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The Institute For The Future (IFTF) had a webinar today on identifying positive signals of change - evidence of the future that we can find in today’s world. They are "concrete, compelling observations about how the world is changing that give us a hint at where we might be headed." One signal of change is the recent announcement by the owners of Patagonia that they are transferring stock valued at about $3 billion to a nonprofit Trust dedicated to fighting the environmental crisis and defending nature. Patagonia's website also has stories that inspire activism, like the YouTube above. Molly Kawabata says, "The fossil fuel industry has promoted the "individual carbon footprint" to deceive the public and turned the table of responsibility from those who are causing the problem on to individual users. Instead, we must insist and work for systemic changes (converting our electric system from fossil fuels to renewable energy; public policies that make new technologies affordable to everyone; democracy reform; getting money out of politics; dismantling gerrymandered voter maps; fighting voter suppression...) "We also need to reframe and give people a sense of empowerment and hope rather than using fear, guilt or shame, which tend to not make people freeze rather than act.." Everybody's true power lies when together we see a promise of hope, a zero-carbon economy - a "we" that is working collectively to fight for systemic change; to clean up the air for everyone; to provide clean energy for all; and give our children back their future." If we have any hope of a thriving planet—much less a business—it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have. This is what we can do. ~ Yvon Chouinard

How can the church become a hub of resilience in the midst of the spiritual and physical storms of the climate crisis? This Creation Justice Ministries virtual workshop published on YouTube is about building climate resilience into worship. Gain tools on preaching climate justice year-round and learn how to weave climate resilience into your church’s worship for this Earth Day Sunday. Speakers include: The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Episcopal priest, author, retreat leader, and climate activist. Facilitated by Avery Davis Lamb, Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries. Weathering the Storm: Faithful Resilience is the Earth Day 2022 program of Creation Justice Ministries. Creation Justice Ministries educates, equips, and mobilizes its 38 member communions and denominations, congregations, and individuals to do justice for God’s planet and God’s people. Learn more at www.creationjustice.org and @CreationJustice on social media.

The EARTH Club at RCC and Sustainable Rogue Valley are co-sponsoring and Environmental Film and Conversation Series of four short films around the theme of climate action on Zoom Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 6 p.m. PDT Transition to a World Without Oil (Rob Hopkins) How to Turn Climate Anxiety into Action (Renee Lertzman) Greening the Ghetto (Majorca Carter) Three Stories of Local Eco-Entrepreneurship (Majorca Carter) The films will be followed by conversation about how we can get involved in solutions.

What is the most effective actions that one can take to address the climate crisis? Katherine Hayhoe says "just talk about it." "Getting started can be as easy as getting people talking. Watching a brief video and then engaging in discussion is a great first step.” ~ Jim Antal For churches, Antal recommended a series of nine videos, each 5 to 6 minutes long. They feature climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, one of the American Climate Leadership Summit’s keynote speakers — and herself an evangelical Christian. The topics of the videos range from what the Bible says about the natural world, to how to talk to people with different opinions about climate change, to why “it is not too late” to slow the global rise in temperature." Here are some video links to get us going: Katharine Hayhoe https://youtu.be/-BvcToPZCLI ecoAmerica https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT7JaalNL4aiq9ReL5-uZaw TearFund https://www.tearfund.org A Rocha https://www.arocha.org/en/ Climate Stewards https://www.climatestewards.org Plant with Purpose https://plantwithpurpose.org Operation Noah https://operationnoah.org

