Blog Archives

Showing Up - Everybody, Everywhere

1/24/2026

We Are Fighting Fascism & the “We” Keeps Growing

(Credit: KEPW - 7th & Pearl Streets, Eugene)

With the recent escalation of violence in Minneapolis, we’ve arrived at a new and galvanizing moment in the administration’s descent into fascism and Americans have had enough.

We’re escalating too, with: protests, phone calls, emails and textbanks, town halls, meetings and more...
WE’RE DEMANDING JUSTICE!

Last Tuesday, January 20th, KEPW’s Jana Thrift reported from the Federal Building in Eugene as middle and high school students walked out of classes to join the growing protests against ICE. (Write up & photos in Whole Community News.) The students showed up.
This week, in Davos, Switzerland, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, had the courage to speak the hard truth: “We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.”
It’s the time to leverage this moment and show up in more ways than we ever thought we could to stop Fascism, stand up for persecuted communities (esp. immigrants and trans allies) and take back our Democracy!

When do officials do what the people want them to?
When we put massive pressure on them that they can’t ignore!

Bring your signs and your voices! We’re not going away!
(Organized by SURJ, PSL & Indivisible)

Can you spare an hour or two? They all add up!

Join an activist group holding space at the federal building during the week.
Watch each others’ backs. Be safe.

Meet-up with Your Climate Buddies
Street Messaging - What We Want in 2026

When: Thursday, January 29th - 2:00 to 3:30 pm
Where: 30th & Hilyard (park at Albertson’s)
Who: Neighbors enjoying fresh air and convivial conversations. Building community!
We’ll have signs: Freedom, a Stable Climate, Compassion, a Healthy Democracy, Hope, Solidarity and more! Bring YOUR wish for 2026!

All are welcome! Bring a chair if you’d like to sit. Dress for the cold. Gathering afterward at 16 Tons on Willamette Street. See you there!

Solidarity

No Kings and A Day Without An Immigrant Protest
Monday, February 16th

Each month, leading up to May 1st (in addition to everything else) we’ll hit the streets en masse to declare NO KINGS and ICE OUT of our communities.

Save these dates: Mon., March 16th, Wed., Apr. 1st and May 1st.
No work. No school. No spending.
This is how we build power. Acting together.
Stay tuned for details.

State Climate Bills, Lobby Days & Action Alerts
Join 350Eug for Lobby Days

Thursday, Feb. 5th 12:00 to 2 pm - Oregon Conservation Network - Rally with transportation, forest, climate & critter allies at the capitol in Salem. Email Deb if you want to carpool at [email protected]. We’ll bring our inspiring banners and art!

Monday, Feb. 16th - Make the Polluters Pay (aka SuperFund bill) - meet with representatives. Email Linda at [email protected] if you’re interested.
350 Eugene’s priorities:
The Climate Resilience Superfund Bill - “if you make a mess, you pay to clean it up.”
Balcony Solar - make affordable, portable solar legal and accessible.
Pay as You Save (PAYS) - utilities finance energy efficiency upgrades.

It’s a short session. Runs from February 3rd-March 8th. Strong citizen support is especially important. 350 Eugene will send out Action Alerts when climate legislation is going to be heard and voted on. The alerts will include talking points for use when contacting your elected representatives. We will also include other information about lobby days in Salem. If you wish to receive these alerts, send an email to [email protected] saying “Sign me up for Action Alerts.” Thank you.

GOTV! - Get Out The Vote

As we move toward the 2026 midterm elections, we know that voters who receive handwritten postcards informing them and encouraging them to vote are more likely to vote. Postcards are available now. Mail Out dates are in March and April, so plenty of time to just write a few per day! (Well, that's Deb’s method.) Email Deb at [email protected].

Did You Know?

