The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis
Our November Justice Outreach offering will support the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center (CDDC). CDDC is a community-based resource hub providing information, referral, and direct services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Benton County and beyond.
Sunday, November 19th 4-6 pm
Join Jess and Bobbi and friends in the Fellowship Social Hall for a potluck with some icebreaker games. Bring a dish of food to share. All are welcome. We meet monthly on the 3rd Sunday in the afternoon. Join LGBTQ+ folx and allies for social gatherings centered on queer issues and themes.
We understand the importance of queer community, and our goal is to provide a safe space where people can find that sense of belonging right here in Corvallis. Questions: connect@uucorvallis.org
From the Climate Action Team:
There is no more important climate work than the influencing of legislation and policy, whether at the national, state, or local level. Climate Action Opportunities, refreshed weekly on Saturdays, provides three or four curated, quick opportunities to do just that. We have a list of organizations whose calls to action we amplify, and the number from each organization.
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 using this Climate Action Form. Optionally, you may anonymously also share other recent climate action.
Sat 28 Oct
GTN Xpress Project: On 10/19/23, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorized a huge expansion of fracked gas in the Northwest. Grassroots organizations, community groups, Tribal nations, and dozens of elected officials across the Northwest are joining forces to push back on FERC’s approval of GTN Xpress, a proposal by TC Energy to push more gas through its aging GTN pipeline. Our coalition is going to challenge FERC’s decision to approve the GTN Xpress project. Sign the petition to challenge FERC’s decision.
Single Use Packaging: Walmart is America’s largest grocer by revenue — but far too many shoppers are coming home with a pile of single-use plastic packaging that they didn’t ask for. Too often, this plastic packaging ends up as waste, clogging landfills and polluting the environment. Walmart can change its packaging practices and set a precedent for others to follow. Add your name to Urge Walmart to put wildlife over waste
Western Arctic drilling: Oil companies are pushing for more drilling in the fragile Western Arctic landscape. .As people of faith, we have a moral responsibility to care for our Sacred Earth. We must ensure these irreplaceable landscapes are free from destructive oil and gas development. Tell the Bureau of Land Management: No drilling in the Arctic.
Our October Justice Outreach offerings will support the South Corvallis Food Bank. Their mission is to increase sustainable food security in Corvallis by providing emergency food boxes, information and opportunities with compassion and respect. Donations can be made in person on Sundays, or at uucorvallis.org/donate.
Information about the Monthly Outreach Offering, as well as about UUFC Justice Teams, is posted on the bulletin board at the northeast corner of the Social Hall. This month the South Corvallis Food Bank open hours and lists of needed food are on the Bulletin board in the Social hall for October.
Did you know that in addition to providing food the South Corvallis Food Bank has cooking demonstrations and recipes, collects cold weather items, diapers, personal care, and household items? Volunteer opportunities include helping shoppers, restocking, gleaning, assisting with incoming deliveries, driving for monthly home delivery. Youth ages 12 and up are welcome with their guardian’s permission.
Questions? Contact them at (541) 760-9382 or email info@southcorvallisfoodbank.org
Join the Secure Housing and Food for All team meeting at 11:30 am in the library after the Sunday Service Oct. 8 and have your questions answered (or researched) by the team working to provide food, clothing, housing, shelter, and volunteers to the unhoused in Corvallis/Benton County.
Our October Justice Outreach offerings will support the South Corvallis Food Bank which provides food for low-income families and those in need of emergency food services.
Information about the Monthly Outreach Offering as well as about UUFC Justice Teams is posted on the bulletin board at the northeast corner of the Social Hall or at uucorvallis.org/justice. .
7-8:30 PM, Mondays, October 9th and 23rd.
Join us for a lively conversation as we explore The Sum of Us, by Heather McGhee. The book invites us to engage in constructive, shared solutions to some of the greatest challenges we face. If 289 pages seem daunting, please watch the video Random Review of The Sum of Us offered by the Benton County Library featuring Dr. Dwaine Plaza, OSU Sociology professor.
October 23rd we will be concentrating solely on the book’s inspirational final chapter – “The Solidarity Dividend”.
The Sum of Us conversation Zoom Link
Or dial in at +1 253 215 8782.
Contact elonameyer@icloud.com for questions or to receive additional materials.
The UUFC Climate Action Team’s (CAT) goals for 2023-24 include: Encourage, support, and provide opportunities for members and friends to engage in solutions-focused climate action. CAT classifies solutions-focussed climate action in two broad domains:
Action in both domains is essential to (a) mitigate climate change, (b) adapt and build resilience, and (c) and secure justice for those most impacted but least responsible for climate change. CAT suggests there is positive feedback between the two. Working to reduce emissions increases the likelihood of working to influence legislation, policy, and corporations. And vice versa.
Each week, we respond to three, occasionally four, curated weekly actions to influence legislation, policy, and/or corporations. This includes signing petitions, sending letters, and, occasionally, making phone calls. The actions support the work of climate-action groups with the highest reputations. These weekly actions take about 5 minutes to complete.
The action opportunities are included in the Faith-based Climate Action posting in the Weekly Announcements and on the UUFC website. Also, participants can sign up to receive the weekly action opportunities via the once-per-week, Saturday email CATweek.
