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April 13 & 14, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m, PDT Saturday and from 8:30-9:30 a.m. PDT Sunday - The Aspen Chapel presents Ilia Delia and A.I. As the Matrix in the Soul: Why the Future of A.I. is Bound Up with Evolution of Consciousness based on her 2020 book Re-Enchanting the Earth: Why AI Needs Spirituality. Register here. "In this event, Ilia will unpack the problems and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence with the perspective that AI is the next step in the human evolutionary story. She sees that, as we use technology more and more to enhance life, we are entering a ‘trans-humanist’ phase of our development... This means that we are moving beyond our mere biology to use AI to assist us in our process of living." What are the implications of this, and is there a way we can develop this that can enhance our ‘deep relationality’? How can our spiritual understanding and the framework of values enable us to use this intelligence to bring greater peace and harmony to our world? “AI is not the problem. We have to look at why we are developing it, and to what end”. ~ Ilia Delio "Ilia argues that quantum physics and neuroscience are key elements informing our understanding of spirituality and the future of both the human race and our planet. She sees A.I. as being an extension of human intelligence, and a product of the soul. Therefore, the future of A.I. must be imbued with the spiritual values at the heart of our experience within the soul." "Ilia Delio is known as a ‘Theologian Futurist’. She is a Franciscan Sister with Doctorates in Religion and Science, with interests in evolution, physics, and neuroscience and the importance of these for theology. She holds the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University and is the author of twenty books." She is the founder of the Center for Christogenesis.

Elder Climate Action is a group of "activists committed to a non-partisan effort to end the Climate Crisis and build a just and sustainable future for our children, our grandchildren, and all children." March 26, 2024, at 4 p.m. PDT - Elders Climate Action is having their Monthly National Call (on the 4th Tuesday of the month) with Dr. Elizabeth Sawin on the topic: Multisolving: Actions That Protect the Climate While Improving Health, Equity, and Biodiversity at the Same Time. Register here. The Monthly National Call will be followed by a quick Action Party with the Climate Action Now app. They will provide us with several quick actions related to the Monthly Call that we can take from our phone. Their goal is 100 actions in 15 minutes, last month they did almost 150 actions! "Dr. Elizabeth Sawin is Founder and Director of the Multisolving Institute, a think-do tank that helps people implement win-win-win solutions that protect the climate while improving, equity, health, biodiversity, economic vitality, and well-being. She is a biologist with a PhD from MIT who has been analyzing complex systems related to climate change for over twenty-five years." Elders Climate Action (ECA) is a project of Elders Action Network, a 501(c)3 organization. ECA is non-partisan and does not support, endorse, or advocate for any political party or candidate. They "work to inform, inspire, and engage others to take action on the climate crisis. We actively support the youth movements springing up in the United States and throughout the world." ECA has some great tools (videos, books, and online resources) for helping our grandchildren learn about climate change. A new ECA Chapter is currently forming in Oregon. Currently, they are a group of six volunteers with facilitators in Lane and Multnomah Counties "who seek to engage more members locally and in other counties." Find out more on their Facebook page. Also March 26, 2024, at 10 a.m. PDT - Third Act is hosting Eldering Series: Creating Possibiities for Our Collective Future - an unscripted, cross-generational conversation on the roles younger and older activists are playing in our shared work, and what we can be learning from each other." Register here. This session is "hosted by Third Act’s Lead Advisor, Akaya Windwood and will feature: Tamara Chao (Vice President of strategy & Impact at Women Donors Network), Michael Johnson (President at IllumiNative), and Bill McKibben (author, educator, and Founder of Third Act & 350.org)." Third Act is "a community of Americans over sixty determined to change the world for the better. Third Act harnesses an unparalleled generational power to safeguard our climate and democracy."

Here's a list of some upcoming online and Rogue Valley, in-person, eco-spiritual activities that may be of interest to you. Check back as this post will be updated during March as we get additional information, and a new calendar listing will come out in April March 4, 2024 - Deeptime Network is offering an eight-week course: The Ecozoic Way in Religion, Ethics & Law: Understanding and Applying the Essential Teachings of Thomas Berry. The course, which starts March 4th, will be led by Herman Greene, JD, DMin, who is the Thomas Berry Scholar-in-Residence of the Earth Law Center and co-author and co-editor of the legal textbook Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law—A Guide for Practitioners. Click here for more information and registration. March 6, 2024, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. PST (an In-person event at Portland State University with a streaming option available) - Oregon Environmental Council and World Oregon present Great Decisions 2024: Climate Technology & Competition. Will the United States, China, and other powerful countries approach current and future climate initiatives with an increased commitment to trade protectionism and nationalism? Or could a growing spirit of international accord develop to confront the “common enemy” of climate change? Hear from OEC’s Senior Climate Program Director, Nora Apter. Reserve your ticket. March 7, 2024 and Thursdays until November from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT, Rogue Valley Growers Market will have a free food-scrap drop-off location at Hawthorne Park in Medford. They will collect and transport them to your favorite local farms to utilize as compost and animal feed. March 9, 2024, at 10 a.m. PT - Southern Oregon Citizens' Climate Lobby meets Saturday, at Pony Espresso in Ashland. March/April 2024 through October/November 2024 - The BTS Center is offering a monthly gathering over Zoom for groups of six: Group Spiritual Direction Circles For Spiritual Leaders in a Climate-Changed World. This is "an eight-month opportunity for spiritual leaders to strengthen their holy hearing and sharing in group spiritual direction/companioning." Each two-hour session is centered on a prompt related to climate change, liminality, or uncertainty. The program fee is $200. For more information and to register click here. March 16, 2024, at 9 a.m. PDT - Unity.earth is presenting Ervin Laszlo's Embrace the Sacred Mission Dance with the Planet as part of the Global Coherence Pulse. "To address the issues of environmental degradation, a weakening cultural foundation, and destabilization of local communities, three “Purpose Pillars” serve as the foundation of Purpose Earth’s global grant and mentorship program: Environmental Restoration, Cultural Collaboration, and Community Activation." Register here: https://bit.ly/GCPulseMarch2024 March 17, 2024 - Spring Equinox celebration in the Rogue Valley March 19, 2024, at 5 p.m. PT - "Third Act will host author and activist Brian McLaren at their next General Meeting., McLaren will talk about how people of faith can engage the dominant realities of our time: ecological overshoot, economic injustice, and the increasing possibility of civilizational collapse - themes he discusses in his forthcoming book,  Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart (due out May 14, 2024). After his talk, Third Act Founder Bill McKibben will join Brian for a short conversation. Read more about Brian McLaren on his website, and register here for this Zoom conversation." March 20, 2024, at 4 p.m. PDT, on Zoom - Celebrate the equinox with Creation Spirituality Communities and a Virtual Labyrinth Walk with Mary Ann Wamhoff. No need to register in advance. Zoom Link here. To support the work of Creation Spirituality Communities Click here If you need to print a labyrinth to participate, there are two options we recommend: Chartres-style labyrinth Classical (Cretan) labyrinth March 21, 2024, 4-5:30 p.m. on Zoom - Unitarian Universalist for Earth is presenting Rev. Dr. Clyde Grubbs and Rev. Karen Van Fossan to commemorate World Water Day, to raise awareness that 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water. These two spiritual leaders in the UU for Earth movement will help us build a heart-centered approach to a right-relationship with Mother Earth and her waters. Register here. March 22, 2024, at 3 p.m. PDT, - Prosocial World is having a free online seminar with Tomas Veloz and Floor Schukking: Exploring Socio-economic Influence on AI: Re-imagination and Integration from Various Worldviews. "Many of the current problems we face, such as the acceleration of environmental breakdown, have been a result of the same Euro-Western system of scientific knowledge and neo-liberal ideals that have shaped the definition of what this intelligence entails.... After an introduction to perspectives on AI, we try to shift away from this neo-liberal capitalist worldview and shift our focus to various other perspectives, such as degrowth, feminist, indigenous wisdom, and systems thinking." Register here. March 26, 2024, at 6 p.m. PDT - SOCAN's Monthly Meeting: Why We Are Beaver Believers will be held in the large meeting room, Medford Public Library, 205 South Central, Medford, OR April 1-30, 2024 - "The Earth Month Ecochallenge, running from April 1st to April 30th, is a 30-day program focused on environmental and social engagement. During this month, you're invited to select actions that resonate with your values, committing to them for 30 days to foster and reinforce positive habits. Each action you complete earns points and generates real-world impact. Your efforts, combined with those of your team, contribute to a significant collective difference. "This year's theme, “Conserving Every Ecosystem, Caring for Every Creature,” highlights the intersection of conservation and behavior change. By focusing on daily actions and continuous learning, we aim to create a sustainable and just world, not just for humans but for all species and ecosystems we rely on." April 3, 2024 - 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. PDT - SOCAN's Master Climate Protector (MCP) is undergoing a transition to become a new course: Living with Climate Change in the Rogue Valley, offered through the SOU Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Sustainability. The class will be held on the SOU campus and available to SOU students for credit and community members at no or minimal charge. The first offering will be as an Independent study. Alan Jornet and Kathy Conway are coordinating the course, which they will offer together with guest presenters Ray Mallette, Liz Olson, Mike Vergeer, Juie Smitherman, and Ray Seidler. April 16, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. PT - "If you believe in the moral responsibility to care for creation for the sake of our faith, our congregations, our families, communities, and future generations", join the National Faith + Climate Forum on April 16th. Blessed Tomorrow invites all clergy and lay leaders, younger and older congregants to "Changes in our climate are increasingly impacting congregations, and clergy and lay leaders, like you, are searching for ways to be part of the solution. Deepen your understanding of engaging your congregation in creation care, working toward just and equitable solutions, and connecting with other faith leaders locally and nationally." Register here - it's free. April 19, 2024, from 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. PDT - Earth Day 2024 at the Farm at SOU. Join Southern Oregon University and community partners for exhibits, live performances, bike rodeo, art, food trucks, and more, all in celebration of Earth. Here's a link for more information and to Register: https://cglink.me/2xE/r375209 April 22, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. PDT - Earth Day 2024 celebration at Rogue Community College April 25, 2024, from 3:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m. PDT, Creation Justice Ministries (CJM) is presenting Culture of Preparedness, the second part of their “Faithful Preparedness, Faithful Resilience” webinar series. May 18, 19, 25, and 26, 2024 - The Guild for Spiritual Guidance, and the Human Energy Project are co-sponsoring a webinar series with Dr. Emily DeMoor Intersubjectivity and the Noosphere: Love, entanglement, and Convergence.  Register here.