SaniPac Should Pay Its Share!
Support Lane County Waste Management

Lane County government runs one of the few remaining publicly owned landfills in the state, promoting waste reduction projects and keeping customer rates low. It's a big job, with the short mountain landfill, 15 transfer stations, climate-saving methane capture, hazardous household waste roundups and the latest recycling initiatives.
Independent waste haulers pay a "tipping fee" when they dump their loads at county transfer stations, half of which is a disposal fee and the other a "system benefit fee" (passed in 1999). It supports all the other important (and mostly free) public services.
But you've probably heard that one of our local haulers, SaniPac (owned by Waste Connections Inc., a nearly $10B multinational corporation based in TX) has refused to pay the system benefit fee. Instead of using Lane County's transfer stations, SaniPac drives its waste to their own private landfill in Jackson County. (Talk about carbon footprint!)
Does this make sense to you? There has been a lot in the news recently, but County Administrator, Steve Mokrohisky, makes it pretty clear in this 20-minute YouTube video.
Decide for yourself. Maybe it's time to DUMP SANIPAC! And also tell 'em what you think on their website's General Inquiry link.

Cultivating Emotional Resilience During Times of Change

When: Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 10 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Campbell Community Center, 155 High St, Eugene

Photo Credit: Showy Milkweed by Betzi Hitz

For More information and Registration: Here

Sponsored by: 350 Eugene Resilience and Regeneration Workgroup
Suggested donation: $25. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Contact: [email protected]

Fighting Fascism, absorbing news cycle shocks, preparing for harsh (sometimes scary) weather and maintaining mental, physical and spiritual balance is hard work. Sometimes it feels like we're the only ones who fully recognize the dire democratic and climate emergency we’re in.

Remember...

0 Comments

Stopping Fascism is Job Number ONE!

1/10/2026

0 Comments

Let’s be blunt. To make progress on climate we have to restore democracy.
Especially in light of recent events, 350 Eugene’s focus in 2026 will include working with our allies to stop the fascist takeover of our government. Americans are waking up. Groups (including us) are mobilizing here in Eugene-Springfield. We can and must win for American democracy and for the planet, and we must act NOW.

Thanks in advance for all you WILL do in 2026. And huge thanks for your generous donations during our end-of-year fundraising appeal. We reached our goal of $10,000 and then some! You are awesome!
Working Inside and Outside Institutions

There’s definitely vital work to do inside our institutions, and we ask you to read on and take several actions suggested below, zeroing in where we think we can make the most difference.

But let’s start with what we need right now: CIVIL RESISTANCE.

Civil Resistance

It’s the root of our power. Active, not passive. Non-violent. Here’s why:
Trump’s fascist regime stands only because he controls crucial pillars of support, e.g., national media, the ruling elite / billionaire class, captains of industry / greedy corporations, and many institutions of higher education. We can influence them! Really! And we must… By calling out their complicity, their duplicitous excuses, false solutions, contrived lies and dishonest schemes in every way possible.
We can remove the pillars of support of his regime with personal AND collective action, for example by boycotting Amazon & Google, removing your money from corporate banks, challenging your elected officials who don’t take a proactive stand against fascism, calling out your alma mater, fraternal organization and / or religious organization for staying silent.

Civil Resistance Works When our Institutions No Longer Protect Us

Support or participate in strikes, slow-downs, walk-outs and boycotts. Give your hard-earned cash only to banks and businesses that reflect your values, with owners and workers you know and trust.

What Can We Do in Eugene Right Now?

1) Come to the Federal / ICE Building!

ICE is our target in Eugene to remove the Trump enforcer pillar. They are his Gestapo.
We can and ARE reducing local deportations because protestors are showing up to support our immigrant neighbors. This directly stops harms and is quintessential civil resistance. Find a time and group that works for you and stand in solidarity every week! Join one of these groups!

Note: On Fridays, join Raging Grannies holding space from 12-2:00 pm.

  2) Canvas Vulnerable Neighborhoods:
Go door to door and talk to neighbors. It’s still legal! Create and bring “whistle packets” with a zine and small whistles to blow when ICE is present to alert the community. It’s incredibly effective for bonding with our vulnerable communities and keeping people safe. Learn all about making these kits here. Take a buddy.
Click here to sign up and learn more from Lane Immigrant Defense Network about canvassing and get plugged in.

  3) To do direct support of immigrants, use this interest form to sign up and learn more.

  4)Definitely, turn out on Monday, January 19th from 9 to 1:00 pm:

And save these dates for “A Day Without Immigrants” protests, that will combine the NO KINGS theme:

February 16, 2026
March 16, 2026
April 1st, 2026
May 1, 2026 International Workers Day (General Strike)

The new website Eugene Together Strong is a great resource for plugging in to fighting fascism here in our community. Lots of great resources!

