Faith-based Climate Action 7/8/23

Good News

Climate-Action Opportunities

Of Note

Save the Date

Good News

Weekly Serving of Good News

Good news is a powerful motivator for action, &  there‘s lots of  good news  about climate mitigation, adaptation/resilience, and justice. Here’s a sample…

Sat 8 Jul

EPA Announces $278 Million Funding to Improve Drinking Water for Tribes

The Cascading Effects of Bringing Back Sea Otters

How solar and wind energy are saving Texans from a record heatwave

China on course to hit wind and solar power target five years ahead of time

USDA Investing Half-Billion to Increase Domestic Biofuel Availability

The Potential of Algae Biofuel in Transforming the Transportation Sector

From Waste to Wealth: Transforming Biomass into Biofuels through Biochemical Conversion

Waves of Change: How Tidal Power is Shaping Renewable Energy 

Net-zero emissions target for ocean shipping to be moved up to 2050

Volvo Switch To Renewable Fuels, Cuts Emissions 84%

Government of Ireland publishes Policy Statement on Geothermal for a Circular Economy

CEE and Goldbeck commission 154MW solar plant in Germany

Sun City Installs R16-Million Solar Plant To Reduce Grid Dependency

This vertical-axis floating wind turbine maker just got its first commercial order

N.J.’s first offshore wind farm gets final key federal approval

Compiled stories 

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Climate Action Opportunities

To help assess the engagement of UUFC members and friends in faith-based climate action and to encourage such action, please anonymously  <Share> the number of the actions below you take this week. Optionally, you may  anonymously also share other recent climate action. 

Sat 8 Jul

Sierra Club: Protect Old-Growth and Mature Forests

The US Forest Service (USFS) has just initiated a process to evaluate how we conserve our forests. This announcement kicks off a 60-day comment period for the public to provide input on how to shape a future federal regulation to make forests more resilient.  Tell USFS to protect mature & old-growth forests!

Sierra Club: Stop Salmon Extinction

The Sierra Club, together with nine other NGOs, are plaintiffs represented by Earthjustice and have challenged the inadequate, illegal, and failed salmon “recovery” plans developed by the federal agencies (Bonneville Power Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation). Other plaintiffs are the Nez Perce Tribe and the State of Oregon. The courts have ruled five times against the federal agencies, rejecting their status quo salmon plans. We again challenged the Trump administration salmon plan (Biological Opinion) that was issued in September 2020.  The plaintiffs reached agreement with the Biden Administration to pause the litigation and work to develop a comprehensive plan for the Columbia Basin, meet treaty rights for the Tribes and recover Snake River salmon.  Your comments are critically important during this timeframe. Submit an Official Public Comment Urging Federal Action to Stop Salmon Extinction.

UUs for Social Justice: End hunger, expand food access, and address climate resilience

The 2023 Farm Bill is a critical opportunity to improve food security and nutrition for people and promote climate resilience in the U.S. and across the world. As Congress begins working on this important legislation, we must urge them to prioritize the needs of our communities and the climate, not corporate profit margins. Petition Congress

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Of Note

Sat 8 Jul

Sierra Club

Article: Senators Wyden and Merkley Introduce Legislation Creating Wilderness in the Magnificent Owyhee Canyonlands

UUs for Social Justice

UUA Business Resolution For Divestment Fails. The proponents of the business resolution “Complete Divestment from the Fossil Fuel Industry and Subsequent Reparations” reminded UUs that the work of fossil fuel divestment has not yet been completed within our denomination. The resolution was a victory in raising the awareness that a young, queer, multiracial collective–reflecting an influx of younger and non-white members–feels called to see the UUA fully divest from fossil fuels.The resolution was voted down by roughly 68% of delegates after strong statements of opposition from the UUA (read the UUA position). After the vote, the UUA made pledges to work on the matter.

Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Energy Action Team

SHIFT TOGETHER: HOME RETROFIT CLINIC

SHIFT TOGETHER: HOME RETROFIT CLINIC

Mon, Wed, or Fri. 1:00 – 3:00 PM or 7:00 – 9:00 PM.  You choose!