March 31, 2024, is the last day to sign up for the latest Pachamama Alliance's Game Changer Intensive, a free, online, eight-week course "that will prepare you to engage in effective collective action toward a just and sustainable future." I took the course several years ago and highly recommend it The Game Changer Intensive will require about 3.5 hours of your time each week for eight weeks. Each week you will watch videos, read articles and participate in online meetings. I particularly liked the building of a community of friendships with like-minded people through Zoom meetings with those who have just completed that week's coursework on their own. The first class starts on April 2. Register here. From the Pachamama website, here are the eight modules" Module 1: Introduction to Game Changing Begin with the fundamentals of being a Game Changer and learn how to “strike at the root” of our systemic societal problems. Module 2: The Power of Story The story we tell ourselves has the power to shape our actions. Discover a new story that makes transforming the world possible. Module 3: Evolutionary Activism Explore how human beings can take responsibility for the role we play in shaping the evolution of life on Earth. Module 4: A Case for Grounded Optimism Turn your despair into optimism. Discover evidence that a positive future is possible, and illuminate the critical role of your perspective and stand in the matter. Module 5: The Rigged Game Take a hard look at systems and structures of injustice that exist throughout our society, and explore how we are all, in one way or another, caught up in a rigged game. Module 6: Unrigging the Game Discover the awesome power of movements to unrig the game and bring forth democratic principles and practices. Explore inspiring alternative systems for creating a sustainable, fulfilling, just world. Module 7: Solving the Climate Crisis: Justice and Regeneration Explore what taking regenerative action to address climate change looks like, with an emphasis on the connection between climate and justice. Module 8: Going Forth Discover what’s next for you as a Game Changer, delve into inspiring and practical resources to support you as you go forth.

March 26, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. PDT - Graduate Theological Union is offering a virtual information opportunity "to enhance your professional skillset while charting a course toward personal healing and global sustainable practices." This online information session will delve into GTU's Certificate of Completion in Ecospirituality: Environmental Pathways to Healing, "offering insights into the intersection of spirituality and environmental consciousness." As a bonus, attendees will enjoy an exclusive discount on the program." Register here. "In this GTUx program, Dr. Rita Sherma offers insights from her research and invites guest speakers to discuss how we might newly define the relationship between the Earth and spirituality."

Wikipedia defines "ecological civilization" as "the hypothetical concept that describes the alleged final goal of social and environmental reform within a given society. It implies that the changes required in response to global climate disruption and social injustices are so extensive as to require another form of human civilization, one based on ecological principles." Deep Transformation for Ecological Civilization was a forum held May 25-27, 2023. It was the 16th International Forum on Ecological Civilization (an annual conference series in Claremont, CA established in 2006) and 5th International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization. "The largest international conference held on the theme “ecological civilization” (Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization) took place at Pomona College in June 2015, bringing together roughly 2,000 participants from around the world and featuring such leaders in the environmental movement as Bill McKibben, Vandana Shiva, John B. Cobb, Jr., Wes Jackson, and Sheri Liao. This was held in conjunction with the Ninth International Conference on Ecological Civilization. (part of the Claremont ECO Forum) Out of the Seizing an Alternative conference, Philip Clayton and Wm. Andrew Schwartz co-founded the Institute for Ecological Civilization (EcoCiv), and co-authored the 2019 book What is Ecological Civilization: Crisis, Hope, and the Future of the Planet, The Ecospiritual Hub is an online resource for "Those Who Take Nature to Heart" organized by Jack M Greene as part of the Deep Transformation Network. The tagline of the DTNetwork reads: "A global community to explore pathways to an ecological civilization." For an explanation of "What is an Ecological Civilization?" see Jeremy Lent's article published in the February 2021 edition of YES! Magazine. Lent is also the author of the 2023 book, The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place in the Universe. The Ecospiritual Hub is an online resource for "Those Who Take Nature to Heart" organized by Jack M Greene as part of the Deep Transformation Network. I associate the term "ecological civilization" with David Korten,'s October 7, 2022 article We the People Are All in This Together in Yes! Magazine which references his 2021 Club of Rome paper, Ecological Civilization: From Emergency to Emergence. David Korten co-founder of YES! Media and president of the Living Economies Forum, He is the author of influential books, including When Corporations Rule the World and “Change the Story, Change the Future: A Living Economy for a Living Earth. For a different view on ecological civilization from a Chinese perspective see Alexander Ayertey Odonkor's August 20, 2022 article "Ecological civilization: All-embracing Vision For the Global Future" from China Global Television Network (CGTN)

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 3:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m. PDT, Creation Justice Ministries (CJM) is presenting Culture of Preparedness, the second part of their “Faithful Preparedness, Faithful Resilience” webinar series. Avery Davis Lamb, Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries (CJM) will facilitate a discussion with speaker JR Sanderson, Senior Government Advisor for SBP, "a national disaster recovery and resilience organization dedicated to shrinking the time between disaster and recovery by reducing risk, increasing resilience, and improving the recovery process by transforming the disaster sector’s systems, policies, and programs." In this second session, SBP will discuss the importance of creating a culture of preparedness at the individual, community, state, and federal levels. Participants will learn how to better identify, understand, and reduce disaster exposure. On February 29, 2024, CJM presented the first webinar in the series, Tools and Resources for Climate Care. The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox shared how her congregation is actively implementing climate care initiatives in their community, serving as an inspiring example of faithful resilience in action. Creation Justice Ministries provides tools and resources to grow faithful resilience from the physical, social, and spiritual storms of climate change. Their Faithful Resilience Guide is a 6-part spiritually-rooted resource on planning for climate change in congregations. These webinars are part of Creation Justice Ministries' Faithful Resilience collection to help congregations to anticipate, prepare for, and bounce forward into a just, sustainable, and resilient community: The Land We Inhabit - How can we change how we interact with the land in order to care for one another and grow resilience? The Fierce Urgency of Now - How can we create a just and beautiful world for our neighbors, now and into the future? Resilience and Restoration - How can we prepare to support our local community in climate disasters? Climate Migration - How can we welcome our local and global neighbors who are displaced from the climate crisis? Building Resilience - How can our buildings be sanctuaries from climate disasters? Resilient Worship - How can our worship and teaching encourage the building of a resilient community? CJM also recently launched Faithful Resilience Story Map Collection, which utilizes mapping technology to connect scientific data with spiritual direction. There is a lot of information from the White House programs under the Justice40 Initiative Take Creation Justice Ministries' Faithful Resilience Community Survey The Mission of Creation Justice Ministries is to "educate, equip, and mobilize Christian individuals, congregations,  denominations, and communions to protect, restore, and rightly share God's creation." Creation Justice Ministries started under the umbrella of The National Council of the Churches USA, and operated as the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program until 2013.