You are invited and encouraged to sign up here
to participate in the Influence Project.
Questions: michael.a.hughes1951@gmail.com
The UUFC Climate Action Team’s (CAT) goals for 2023-24 include: Encourage, support, and provide opportunities for members and friends to engage in solutions-focused climate action. CAT classifies solutions-focussed climate action in two broad domains:
Action in both domains is essential to (a) mitigate climate change, (b) adapt and build resilience, and (c) and secure justice for those most impacted but least responsible for climate change. CAT suggests there is positive feedback between the two. Working to reduce emissions increases the likelihood of working to influence legislation, policy, and corporations. And vice versa.
In the first step to reducing and taking responsibility for our carbon emissions, we track our use of fossil (natural) gas, purchased electricity, gasoline and/or diesel, and flights taken and calculate the resulting emission. (This spreadsheet can be downloaded and used to track use and calculate emissions.) Tracking fossil-fuel use takes less than 10 min per month.
Resources:
You are invited and encouraged to sign up here to participate in the Towards Net Zero Project.
Questions: michael.a.hughes1951@gmail.com
Interior announces $40M in funding for orphaned oil wells on tribal lands
LA’s Largest-Ever Land Back an ‘Important Step’ in the Movement
Oregon awarded more than $58M to reduce extreme heat risks with trees
Biden uses executive power to create a New Deal-style American Climate Corps
As Africa Loses Forest, Its Small Farmers Are Bringing Back Trees
80% More U.S. Wind Energy Potential This Decade From Tech Innovation
EASA To Require 70% SAF Usage By 2050
Can EVs and solar save the world? The IEA thinks so
Renewable energy boom may help us limit warming this century to 1.5 ̊C
Airlines Ready To Embrace Higher Sustainable Aviation Fuel Costs
USGC corn program attains sustainability mark
Global use of oil could peak this decade: IEA
Indonesia’s largest floating solar plant to expand to 500 MW
Climate change and the shift to cleaner energy push Southeast Asia to finally start sharing power
Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act: The Act will (a) push us toward our goal of net zero emissions by 2050, (b) drive energy innovation, giving every American community access to affordable clean energy, (c) help low and middle income Americans afford this transition with a carbon cashback, and (d) keep Americans healthier and living longer by reducing air pollution. We need as many co-sponsors as possible to show support for a carbon fee and dividend. Email your House Representative
Conservation funding: Tell Congress and the White House how much you care about our natural world. Tell them how critical it is to rely on science to guide conservation efforts. Tell them you’re counting on them to address urgent challenges like energy use, sustaining endangered landscapes, and protecting critically imperiled species. Protect our nation’s natural heritage and the health of people and our planet. Speak out now
Fund clean energy, not fossil fuels. Banks, insurers and asset managers are driving the climate crisis by financing and insuring new fossil fuel projects. Send Wall Street CEOs a message
BloombergNF
Carbon Brief
How world’s coal-power pipeline has shrunk by three-quarters
Katharine Hayhoe
KTVZ.com
National Geographic
National parks are being overrun by invasive species
YaleEnvironment360
How Ancient Amazonians Locked Away Thousands of Tons of Carbon in “Dark Earth”
Tue 10 Oct, 6:30 – 8:15 PM, Corvallis Community Center, 2601 NW Tyler Ave
How Landfills Pollute Our Future and What We Can do About It: Landfills are silent sources of greenhouse gasses, groundwater pollution, and microplastics pollution. Beyond Toxics is hosting a community education event on the long term risks of landfill pollution and ways to make Oregon a leader in holistic waste management. Katherine Blauvelt, the circular economy director of Industrious Labs, will speak about the climate change impacts from landfills, and Anja Brandon, director of US plastics policy at the Ocean Conservancy, will discuss microplastic pollution impacts on rivers and oceans.
Wed 18 Oct, 7:00 – 8:30 AM, online
Eco-municipality Webinar 2: Virtually visit the eco-municipality of Karlskrona in the south of Sweden. Learn about the science-based framework of the Swedish network of ecomunicpalities, SEKOM, and the Karlskrona eco-municipality. Register
Sat 28 Oct, Doors open 6:30 PM, UUFC
Live Music, Fundraiser for Maui fire relief. $20 donation at door suggested. Suz Doyle & Julie Williams with friends in concert, featuring Absolute Harmony. https://suznjules.bpt.me/
Questions: juliewawilliams@gmail.com
Of Note This Week is a source for current climate-change information at the local, state, and national levels. It is refreshed weekly on Saturday.
Sat 9 Sep
Cosmos
Climate change is messing with photosynthesis
IEEE Spectrum
African Hydropower Confronts Cheap Solar and Wind
Inside Climate News
Green Groups Are Divided Over a Proposal to Boost the Nation’s Hydropower. Here’s Why
Katharine Hayhoe
Politico
How the power grid survived a hot, hot summer
Popular Science
What’s the most sustainable way to mine the largest known lithium deposit in the world?
SciTechDaily
Climate Change’s Deadly Legacy: How Rising Temperatures Fueled Ancient Aggression
The Conversation
The Guardian
Anger is most powerful emotion by far for spurring climate action, study finds
More news from the Faith-Based Climate Action Team can be found here: