April/May 2007
Why Having More No Longer Makes Us Happy
Bill McKibben
Communities Uniting for climate Action
Lesley Adams
Are Big Enviro Groups Holding Back the Anti-Warming Movement?
Megan Tady
Al Gore and the Wedges Game
Kelpie Wilson
Jody Woodruff
Plastic Bottles and Can Liners Under Scrutiny Again
Jody Woodruff
Creating a New Level of Awareness. Interview with Dr. Joe Dispenza
Katie Elliott
Ashland Independent Fillm Festival
Bowing to Fate, Growing to Destiny: A look at Women's Themes through Film
Marla Estes
Awakening to Our Full Potential
Arjuna Ardagh
Life Organizing: A New Way to Flow with Time
Jennifer Louden
Homelessness in the House
Coenraad Rogmans
Dharma Publishing
Karen Egan
Cosmic
Calendar
Salina Rain
Communities Uniting for Climate Action Now
Step It Up 2007, April 14th
IBy Lesley Adams
t seems like every week, if not every day, we hear or read about another scientific study or news report indicating severe domino effects set in motion by our tinkering with the earth’s atmosphere. In March, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that this past winter was the warmest on record since they began keeping records in 1880. Wildlife habitat and distribution are changing, as are ocean currents, pathologies, and entire ecosystems. To what degree and how quickly these changes are happening is still unclear, but we know enough to know its time to act now.
Sometimes it can be overwhelming and downright depressing to think about global climate change and its dramatic and pervasive effects on the planet and all that inhabit it. However, as with anything, it’s often helpful and wise to recognize the opportunity in any challenge. In this case, we have a unique opportunity to reach out broadly across all borders, come together in an extraordinary union, and organize with everyone about an issue that is affecting us all. Surely a movement would be born, and change would result.
In times of despair, it’s also helpful to stand together, to look out across this vast land and see people rallying in solidarity with each other—on the tops of levees in New Orleans, the beaches of Florida, the streets of Manhattan, the corn fields of Iowa and the snow-capped mountain tops of the West—and everyone is saying the same thing: Step It Up Congress! And they are saying it through a diversity of style and color that makes this country’s fabric so rich.
There are so many small steps we can take in our personal lives and in our communities that can make a difference, such as buying local food, using alternative transportation, supporting renewable energy, reusing and recycling, to name a few. However, as this problem is far beyond any individual, there is a great need for our country to take large steps toward drastically cutting carbon emissions through legislation. Will the US Congress rise to this challenge you ask? The answer is a resounding Yes!—but only if we the people rise to the challenge with a nationwide grassroots effort.
Until now, the largest rally held about climate change in the United States drew only a thousand people. Recognizing a need for national action, a few people, including author Bill McKibben, had an idea. Last January the Step It Up 2007 website began asking people to help start a movement. In January, there were almost 100 events planned across the country. Today, there are nearly 1,100 events planned in all fifty states. Ranging from An Inconvenient Truth film screening, to marches, bike rallies, teach-ins, town meetings, art installations and faith celebrations, Americans are standing together on April 14th and demanding that Congress lead this country away from a train wreck by mandating carbon reduction. Please join us! Here are some of the events planned for our region:
Ashland: Creating Solutions to Climate Change, Noon-2pm. Meet at the Plaza for music, art displays, speakers, information and a community art project aimed for Oregon’s Congressional delegation asking them to Step It Up and support legislation to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050. We invite you to submit art on the theme “Art in Action: Creating Solutions to Climate Change.” Art drop-off is April 10-12, 9am-5pm at the KS-Wild office, 320 Beach Street in Ashland. (Please no larger than 11x17). All art will be on display at the April 14 Ashland Plaza event, photographed and delivered to Oregon’s Congressional delegation. Contact lesley@kswild.org; (541) 488-5789 or Brenda at (541) 301-8926.
Eugene: Joining Hands Against Global Warming, 10-11am. Amazon Path, S. Eugene. Meet at the Amazon walking path on West Hilyard St. Bring signs and banners! Pease walk, bike, or take bus #25 or 28; no parking available on site.
Portland: Face it. We Are the Solution to Global Warming, 1-3pm. Rally in Terry Schrunk Plaza, downtown, SW Madison between 3rd & 4th Ave, across from the Federal Building. Speakers, music, and opportunities for making your voice heard to the legislature, including personal video messages, postcards. A Walk for Climate Action will leave from the rally for a three day walk to Salem, ending at the capitol steps, and bringing your messages to our legislators.
Portland: Melting Mountains Conference, 9am-4pm. “Global Warming: Mountains, the Environment, and Our Community.” Speakers: Dr. Philip Mote, Dr. Andrew Fountain, State Rep. Ben Cannon, Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder, and Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman. Closing will be author Patrick Mazza, and Jan Schaeffer from the Oregon Energy Trust. $15, sign up at www.Mazamas.org. Lunch, snacks, and drinks provided. 527 SE 43rd, Mazama Mountaineering Center.
Arcata: Arcata Step it Up, Noon-2pm. Meet on the Plaza, activities to be announced.
Eureka: Sea-Level Rise and Humboldt Bay, Press Conference, 11am-12:30pm. Redwood Alliance’s Cli-mate Action Project will hold a press conference and press tour, drawing attention to potential impacts of sea level rise to Humboldt Bay and surrounding communities. A press-focused event, call (707) 822-6171.
Garberville: Rally for Planetary Survival, Noon-2pm. Gathering to show support and learn more about how we can make changes to help stop climate change. Live music by Kulica, NPK, and Francine Allen. We’ll have carbon calculators and tips on how to cut your carbon use. At Organic Grace, 906 Redwood Dr.
To find an event near you or for more information visit www.stepitup2007.org