"The Enlightenment project swims against currents of human nature - tribalism, authoritarianism, demonization, magical thinking - which demagogues are all too willing to exploit. Many commentators, committed to political, religious, or romantic ideologies, fight a rearguard action against it. The result is a corrosive fatalism and a willingness to wreck the precious institutions of liberal democracy and global cooperation." ~ Steven Pinker Jordan B. Peterson interviews authors Steven Pinker and Johnathan Haidt in the June 2021 YouTube video above. they discuss enlightenment, the righteous mind, truth, Charles Darwin, group selection, Emile Durkheim, Joseph Heinrich, cooperation, cultural evolution and more. In his 2018 book Enlightenment Now Steven Pinker argues that there has been a general improvement of the human condition over recent history brought by reason, science and humanism. "People are living longer, healthier, freer, and happier lives." If you are not sure you want to read the 556 page book (including detailed references), you can check out the Washington Post article: A Harvard professor explains why the world is actually becoming a much better place. In his 2012 book The Righteous Mind Jonathan Haidt explains Moral Foundations Theory - how morality is shaped by emotion and intuition more than by reasoning, and why conservative and progressive political groups and religious groups have different notions of right and wrong. Haidt's book is organized in three parts around three principles and metaphors: Intuitions come first, strategic reasoning second - The mind is divided, like a ride on an elephant, and the rider's job is to serve the elephant,. There's more to morality than harm and fairness - The righteous mind is like a tongue with six test receptors. Morality binds and blinds - Human beings are 90 percent chimp and 10 percent bee, Haidt draws together Charles Darwin's theory of group selection and Emile Durkheim 'vision of society, favored by social conservatives, in which the basic social unit is the family, rather than the individual, and in which order, hierarchy and tradition are highly valued." He also says "David Hume got it right" in that morality is part of human nature, like language or taste and "sentiment" (intuition) is the driving force of our moral lives, whereas reasoning is biased and impotent, fit primarily to be a servant of the passions." While Pinker is sometimes dismissed as a techno-optimist, Haidt helps us understand group cohesion and the deep psychological basis of differences between liberals and conservatives to better communicate our shared concern for the environment and the habitability of our planet for future generations. Steven Pinker, a Canadian cognitive psychologist and Harvard professor, is author of nine books including: The Language Instinct (1994) How the Mind Works (1997) Words and Rules (2000) The Blank Slate (2002) The Stuff of Thought (2007) The Sense of Style (2014) The Better Angels of Our Nature (2011) Enlightenment Now (2018) Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters (2021) Jonathan Haidt is a moral psychologist, Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University and author of three books written for general audiences: The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom (2006) The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion (2012) The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure (2018) Other recommend resources on truth: Our World in Data is "research and data to make progress against the world’s largest problems." HumanProgress is a project of the Cato Institute Gapminder is an independent educational non-profit fighting global misconceptions. Factfulness (2018) by Hans Rosling The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth (2021) by Jonathan Rauch