Interfaith harmony: Implementing the transformative agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals UN Photo/Manuel Elias World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) is an annual observance that takes place the first week in February. It was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2010, through a resolution. "The week provides an opportunity for people of different faiths and beliefs to come together and promote dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation." In recognition of WIHW, Charter for Compassion is offering two events: February 2, 2024 at 3 p.m. PST - Introducing ‘The Letter’ with Kate Trnka - film and discussion of The Letter: A Message For Our Earth. Register here. The movie tells the story of the Pope’s call to care for our planet. In 2015, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si’, a letter to every single person in the world! There are four ‘voices’ that Pope Francis calls specifically for in Laudato Si’: the Voices of the Poor, the Indigenous, the Youth, and Wildlife. "This documentary follows their journey to Rome and the extraordinary experiences that took place there and is packed with powerfully moving personal stories alongside information about the planetary crisis and the toll it’s taking on nature and people." The Letter is also available through a PBS Documentaries subscription or as a rental from Amazon Prime. February 5, 6, & 7, 2024 at 9.15 a.m. PST - Be still. Listen. Know with Kate Trnka - "It is in the stillness that we are connected to the sacred. It is in the silence that we hear. It is with our senses that we know and experience a oneness with all that is. Open up to the wonder, beauty, and spirit of the natural world as we tune into our fifty-four natural senses and cherish each “now” moment. Take part in a variety of interactive activities that engage your senses as you delight in the exquisiteness of nature through this live online event. Each of the three days will provide different activities for you to engage in allowing you to immerse yourself in the awesome wonder of nature." Register here. The Charter for Compassion offerings for the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2024 are part of their RISE (Religion, Interfaith and Spirituality on Earth) sector activities. This year it will comprise of a 7-day series of Round the heart(h)fire - 7 days sharing stories & spiritual practice. February 1 to 7, 2024 at 7 a.m. PST "Gather with us around the Heart(h)fire to explore how to manifest peace in our lives and our world." Here are the themes for each day: Day 1 - Empowerment - with Jamal Rahman Day 2 - Oneness - with Steve Kramer Day 3 - Unity - with Merida McCarthy Day 4 - Cooperation - with Anum Mulla Day 5 - Abundance - with Diana Ketterman and Jan Chase Day 6 - Love - with Steve Kramer Day 7 - Faith - with Jamal Rahman and Merida McCarthy You only need to register once and you'll get the link to all sessions, as well as a reminder each day."

May 18, 19, 25. and 26, 2024 - The Guild for Spiritual Guidance, and the Human Energy Project are co-sponsoring a webinar series with Dr. Emily DeMoor Intersubjectivity and the Noosphere: Love, entanglement, and Convergence. This is an exploration "that goes beyond boundaries, offering hope on the edge as a guiding light toward a brighter, interconnected future." "Dive into the profound exploration of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s visionary concept of the noosphere, with a groundbreaking fusion of science and spirituality. Dr. DeMoor will unravel the threads of interconnectivity in both non-human and human relationships, drawing from the realms of the Human Energy Project, literature, psychology, and the teachings of influential figures like Thomas Berry, CGJung, Ilia Delio. and mystic Ramon Panikkar." Register here. Program fee: $75.00 Registration deadline: April 17, 2024 Dates and times of the program: May 18, 2024, from 8-10 a.m. PDT; May 19, 2024, from 1-3 p.m. PDT May 25, 2024, from 8-10 a.m. PDT; May 26, 2024, from 1-3 p.m. PDT Dr. Emily DeMoor has a Master of Arts in Musicology from Tulane University, a Master of Pastoral Studies with a focus in Religion and Ecology from the Loyola Institute for Ministry, and a Ph.D in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University, She brings a multidisciplinary approach to all she does. Through her teaching, retreats, publications, and presentations she has reached national and international audiences. Her research interests include process theology, eco-theology, intersubjectivity, and the role of hope and love in shaping attitudes and actions toward the natural world amid climate change. Dr. DeMoor serves as Director of the Caritas Center at Brescia University and as Director of Christophany Groups for the Center for Christogenesis and does curriculum development for the Human Energy Project."

