A neighbor and I (and our spouses) have decided to involve our 2-block long neighborhood in some group actions. We’re starting by reading and learning more; then will choose a simple, attainable project; then will host a block party so that other neighbors can sign on to our project if they wish. I’m hoping for some suggestions from others that aren’t individual AND aren’t congregationally based. My spouse and I are UU, but no one else on our block is, and I don’t want to turn them off by bringing church into it even though I personally think it’s exactly where church DOES belong.

My family is in the process of buying a house with land so we can raise our own sustainable food, create a permaculture garden that will restore the soil, help our children live closer to nature, and hopefully down the line use it as a space to teach/inspire others in our community.

I drive a hybrid (Prius 2011), constantly reuse- around my house and give materials for repurposing to school art teachers, and recycle. Since I have owned my urban property, I have planted 3 trees and bushes for creatures and shade, for birds and am working on making my urban lot a treed lot. Coming soon is a red bud and a maple tree.

1. Increase financial support to 5 environmental activist organizations, 2. Support UUSC water justice efforts. 3. Keep a climate change activism journal. 4. Write at least one letter a week advocating environmental improvement. 5. Praise and encourage good actions and awareness on the part of my children and grandchildren. 6. Live my values.

I will write at least one letter/email per month to a political or business leader regarding climate issues both local and global.

I, through my organization, Perpetual Peace Initiative, am committed to UN reform and world federation to provide the global structure needed for climate justice.

I’m a member of my Earth Ministry Committee. My action is an idea I want to implement in our congregation. 1. I with EMcommitee want to encourage every member to read the month of readings I have just read. 2. I want to form small groups to make a group climate commitment and also to exchange experience and support members in the group as they progress and grow in their sustainable life style.

We will be diverting greywater from electric processing in a tradition system into our garden for natural filtration and reuse.

Over the next week we will be giving 225 oak seedlings to all 5th graders in our community.

Write at least a letter a month to a political or business leader or to the media on the most pressing climate issue at that time e.g., fracking, pilgrim pipeline, climate/food and agriculture connection.

Voluntary Carbon Tax on all travel—work with Citizen’s Climate Lobby to get a Carbon Tax; organize an Environmental Justice tour of Cleveland

Still unclear of actual steps I personally can take short of changing light bulbs, and making points at dinner parties!

Political action, lobbying for a carbon tax in Oregon; writing article on “What We Can Do About Climate Change” for Huffington Post; lobbying Portland City Council to not allow Pembina (propane co.) to ship through our port in Portland.

Shared with some folks at North Parish today our experience and advice on switching to solar-generated electricity and other incentives available to use energy more efficiently and reduce one’s carbon footprint.