Take action as part of the Sustainability Coalition’s newest initiative to rein in climate change – Shift Together!  Nancy Evenson, a retired architect, offers free home retrofit clinics to help you move along the path toward increased energy efficiency.  Nancy will analyze your home’s current use of energy and help you identify the most important upgrades and the financial incentives that help you get there. Gather 3 or 4 households together (yours and 2-3 others) to arrange a date and time to come to Nancy’s home for a 2-hour session.  Contact: retrofit@evensonarchitecture.com

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Save the Date

Sat 8 Jul

Sun 16 Jul, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Avery Park (exact location TBD)

Whole Food Plant-based Picnic Potluck & Lawn Games: We are vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores attempting to eat and/or learn more about the health benefits of a whole food plant-based diet.  First time attendees do not need to bring a dish.  Bring your favorite lawn game. RSVP for more details about this monthly potluck; usually the 3rd Sun. 

Contact: 541-908-0864 or wfpbcorvallis@gmail.com

Sponsor: Corvallis Whole Food Plant-Based Support

Thu 27 July 7:00 – 8:00 PM <Zoom>

Share and Discuss Climate Action Stories: The Climate Action Team invites UUFC members and friends to share and discuss actions we are taking to reduce our personal carbon emissions and to influence local, state, and nation policy and legislation. Questions: michael.a.hughes1951@gmail.com

Mon 31 Jul, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Franklin Square Park 

(Between 15th and 16th Streets, and Polk and Taylor Avenues)

Home Energy Fair – Funding & Support for Everyone: This festive event is a great opportunity for both homeowners and renters who want to save money by lowering their monthly utility bills. Fair exhibitors will help attendees find out about state and federal money that’s available now to make homes more energy efficient. Cool off with your friends and neighbors at one of our community’s loveliest parks to enjoy snacks and conversations with nonprofits and businesses who will be there to support you. Sponsors: Jobs Addition Neighborhood Association (JANA) and Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Energy Action Team. 

Contact: greenstevens@gmail.com

Mon 7 Aug, 6:30 – 7:30 PM, In person, UUFC social hall, or <Zoom>

Home Retrofit Clinic: The Climate Action Team invites UUFC members and friends to participate in a Home Retrofit Clinic, presented by Nancy Everson, that will focus on the benefits, logistics, and incentives available for switching from fossil (aka natural) gas to electricity for heating, cooling, cooking, and water heating. 

Questions: michael.a.hughes1951@gmail.com

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Faith-based climate action 7/1/23

Weekly Serving of Good News, July 1

Good news is a powerful motivator for action, &  there‘s lots of  good news  about climate mitigation, adaptation/resilience, and justice. Here’s a sample…

Sat 1 Jul

Tribes sign historic agreements for hunting, fishing rights in Oregon

Oregon lawmakers make a play for more federal climate money

PVC is Toxic and Hard to Recycle, OSU Researches May be Able to Fix That 

Biden administration raises record $105 million in Nevada solar energy auction

Climate Change Made the Texas Heat Wave More Intense. Renewables Softened the Blow

South America’s largest floating solar farm is now paired with hydropower

China’s solar is now at twice the capacity of its coal power

Virtual Power Plants Are Coming to Save the Grid, Sooner Than You Might Think

Offshore Wind Industry Readies Self For Seaweed Revolution 

Company makes major breakthrough in solving one of the biggest issues with EVs 

Amazon deforestation has begun to slow since Lula took over in Brazil

Supercharged geothermal energy could power the planet

New Pivot Bio Report Shows Promise of Biofertilizer

New study reveals key to sustainable, eco-friendly, next-generation polymers


Save the Date!

Mon 3 Jul, 6:30 – 7:30 PM, In person UUFC social hall, or Zoom

Climate Connect Up: The Climate Action Team invites members and friends to join in viewing and discussing the 15 min solutions-oriented video from Project Drawdown  Making it Happen. The discussion will focus on what we can do locally.  * We recommend in-person participation. We do our best with Zoom, but …. Climate Connect Up Video Discussion Zoom Link

Questions: michael.a.hughes1951@gmail.com

Thu 27 July 7:00 – 8:00 PM

The Climate Action Team invites members and friends  to share and discuss actions we are taking to reduce our personal carbon emissions and to influence local, state, and nation policy and legislation. Questions: michael.a.hughes1951@gmail.com Climate Action Team Zoom

Mon 7 Aug, 6:30 – 7:30 PM, In person, UUFC social hall, or Zoom*

Climate Connect Up:  The Climate Action Team invites members and friends to participate in a Home Retrofit Clinic, presented by Nancy Everson, that will focus on the benefits, logistics, and incentives available for switching from fossil (aka natural) gas to electricity for heating, cooling, cooking, and water heating. * We recommend in-person participation. We do our best with Zoom, but ….Questions: michael.a.hughes1951@gmail.com

Climate Connect UP Home Retrofit Clinic Zoom


Climate Action Opportunities

To help assess the engagement of UUFC members and friends in faith-based climate action and to encourage such action, please anonymously  <Share> the number of the actions below you take this week. Optionally, you may  anonymously also share other recent climate action. 