Inside Our Institutions Work That Still Needs to Get Done

Get Out the Vote
We need massive participation in the 2026 midterm elections. If you want to help turn out the vote with postcarding, please email Deb at [email protected] and she’ll get back to you with details. Thank you!

State Climate Policy - Oregon’s short legislative session (2/2-3/9)
We’re focusing on three important climate bills:
The Climate Resilience Superfund Bill (formerly Make the Polluters Pay)
Balcony Solar
Pay as You Save (PAYS)

The Climate Resilience Superfund Bill: The aim of this legislation is to require very large fossil fuel companies to pay their fair share of the costs to both prepare for and recover from climate disasters. Funds raised by this bill will establish a Climate Superfund that will cover the cost of climate-related disasters like wildfires, floods, and heat domes.

Balcony Solar: A bill is expected to be introduced that would make “balcony solar” (solar panels that can be plugged directly into a standard home outlet) legal and accessible. This bill would contribute to Oregon’s renewable energy goals by reducing the use of fossil fuels. At the same time, it would give more households an affordable stake in clean energy.

Pay as You Save (PAYS): This bill is designed to make energy efficiency upgrades affordable by allowing utility customers to finance improvements—like heat pumps, insulation, or efficient water heaters—through their utility bills, with no upfront costs. Utilities would cover the initial cost of upgrades, and customers would pay that cost back through a line item on their utility bill. Just as balcony solar democratizes access to clean solar energy, Pay as You Save democratizes access to energy efficiency
SIGN-UP - CITIZEN ACTION NEEDED! Strong citizen support will be especially important in this budget-constrained session. 350 Eugene will send out Action Alerts when climate legislation is going to be heard and voted on. The alerts will include talking points for use when contacting your elected representatives. We will also provide information on opportunities to join in lobby days in Salem. If you wish to receive these alerts, send an email to [email protected] saying “Sign me up for Action Alerts.”

Eugene can lower our carbon footprint with a Home Energy Score Policy
Many homes in our region suffer from poor insulation, outdated appliances, and inefficient heating systems - factors that increase energy costs, degrade indoor air quality, and emit climate pollution. A Home Energy Score offers simple and customized info about a home’s energy performance, helping residents identify ways to lower costs and make home more efficient.
Eugene is exploring a policy that would require disclosure of a Home Energy Score when a home is listed for sale, similar to policies in many other cities, including Bend, Hillsboro, Portland and Milwaukie. This would help increase transparency in the real estate market and encourage energy-saving upgrades.

Action: Please fill out the City of Eugene Home Energy Score Survey (closes January 15th). There’s a City Council Worksession in February and we’d like to see TONS of positive comments to pass this policy! Thank you!

Forest Defense
Urge Oregon Department of Forestry to Stop Clearcutting Mature State Forests
The plan will guide management of about 640,000 acres of ODF-managed public lands west of the Cascades over the next 70 years.
Comment on their Forest Management Plan for Western Oregon with this Action Alert from Cascadia Wildlands, due January 31st.
Attend the in-person ODF hearing in Eugene and share your thoughts directly.
January 22nd at 5:30 at the Lane Events Center, 796 W 13th Ave., Eugene. Testimony will be limited to 2-3 minutes. Fill out this form to say you’ll be there. Stay tuned for more details.

Impacts: 350 Eugene has been part of the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance (PNWFCA) since its founding five years ago, bringing together new allies and building power with forest and climate activists in Washington and Oregon to protect federal and state forests. 350 Eugene supports PNWFCA financially and at events with our local alliance comrades Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild and Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology (FUSEE). A lot of good amazing work has been accomplished and it’s here in this brief PNWFCA Impact Report. You’ll be impressed!

Divest Oregon
There’s no “divest from fossil fuels” bill this session. But the whip-smart team at Divest Oregon continues to work behind the scenes and calls out the Oregon Treasury and Oregon Investment Council with laser-focused critiques.
A Divest Oregon analysis of Oregon Treasury private equity investment practices finds that years of exceeding the Oregon Investment Council’s (OIC) policy limiting high-risk private equity significantly reduced the performance of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund (OPERF). These effects total about $3.7 billion in reduced value since 2023. The blog follows up from the August Willamette Week article about underperformance in 2024.
Read the entire blog.