Futurist Bob Johansen, who was President of The Institute For The Future (IFTF) from 1996 to 2004, says: "We are in a time of accelerating, disruptive change." ~ Bob Johansen Bob is the author of several books aimed at organizational leaders including: Full Spectrum Thinking: How to Escape Boxes in a Post-Categorical Future (2020) The New Leadership Literacies: Thriving in a Future of Extreme Disruption and Distributed Everything (2017) Leaders Make the Future: Ten New Leadership Skills for an Uncertain World (2012) Get There Early: Sensing the Future to Compete in the Present (2007) An excellent written summary of his 2021 zoom presentation (above) to Founding Fuel is found here. Notes from Johansen's books and other videos: We live in a VUCA world that offers both threat and opportunity: THREAT            OPPORTUNITY Volatile               Vision Uncertain           Understanding Complex             Clarity Ambiguity           Agility Leaders Make The Future: Ten New Leadership Skills For an Uncertain World covers 12 topics: Maker Instincts Clarity Dilemma Flipping Immersive Learning Ability Bio-empathy Constructive Depolarizing Quiet Transparency Rapid Prototyping Smart-Mob Organizing Commons Creating Future Immersion for Leadership Development Learning the Ten Future Leadership Skills Yourself Notable quotes from Bob: Forecasting - The purpose of forecasting is to provoke, not to predict. Listening for the future is hard work. Leaders have to listen through the noise in a VUCA world." "Leaders need to be simple, but not simplistic." "The future is already here, it is just unevenly distributed." "It sometimes takes 30 years for things to be an “overnight success.” "The global rich-poor gap is getting bigger, faster." "Leaders need great clarity about where we are going, but also great flexibility in getting there." "Leaders of the future must be digitally based – blending digital with the physical world." Three Step Process Foresight is preparing your mind. Insight is discerning and those discerning questions are really dilemas. Action – Faith lives between Insight and Action! "Smart mob organizing (using social media as well as face to face) is the wave of the future. Today’s social media is now rather trivial. It’s a great time to get into it – but don’t try to catch up, leapfrog! Go for tomorrow’s Facebook and Twitter." "Fail Often; Fail Early; Fail Cheaply." "Leaders will thrive in the space between judging too soon (the classic mistake of the problem solver and the fundamentalist) and deciding too late (those who are passive.)" "Augmented Reality is our future in the upcoming decade. Cloud-served supercomputing will have no computer, no mouse and be operated all by gesture. Your only choice is what filter." Old Marketing - Old fashioned notions of consumers; marketing; and advertising are all obsolete. The user in the future is going to filter those out. Virtual Reality - a virtual overlay using geo-coding and tagging Digital Physical Blends - We will have blended realities and continuous filtering. Body Hacking - media will be blended in with our bodies and our lifestyles. The Cloud - We are moving from today’s internet to tomorrows cloud. Digital Youth - If you are older than 16 you are off unless you are on (digitally connected.) If you are younger than 16 you are on unless you are off. Digital natives are going to leapfrog with the kids and military training techniques. Look for what you have in common, not what you are polarized about. Create a "Story of the Future" that provokes insight into the future. Sources of provocation: The Vuca World Extreme Climate Variability The Rich / Poor Gap Personal Empowerment Grassroots Economics Smart Networking Polarizing Extremes High-Impact Religions Health Insecurity Body Hacking Boomers Reinvent Aging Digital Youth Urban Wilderness Digital Physical Blend Dilemmas of Difference Three Big External Future Forces 1. The next big economic driver will be the “global well-being economy” (meaning and faith will be core to well-being). This is more than sick care. We are not very good at wellness health and well-being. This coming decade will be led by biology, physical, social, community, and spiritual well-being. Neuro science and happiness will be understood better. The next decade the brain gets practical – i.e. Last spring when the new food pyramid was introduced, Dan Siegle developed The Healthy Mind Platter: Sleep Time; Physical Time; Focus Time; Time in; Down Time; Play Time and Connecting. 2. Digital natives (16 years of age and less in 2012) will create new practices of engagement through gaming. Theological education will need reverse-mentoring from the digital natives and create intense immersive learning experiences. Generation - is now about 6 years (if you are 25 or less) … AND SHRINKING. Digital Natives - by 2021, anyone who is 25 or less – rich or poor will be a digital native! The younger you are, the stronger the effect. Disruption in the pattern. The mind of the digital native will work differently (e.g. “continuous partial attention”) - but we don’t yet know just how differently. Frustration - Unless the rich/poor gap improves a LARGE number of digital natives will be very frustrated - they will be very connected and able to see the very rich. Games “are obstacles that we volunteer to overcome” Jane McGonigal – Reality is Broken –  engagement at the moment of the epic win. The opposite of play isn’t work – it’s depression. Fun is not the enemy of work – this is what an immersive learning experience is. Reverse mentoring - Church youth groups today should be structured around digital natives teaching adults about gaming. 3. Reciprocity-Based Innovation (amplified by the cloud) will change the nature of economic and social engagement. Reciprocity will be the currency of theological education and faith communities. Transactions - the currency of the internet is transactions; Reciprocity – the currency of the cloud is reciprocity - giving things away in the trust (faith) you will get more back. The failed rollout strategy for the Kinect became an example of involuntary reciprocity-based innovation. The Logic of Giving and Reciprocity "The happiest people are those who give; the happiest of the happiest are those who forgive. The least happy are those who carry a grudge." ~ Kelly Traver – Healthiest You. External Future Forces and the Church When you have the time, check out this great one hour video on Vimeo where Bob spoke to seminary students at Pacific School of Religion in 2012 on the topic of “External Future Forces,” to help them prepare to become future leaders. A Book of Provocation, was written for the Episcopal Church by IFTF. It highlights the 15 sources of provocation for the church (listed above) from a custom ten year forecast map. For each provocation the authors suggested dilemmas that are likely to be raised for churches if their forecast comes to pass. They suggested discerning questions for church members to consider; members are encouraged to generate their own discerning questions – based on individual reactions to this forecast for the next decade.: Steve Brimmer uses future scenarios to stimulate conversations about four alternate, possible Church Futures. Tags: #Bob Johansen, #IFTF, #VUCA, #Full-Spectrum Thinking, #Leadership Literacies, #Mindsets, #Skills, #Future, #Provocation, #Disruption, #Reciprocity, #Foresight,#Insight, #Action, #DigitalNatives, #AugmentedReality, #ImmersiveLearningExperience, #Games

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.”