Sat 1 July

Environment Oregon

Tell Procter & Gamble: Switch to forest-free products to help save the boreal forest. The North American boreal is our planet’s largest intact forest. Logging is steadily flushing these trees down the toilet. Destroying this bountiful forest is a disaster. P&G should move away from virgin wood fibers and incorporate more recycled and forest-free fibers in its home paper products, including Charmin toilet paper, Puffs tissues and Bounty paper towels.  Urge P&G to commit to protect the boreal and reduce the amount of virgin wood fibers in your tissue products by 50% or more by 2025.

Native Organizers Alliance

As climate change accelerates, it costs more money to make sure wildlife populations thrive. The strain on  Tribal communities responsible for managing a significant amount of America’s prime wildlife habitat is especially tough, because Tribes cannot access one of the biggest pools of money to pay for the work.  The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) would change that.  RAWA would, for the first time ever, give Tribes annual federal funding for wildlife research and conservation. It’s a big deal and with 8 Republicans already co-sponsoring, we have a real shot of overcoming a Senate filibuster to get the 60 votes needed to pass it. Tell your Senators to co-sponsor and pass RAWA

Native Organizers Alliance

Indigenous communities in Alaska are fighting back against a massive open-pit gold mine, which would threaten the way of life and crucial food sources for tribes in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. In this remote region of Alaska predominantly Indigenous Yupik, Cup’ik, and Athabascan communities depend completely on traditional and customary uses of the lands, waters, and fish and wildlife resources.  Despite widespread community and Tribal opposition and the Alaska  Department of Health identifying severe health concerns, the federal government rubber stamped federal permits for the project. We cannot weaken environmental review processes and sacrifice our communities for corporate profits. Instead, we need more Native input — and free, prior, and informed consent — in crucial policy decisions that affect our lands and waters. And we’ve got to hold President Biden accountable to his promises for Nation-to-Nation government consultation with tribes. Send a message to the White House: Revoke a Trump-era permit for the Donlin Gold Mine and begin a thorough, Tribal-led environmental review process for the project. START WRITING  


Climate Solution Happenings

When people join together to collectively advocate for climate solutions, they become part of powerful forces that can bring about society-wide changes.  For example, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization, empowers everyday people to work together to build support in Congress for national bipartisan solutions to climate change.

By focusing on shared values rather than partisan divides, Citizens’ Climate Lobby builds relationships with community leaders and with federal elected officials and with Congress, always starting from a place of respect, gratitude, and appreciation.  Citizens’ Climate Lobby believes that relationships based on mutual respect and understanding are what bring lasting climate change solutions.  CCL provides training, tools, and support for volunteers to build such relationships and to promote climate solutions that have appeal across the political spectrum.

Shared by Deborah Clark

Member UUFC Climate Action and Corvallis chapter Citizens’ Climate Lobby  


Of Note This Week

Sat 1 Jul

Earth.Org

Article: Week in Review: Top Climate News 

McKinsey & Company: 

Article: The agricultural transition: Building a sustainable future

World Economic Forum 

Article: Key nature and climate news from the past week

Good News

Climate Solutions Happenings

Climate-action Opportunities

Of Note

Save the Date

6-26: Discussion on Carbon Sequestration in Soils

What: Discussion with Dr. Markus Kleber on Carbon Offset at the Neighborhood Scale

When: Monday, June 26th at 6:30 PM

Where: In person in Room 7 at the Fellowship or by Zoom

Guest Speaker Dr. Markus Kleber

The Climate Action Team invites UUFC members & friends to meet with Markus Kleber, a soil scientist at Oregon State University, to discuss Carbon Offset at the Neighborhood Scale.

As the UUFC plans for cutting down some of the 60+ year old cedar trees along our eastern property line, the issues of sequestered carbon loss and possible onsite alternatives to carbon offset have been raised. 

Dr. Markus Kleber, an OSU Crop and Soil Science Professor of Soil Science, has agreed to meet with those interested in this topic at 6:30 pm on Monday June 26 in room 7 at the Fellowship. Part of his OSU research effort is on organic matter turnover dynamics. Dr. Kleber will give us an approximately 30-minute overview on the current science of CO2 emissions and sequestration at various landscape levels and talk with us about possibilities on UUFC grounds. Are there are any options that really make sense? 

This conversation is open to all with interest.