On March 6, 2024, President Biden delivered his 68-minute State of the Union address to Congress. It was a partisan message intended to dispel worries about Biden's age and vigor and to contrast differences in his agenda with his November rival. The State of the Union was rich in Biden's aspirational policy agenda. On March 9, 2024, the White House released The President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, which: Lowers Costs for the American People Lowers Drug Prices and Expands Access to Prescription Drugs Cuts Taxes for Families with Children and American Workers. Lowers Child Care Costs for Hard-Working Families. Increases Affordable Housing Supply to Reduce Housing Costs. Expands Access to Homeownership and Affordable Rent and Reduces Down Payments for First-Time and First-Generation Homebuyers Reduces the Cost of College and Lifts the Burden of Student Debt. Lowers Health Care Costs. Reduces Home Energy and Water Costs. Protects and Strengthens Social Security and Medicare Protects the Social Security Benefits that Americans Have Earned Ensures That Americans Can Access the Benefits They’ve Earned Cuts the Deficit by Promoting Tax Fairness Requires Billionaires to Pay at Least 25 Percent of Income in Taxes Raises Tax Rates for Large Corporations Cracks Down on Tax Avoidance by Large Multinationals and Big Pharma Denies Corporations Deductions for All Compensation Over $1 Million Per Employee Ends Capital Income Tax Breaks and Other Loopholes for the Very Wealthy Ensures That the IRS Can Continue to Collect Taxes Owed by Wealthy Tax Cheats Invests in America and the American People Supports Family Planning Services, Maternal Health, and Health Equity Saves Lives by Advancing Behavioral Healthcare Drives Healthcare Innovation to Discover New Treatments and Improve Health Outcomes Expands Healthcare, Benefits, and Services for Environmental Exposures Prioritizes Veterans’ Mental Health Services and Suicide Prevention for Veterans and Military Servicemembers Supports America’s Workforce and Prepares America’s Economy for 21st Century Challenges Continues Implementation of the President’s Investing in America Agenda Provides National, Comprehensive Paid Family and Medical Leave and Calls for Paid Sick Days Empowers, Protects, and Invests in Workers Confronts the Climate Crisis While Spurring Clean Energy Innovation, Increasing Resilience, and Protecting Natural Resources Lowers Energy Costs and Catalyzes Clean Energy and Economic Growth in Rural Communities Invests in Clean Air and Reduces Health and Environmental Hazards for At-Risk Communities Creates Jobs by Building Clean Energy Infrastructure Strengthens Climate Resilience in Communities and Ecosystems Supports and Expands the American Climate Corps Doubles Down on America’s Global Climate Leadership Invests in America’s Families Supports a Strong Nutrition Safety Net Builds a Strong Foundation for Families with Universal Pre-K and Head Start Expands Opportunity and Advances Equity Advances Efforts to End Homelessness Honors Commitments to Support Tribal Communities Expands Access to Capital for Small Businesses Promotes Equity in Education and Builds a Diverse, Capable STEM Workforce Protects Americans at Home and Abroad Secures the Border and Strengthens the Immigration System Tackles Crime, Reduces Gun Violence and Makes America’s Communities Safer Prioritizes Efforts to End Gender-Based Violence Combats Narcotics Trafficking Reiterates the Administration’s Request for Immediate Funding for Urgent National Security Priorities Related to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific Supports Ukraine, European Allies, and Partners Promotes Integrated Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and Globally Ensures Readiness Across America’s Armed Forces Invests in the Submarine Industrial Base Provides Life-Saving Humanitarian Assistance and Combats Global Food Insecurity

Earth Month Ecochallenge is an effort to expand Earth Day awareness and activism over an entire month. Running from April 1st to April 30th, the 30-day program is "focused on environmental and social engagement. During this month, you're invited to select actions that resonate with your values, committing to them for 30 days to foster and reinforce positive habits. Each action you complete earns points and generates real-world impact. Your efforts, combined with those of your team, contribute to a significant collective difference." Register here. This year's theme, Conserving Every Ecosystem, Caring for Every Creature, "highlights the intersection of conservation and behavior change. By focusing on daily actions and continuous learning, we aim to create a sustainable and just world, not just for humans but for all species and ecosystems we rely on." Last year more than 17,000 people joined Earth Month Ecochallenge, committing to bring the UN's Sustainable Development Goals to life. "This year we're taking action for our ecosystems and everything living in them, no matter how small. And remember, Earth Month Ecochallenge isn't about individual action – it's about the collective positive force of thousands of people, just like you, joining together to create a significant impact." According to their website, "Over 110,000 people from 139 countries have used the Ecochallenge Platform, and have engaged over 325,000 people throughout our 30-year history." "Ecochallenge is a digital platform, based in Portland, OR that "gamifies behavior change." Fun challenges encourage new habits. Small steps lead to big change. Together, we build a more sustainable world. Ecochallenge.org is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit under EIN 93-1075047. Donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated. Follow Earth Month Ecochallenge on their Facebook page. Their Instagram account has images you can like and share.

On January 27, 2021 President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order directing the Interior Department to outline steps to conserve at least 30% each of our lands and waters by the year 2030." This Order was designed to "help restore balance on public lands and waters, create jobs, and provide a path to align the management of America’s public lands and waters with our nation’s climate, conservation, and clean energy goals." On February 12, 2024, the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, a historically broad and diverse coalition of 250 organizations announced the release of "a unified and ambitious 2024 National Policy Agenda aimed at conserving 30 percent of U. S. lands and waters and ocean by 2030." 30x30 - Conserve, connect and restore at least 30% of land, water, and ocean in protected areas by 2030 to avoid massive species loss, secure equitable access to nature’s benefits, and prevent and repair the impacts of the climate crisis for all communities. JUSTICE40 - Implement a Justice40 metric for the America the Beautiful Initiative to ensure at least 40% of the investments are made in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no investment in conservation and equitable access to nature. On February 29, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. PT. - Creation Justice Ministries is presenting a six-part webinar: Tools and Resources for Climate Care. This is part of the Faithful Preparedness, Faithful Resilience webinar series co-hosted by Creation Justice Ministries and SBP. "The February 29th webinar will discuss support tools and resources to grow faithful resilience from the physical, social, and spiritual storms of climate change. Attendees will learn about the Faithful Resilience Guide, a 6-part spiritually-rooted resource on planning for climate change in congregations. Attendees will also tour the newly launched Faithful Resilience Story Map Collection, which utilizes mapping technology to connect scientific data with spiritual direction. Finally, The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox, will share how her congregation is actively implementing climate care initiatives in their community, serving as an inspiring example of faithful resilience in action." This event is free, but they welcome donations to cover the cost of hosting this event. Register here. Register for the other webinars in this series: Apr 25, 2024: Culture of Preparedness: Register Jun 27, 2024: Democracy as Climate Resilience: Register Aug 22, 2024: Disaster Preparedness in Your Communities: Register Oct 24, 2024: Mental Health Preparedness: Register Dec 12, 2024: Building Disaster Resilient Communities: Register

