Sacred Season of Climate Justice pulled together faith organizations from across the globe to take a stand and use their platforms to take action, and demand action from world leaders. Systemic changes are necessary to fully address our current climate emergency.

American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for sustainable living and 100% renewable energy by sharing information, events and resources to cultivate community and power progress. ASES National Solar Tour is a program for increasing solar adoption and the implementation of sustainable upgrades by featuring a collection of Local Solar Tours which will occur both in neighborhoods and virtually on October 1-2, 2022. It is the largest annual grassroots solar, renewable energy, and sustainable living event in the nation. Check out the new key and map to explore all the diverse sites and tours featured on this year’s Tour. While there are no Local Solar Tours or Solar Sites listed on the map in Rogue Valley, you can participate online Despite its name, the ASES National Solar Tour does not just feature solar power but instead a bevy of sustainable features. ASES SOLAR 2022 was in Albuquerque NM. Next year SOLAR 2023 will be held August 8-11, 2023 at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

October 1, 2022, at 12 p.m. PDT on Zoom, the Work That Reconnects Network is presenting a webinar Ecological Civilization: Humanity's Transformational Alternative. Register Here.* "Explore the epic opportunity created by our existential crisis." This conversation will be both expansive and deep, touching on themes including science, spirituality, systems thinking, and economics. It will also be participatory, for the way forward must be collaborative." The conversation with David Korten .will be facilitated by renegade economist Della Duncan. "We are a choice-making species of extraordinary potential and a false religion devoted to the worship of money has put us on a path to self-extinction." ~ David Korten *Note: A suggested requested donation for this webinar is between $25-$35 USD. However, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please donate generously within your means but feel free to join us even if you can't contribute financially. A portion of the donations for each event goes to the facilitator of the event to honor their work and contribute to their livelihood. Donations also cover the tools, resources and staff hours each event requires. Whatever is donated above and beyond these expenses will go to the general operating fund of the Work That Reconnects Network so it can continue to provide support, networking and programing for our global WTR community.

Oregon Climate Action Hub is on a mission "to empower ALL Oregonians to take effective climate action." At their website you will find "a comprehensive information hub about opportunities to take effective climate action (for individual, community, organizational, and/or policy level) within the state of Oregon. Their goal is "to build individual and community capacity for action, and encourage each of us to live in ways that create a vibrant future for all." Their website includes projects that have these results: Reduce sources of greenhouse gas emissions Enhance nature’s carbon sinks to support sequestration (pulling down) of CO2 Foster equity for all through an intersectional approach Build a broad-based community infrastructure for climate adaptation Among the participating organizations are Oregon League of Conservation Voters Municipal Eco-Resiliency Project (MERP) Southern Oregon Pachamama Alliance Extinction Rebellion PDX 350PDX Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility Affiliated Tribes of NW Indians 1000 Friends of Oregon Citizens' Climate Lobby, Portland Chapter Community Energy Project Families for Climate Climate Reality Portland Chapter