 You are not alone in feeling disoriented with the deepening and dizzying dread of an autocratic society with no environmental or civil guardrails. We got out the vote and now the voters have chosen. Our vital work remains before us, but our tactics must change. The path forward is uncertain, but this much is clear: We stick together and we persevere, clear-eyed, braver and smarter than ever. We stand on the shoulders of peace and justice warriors, past and present. TAKE ACTION: There is much we CAN do! We must focus locally. We must reach out (beyond our comfort zone) and support our talented allies, especially youth and BIPOC. We must more generously fund / resource these efforts with our creativity, time and money. We must support each other in the work to save the planet with the greatest dedication we can muster, and do it with love and joy. Are you in? Here’s some local work to be part of right now. SHOWING UP IS 99%:  ACTION 1: Attend Eugene City Council Meeting - it sounds boring, but we make it fun! Monday, November 25th at 7:30 pm at the new City Hall at 500 E 4th Ave. (old EWEB building pictured above). Since the withdrawal last year of Eugene’s residential electrification ordinance, advocates have been working tirelessly with city staff to implement GHG-reduction strategies in the Climate Action Plan 2.0. This January we usher in a new Mayor and Ward 1 Councilor, and anticipate greater engagement and progress around climate, as the federal and state IRA funds flow into Oregon, Lane County and Eugene/Springfield. But what we need now is POLITICAL WILL to maintain forward momentum. That means WE HAVE TO SHOW UP before January. Public comment time at city council is an important way to let the council know we have their back when it comes to enacting strong climate policy going forward. Our message is this:
Public comment is “in person only.” Sign-up starts at 7:00 pm. You have 2 ½ minutes to make a difference. Join your climate buddies at city council Monday the 25th. Come to speak or join in solidarity with those who do. See you there! (Social time following.) ACTION 2: Tune-in to the Sustainability Office’s Reports on Climate Progress Monday, December 9th at 5:30 pm - Work Session: Update on Building Decarbonization Wednesday, December 11th at noon (12:00 pm) - Work Session: Climate & Sustainability Revenue Use this link to access and watch the livestream on December 9th & 11th. See how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. Show them we’re concerned and engaged. Get to know the players and who supports (or doesn’t) city climate action. You might be surprised. (Note: Work sessions can only be viewed on-line and there is no public comment.)  ACTION 3: Stand up for Golden Gardens Park in West Eugene! Thursday, November 21st at noon (12:00 pm) - Virtual Meeting with City & Neighborhood We need a plan that respects both recreation needs and our environment! Golden Gardens Park, a beautiful natural place in the Bethel neighborhood, is one of the few places in Eugene where wildlife like herons, bald eagles, and Western Pond Turtles thrive in their natural habitat (located on Jessen Dr., SW of Jerry’s on Highway 99. Map).  The City of Eugene plans to develop a large sports complex, including 14 sports fields, lighting, parking, and unfortunately, the addition of plastic artificial turf, which would introduce harmful microplastics into the environment, disrupt sensitive ecosystems, and degrade the park’s wildlife habitat. We don’t have to use the fossil fuel industry’s new favorite product, PLASTIC, on our kids’ sports fields! City staff will discuss the final design for the park, which includes 124 acres of natural area, a trail system, and sports facilities. This is our opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, and request nature-friendly solutions. And please complete the City Survey. Your voice makes a difference! Attend the public (virtual) meeting and share your thoughts on this proposal and advocate on behalf of natural, organically managed grass over artificial turf and protections for wildlife habitats. Virtual Meeting Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom: Register here For more information, here is the Beyond Toxics "Case Against Artificial Turf" info sheet. ACTION 4: Street Messaging - hit the streets to educate & engage our community on climate! Join us in December on the streets of Eugene to display signs and banners with a Climate Action and Climate Justice message. It’s a time to visit with other climate concerned people and engage the public with our message. Stand next to or hold our signs or banners and wave at our fellow citizens who are driving, biking and walking by.
When: Friday, December 6 from 1:30-3:00pm Where: W. 18th Ave just east of the Bi-Mart at 18th & Chambers Meet at the east corner of the Bi-Mart parking lot just before 1:30 or look for the signs and banners along 18th Ave whenever you arrive after that. When: Saturday, December 14 from 1:30-3 pm. Where: W. 13th Ave next to the Fairgrounds and Holiday Market, near Monroe St. Meet at the corner of 13th & Monroe just before 1:30, or look for the signs and banners along 13th Ave west of Monroe if you arrive later. In Solidarity, we hope you’ll be with us out on the streets! ACTION 5: Attend the Weatherization Workshop - A Just Transition Series! Saturday, November 16th 3 to 4:30 pm Learn how to make your home cozy & energy-efficient this winter while saving money! This workshop focuses on the needs of BIPOC community members, renters & homeowners in Eugene-Springfield area.  🛠️ FREE supplies + DIY demos 🍕 Free pizza & refreshments 💰 $50 stipend for participants Register here. ACTION 6: Read local UO Sophomore and leader of the Climate Justice League, Jack Dodson’s, latest critique of the UO administration’s failure to honestly engage in the divestment issue in the Emerald. We’re working side-by-side with strong, young climate leaders! ACTION 7: Attend World Toilet Day! Tuesday, November 19th at 6:00 pm at Whirled Pies on 8th & Charnelton in Eugene Meet your peeps and learn about a more sustainable future!  Inspiration(Quick Watch & Listen) WATCH: There’s a brand new story about what’s happening with our forests. Wildfires… it’s a brand new world! What do the most destructive fires have in common? Here’s a short video (12 mins) from PBS’s “Weathered Fast Fires” that will shock you. The title of this short is: Is this type of fire impossible to stop? Check it out! LISTEN: The Coast Range Association is a scrappy organization on the north central coast that advocates for protecting Oregon communities, oceans and forests. It regularly hosts a very local and (often spectacular) podcast called Coast Range Radio. We highly recommend a recent program, State of the Climate Emergency 2024: State of the Climate Report, with co-author Dr. Jillian Gregg (Principal Investigator, Executive Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates (TERA) in Corvallis). In this short interview, Dr. Gregg talks about the report's terrifying findings and how we can break through the climate action gridlock. (Apple podcast link and Spotify link - 38 mins.) Good News - We Helped Do ThisOregon Protects Elliott State Research Forest As a Carbon Reserve - Savor the Moment In October, Oregon adopted a new forest management plan for the Elliott State Research Forest—one of the largest (and newest) research forests in the U.S. This plan boosts protections for salmon and other at-risk species, and also makes the ENTIRE 83,000-acre forest a carbon reserve, prioritizing its value in storing harmful greenhouse gasses over timber harvest. “This is a precedent-setting moment for Oregon,” says Wild Salmon Center Oregon Policy Manager Michael Lang. “Governor Kotek and the Oregon Land Board deserve huge thanks for their leadership. This visionary plan can serve as a model for other public forests in Oregon.  We were there with our voices, our art, our indomitable spirit! Together, we win! It is time to hold each other close with grace and empathy. It is time to do that “extra thing” you were waiting to do, like subscribe to that Substack newsletter that helps you cope, send some money to that new organization with young leaders. It’s time to cross over and lend support to the labor movement or join in re-indigenizing the world. It’s time to build bonds of love and connection for the long haul in these uncertain times. Let’s be fierce.  As the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King said, “Now let us begin. Now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter - but beautiful - struggle for a new world.”
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