On February 13, 2024, the Washington Post reported that corporate leaders of AI companies agree to limit election ‘deepfakes’ but fall short of ban. Today, February 14, 2024, WP reports "Russia, China, and other U.S. adversaries are using the newest wave of artificial intelligence tools to improve their hacking abilities and find new targets for online espionage, according to a report Wednesday from Microsoft and its close business partner OpenAI." Is corporate self-regulation sufficient to protect humanity from the negative aspects of Artificial Intelligence? What steps need to be taken to ensure that technology will serve humanity well? Here is a brief description of some efforts to have AI for good: The AI for Good Global Summit 2024: Accelerating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is scheduled for May 30-31, 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. "The AI for Good Global Summit is the leading action-oriented, United Nations platform promoting AI to advance health, climate, gender, inclusive prosperity, sustainable infrastructure, and other global development priorities. AI for Good is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the UN specialized agency for information and communication technology – in partnership with 40 UN sister agencies and co-convened with the government of Switzerland." The AI Now Institute "produces diagnosis and actionable policy research on artificial intelligence." Founded in 2017, the AI Now Institute "develops policy strategy to redirect away from the current trajectory: unbridled commercial surveillance, consolidation of power in very few companies, and a lack of public accountability." Wikipedia says "AI Now Institute grew out of a 2016 symposium spearheaded by the Obama White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The event was led by Meredith Whittaker, the founder of Google's Research Group, and Kate Crawford, a principal researcher at Microsoft Research. The event focused on near-term implications of AI in social domains: Inequality, Labor, Ethics, and Healthcare." Center for Humane Technology (CHT) (which produced the YouTube video above) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit "working to align technology with humanity's best interests." Their work was featured in the 2020 docudrama "The Social Dilemma." CHT offers many free resources: Top Tech Podcast: Your Undivided Attention Free Courses: Foundations of Humane Technology; How Tech Affects Democracy; and How Tech Affects Kids & Youth Research Library: Ledger of Harms Partnership on Artificial Intelligence to Benefit People and Society (otherwise known as Partnership on AI) is a non-profit coalition formed in 2016. The Partnership on AI "brings together diverse voices from the AI community to address important questions about our future with AI. This non-profit organization has released PAI’s Guidance for Safe Foundation Model Deployment, a primer on AI safety. The Partnership on AI sees 2024 as a call to action. after a collective wake-up call in 2023. "Starting with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, we need to set our AI ingenuity and expectations high and engage creatively and inclusively with people and communities to get there." "Artificial general intelligence has the potential to benefit nearly every aspect of our lives—so it must be developed and deployed responsibly." ~ OpenAI Stuart Russell, in his 2019 book Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control, suggests that "we can rebuild AI on a new foundation with machines designed to be inherently uncertain about the human preferences they are required to satisfy. Such machines would be humble, altruistic, and committed to pursuing our objectives, not theirs. This new foundation would allow us to create provably deferential and beneficial machines." Stuart Russell was one of the presenters in the Science of the Noosphere Master Class I took in the summer of 2023. In conversation with David Sloan Wilson and Terrance Deacon, Russell said this about preferences: "There are futures we want to avoid, such as extinction and enslavement and various other dystopias, and futures that we would like to bring about. And this concept of the noosphere is really important to that because we’re not born with these preferences, they result from our immersion in the noosphere. And so understanding the dynamics of that is extremely important because to some extent, our preferences about the future end up determining what future we get.” Journalist Robert Wright, a presenter at Human Energy's N2 Conference last November says, "Artificial intelligence is the crystallization of the noosphere.... if the age of AI is going to work out well, there will have to be at least some movement toward the goals they identified—a more unified global political community and more in the way of international affinity and sympathy." He thinks we should be "looking at AI in its broadest evolutionary context." So do I. I believe technology and artificial intelligence in particular can greatly benefit humanity if we as a society reward positive efforts to harness "AI for good" and provide sufficient global regulations and enforcement to minimize potential harms.

Here's a list of some upcoming online and Rogue Valley in-person eco-spiritual activities that may be of interest to you. Check back as this post will be updated during February as we get additional information and a new calendar listing will come out in March. February 1, 2024, at 1 p.m. PST - Global Kinship is hosting a webinar with Duane Elgin, author, education, media activist, and social scientist, who will speak on Facing Adversity: Choosing Earth, Choosing Life. "Global Kinship, Exploring the Emerging Noosphere, addresses the phenomenon of the complexification of human creativity, technology, and consciousness that has evolved within our species - from the first "Aha!" moments of the earliest tribes to this rapidly rising consciousness and interconnectivity among humans around the world.' Register here. February 4, 2024 - Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is having its 11th annual Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit in faith communities all over Oregon with the theme, “Hope for Our Common Home.” The first part of this hybrid event will be a plenary session on Zoom, with participants watching together from their regional locations across Oregon. Following the plenary, local hosts will facilitate in-person sessions focusing on relationship-building and learning with people of faith in their region. The cost is $25 general; and $10 student rate. Scholarships are available (select the “Scholarship” option on the registration form). Register at emoregon.org/event/earth-summit-2024. February 6, 2024, at 5 p.m. PT on Zoom - Earth Charter International will host a webinar on East and West Dialogue on Ecological Civilization. The speakers will include Mary Evelyn Tucker, Zhihe Wang, Jinfeng Zhou, and Julia Kim. Click here for more information and to register. February 9-11, & 18, 2024 - Unity Earth is convening a symposium Awakening to Humanity’s Sacred Mission. "to bring together like-minded organizations and individuals from around the world to explore what is next for our global network of evolutionary organizations... The international Symposium is a collaboration produced by Unity Earth in deep partnership with the Source of Synergy Foundation, Laszlo Institute, the Holomovement, Unify, Light on Light, SINE Network, Humanity’s Team, Good of the Whole, and other global organizations." Register here. February 15, 2024, at 8 a.m. PT - The Center for Earth Ethics is presenting a webinar: Values, Culture, Spirituality and Ecosystem Restoration: A Dialogue with UN Decade Advisory Board Members. In support of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and global restoration efforts, the Center for Earth Ethics has hosted a series of high-level interventions and community-based dialogues. These events showcase the importance of incorporating values, culture, and spirituality (VCS) in anchoring and achieving ecosystem restoration. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration has helped galvanize broad engagement in protecting, conserving, and restoring the natural world.. This webinar will delve into the multifaceted nature of restoration, emphasizing that it extends beyond the hectares restored. Crucially, it involves repairing the relationship between people and the land, water, and air essential for life. The session will also examine methods for meaningfully engaging a community and the role of values, culture, and spirituality in ensuring the success of restoration projects. Confirmed panelists include Thais Corral of Sinal do Vale, Tariq Al-Olaimy of 3BL Associates, Atari Mishra of We are Tomorrow, and Gopal Patel, the UN Decade Advisory Board co-chair. CEE’s Andrew Schwartz will moderate. February 27, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. PT - SOCAN's monthly meeting at the Medford Public Library will bring "Updates from Salem & Home." "The climate catastrophe is approaching faster than many realize; across the planet, 2024 must be the year for meaningful climate action!" March/April 2024 through October/November 2024 - The BTS Center is offering a monthly gathering over Zoom for groups of six: Group Spiritual Direction Circles For Spiritual Leaders in a Climate-Changed World. This is "an eight-month opportunity for spiritual leaders to strengthen their holy hearing and sharing in group spiritual direction/companioning." Each two-hour session is centered on a prompt related to climate change, liminality, or uncertainty. The program fee is $200. For more information and to register click here. March 4, 2024 - Deeptime Network is offering an eight-week course: The Ecozoic Way in Religion, Ethics & Law: Understanding and Applying the Essential Teachings of Thomas Berry. The course, which starts March 4th, will be led by Herman Greene, JD, DMin, who is the Thomas Berry Scholar-in-Residence of the Earth Law Center and co-author and co-editor of the legal textbook Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law—A Guide for Practitioners. Click here for more information and registration. Early=bird pricing of $240 until February 19th. March 17, 2024 - Spring Equinox celebration April 3, 2024 - 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. PDT - SOCAN's Master Climate Protector (MCP) is undergoing a transition to become a new course: Living with Climate Change in the Rogue Valley, offered through the SOU Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Sustainability. The class will be held on the SOU campus and available to SOU students for credit and community members at no or minimal charge. The first offering will be as an Independent study. Alan Jornet and Kathy Conway are coordinating the course, which they will offer together with guest presenters Ray Mallette, Liz Olson, Mike Vergeer, Juie Smitherman, and Ray Seidler. April 19, 2024, from 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. PDT - Earth Day 2024 at the Farm at SOU. Join Southern Oregon University and community partners for exhibits, live performances, bike rodeo, art, food trucks, and more, all in celebration of Earth. Here's a link for more information and to Register: https://cglink.me/2xE/r375209 April 22, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. PDT - Earth Day 2024 celebration at Rogue Community College

"A key to combating climate change is action." To this end, NETA offers a series of short documentaries called 50 States of Sustainability, "focused on dedicated people of all ages working hard at corporations, non-profits, startups, and in government to drive the United States towards a more sustainable future." One way of saving the family farm might be Agrivoltaics - producing food in the shade of solar panels and generating energy. In the YouTube video above the founder of The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) reflects on the importance of energy saving energy, and learns from an Ohio 11-year-old about the importance of bees. From Wikipedia: "RMI is an organization in the United States dedicated to research, publication, consulting, and lecturing in the general field of sustainability, with a special focus on profitable innovations for energy and resource efficiency. RMI was established in 1982 and has grown into a broad-based institution with 220+ staff and an annual budget of some $52 million. RMI's work is independent and non-adversarial, with a strong emphasis on market-based solutions." RMI works to "identify the interventions and work to scale transformative change in the global energy system to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 50% by 2030."

Photo by Torsten Dederichs dederichs.info via Unsplash Zoya Teirstein writes in the January 30, 2024 edition of Grist.: "Climate Change Has Killed 4 Million People Since 2000 — and That’s an Underestimate". This shocking headline gets our attention, but Grist often offers a positive vision of a sustainable future through the use of stories of solutions, progress, and action - Looking Forward, visions of a clean, green, and just future. Grist is "a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future." Grist bills itself as "The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice." Grist reports on topics like Politics, Energy, Equity, and Solutions, and how they intersect with climate. Grist’s Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors short story contest "celebrates stories that offer vivid, hope-filled, diverse visions of climate progress." They offer hope that we can work together to build a more sustainable and just world. Grist's first climate fiction contest in 2021 Imagine 2200 featured "12 stories of intersectional worlds in which no community is left behind." Their second climate fiction contest in 2022 offered 12 "short stories that offer visions of abundance, adaptation, reform, and hope." Grist 50 is "an annual list of climate and justice leaders to watch." Fix combines creative storytelling with network-building and events. Their work "amplifies stories of hope and progress, shines a light on bright ideas and the people behind them, and brings together a growing community of visionaries — they call them Fixers — who are leading the way to a planet that works for everyone." You can support the work of Grist by becoming a member or making a donation on their website.

Welcome 2024! Here's a list of some upcoming online and Rogue Valley in-person eco-spiritual activities that may be of interest to you. Check back as this post will be updated during January as we get additional information and a new calendar listing will come out in February. January 4, 2024, at 4 p.m. PST on Zoom - Elders Climate Action is co-hosting with Environmental Voter Project (EVP) a panel presentation: Organizing Older Climate Voters. Join EVP's Executive Director, Nathaniel Stinnett, and a panel of experts. Register here. January 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. PST on Zoom - Deep Transformation Network is having its next DTN Monthly Live Event, offering the opportunity to engage with three luminaries associated with the Earth Charter.  RSVP to their monthly meetings to get it on your calendar January 11, 2024, at 10 a.m. PST on Zoom - The BTS Center is offering a taste of their Ecospiritual Leaders: Encounters with Wholeness. course. This will be an informal gathering with course instructor Kimberly Knight and course host Ash Temin. Register here. January 11, 2024, at 3 p.m. PST on Zoom - Global Ministries is offering an online gathering EarthKeepers Training Info Session w/Q&A to learn details and find answers to your questions about the upcoming March 2024 fully online training. More info here. January 11, 2024,  at 1 p.m. PST on Zoom - The Global Kinship group of Creation Spirituality Communities will have their monthly webinar featuring Stephanie Rearick who will speak on Mutual Aid for a Neighborly Global Economy. Register here. January 12, 2024 - The Oregon Legislative Information System will release information on bills pre-filed before the 2024 Oregon legislative session whereupon SOCAN will be able to preview them for the session starting February 5th and assess which they wish to follow and support, oppose, or seek to amend. Anyone interested in joining the team should contact Alan Journet. January 13, 2024, to June 16, 2024, from 9 a.m. -12:30 p.m. PT - Pachamama Alliance is offering a 6-month course: Cultivating the Visionary Self, a journey where individuals will work with their bodies through what Alixa García calls "Creativity Infused Somatic Practices," which helps move trauma through the body by consciously activating one's relationship with nature and the creative force. Click here for more information and to Register. January 15, 2024, at 5 p.m. on Zoom - Citizens Climate Education is offering a 5-part live Trainers program to learn how to help start a new CCL chapter in your community or another part of the state. They will provide: live sessions and recordings of the session; online resources; and CCL staff support. Email Tamara Staton, Greater Pacific Northwest Regional Coordinator by Friday, January 12th if you are interested. January 15, 2024, at 6 p.m. PST on Zoom - Members of the Global Kinship community meet for 30 minutes on Monday evening after each Tuesday webinar. At the gathering through meditation they "invite the focus and vision of the previous Tuesday's presenter to enter our consciousness, expanding the Noosphere." Register here to receive your personal perpetual link. Once you register, your link will remain the same. January 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. PST at the Medford Oregon Library - SOCAN is having their Monthly Meeting – Daunted by Climate Concern? Let’s Explore Our Options. Biologist and policy expert Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson presented at a TED Talk and will present a valuable visual tool for helping us each figure out how we can individually contribute to addressing the daunting climate crisis developed. March 1-16, 2024 - Global Ministries is now accepting applications for their Spring Earthkeepers Training; the application deadline is February 1, 2024.

On January 9, 2024 The Guardian published an article, Emissions from Israel’s war in Gaza have ‘immense’ effect on climate catastrophe. referencing a study that shows the "first months of Israel/Gaza conflict produced more planet-warming gases than 20 climate-vulnerable nations do in a year", The study noted the asymmetry "during the first 60 days of Israel’s military response equivalent to burning at least 150,000 tons of coal compared with Hamas rockets fired into Israel during the same period generating CO2 equivalent to approximately 300 tons of coal." Globally, "militaries account for almost 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually – more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. This makes the global military carbon footprint – even without factoring in conflict-related emission spikes – the fourth largest after only the US, China and India." Steven Böhm and Sian Sullivan are editors of a 2021 online book, Negotiating Climate Change in Crisis which "brings together 28 essays by over 60 researchers from around the world, who are concerned about climate change." The collection includes a 2019 essay: The Carbon Bootprint of the US Military and Prospects for a Safer Climate by Patrick Bigger, Cara Kennelly, Oliver Belcher, and Benjamin Neimark saying "The US military is one of the largest institutional polluters in history, consuming more liquid fuels and emitting more climate-changing gases than most medium-sized countries... the US military operates more than 800 bases around the world through its ‘lily-pad’ network that renders all the globe a potential theatre of war." While "There have been attempts to ‘green’ aspects of its operations by increasing renewable electricity generation on bases... it remains the single largest institutional consumer of hydrocarbons in the world." The Climate and Community Project (CCP) is a US-based climate policy think tank calling for a "cease-fire now and forever... no climate justice without Palestinian freedom and self-determination."

Awakening of Humanity: The Dawning of a New Earth and Unitive Age - Holomovement As the Unitive Narrative is a new E-book by Drs. Kurt Johnson, Jude Currivan, Robert Atkinson, and Douglas King - four interdisciplinary authors (sharing cosmology, theology, evolutionary biology, comparative religion, monomyth, and spiral dynamics integral). From the authors: "This book offers a unitive reframing of the foundational elements, worldviews, and deeper ontological aspects of reality for understanding the universe as a true superorganism." "Integrating theological, cosmological, philosophical, universal wisdom traditions, and interspiritual perspectives, the authors arrive at a universal identity of humanity consistent with our individual and collective roles within the wholeness-in-motion of the entire creation as an invitation that this will lead to further dialogue and exploration in our re-membering who we really are and who we can evolve to become. " "In certain sections of the book, the collaborating authors intentionally favor wording and expressions of the first author Kurt Johnson (the theologian) to facilitate the express purpose of addressing theological narratives." The book is published online by Light on Light Press on ISSUU.