We hold the earth
We hold brothers and sisters who suffer from storms and
            droughts intensified by climate chaos.
We hold all species that suffer.
We hold world leaders delegated to make decisions for life.
We pray the web of life be mended through courageous actions
            to limit carbon emissions.
We pray for right actions of adaptation and mitigation to help
            our already suffering earth community.
We pray love and wisdom might inspire my actions and our
            actions as communities.
            so that we may, with integrity, look into the eyes of
            sisters and brothers and all beings and     
            truthfully say, we are doing our part to
            care for them and the future of the children.
May love transform us and our world with new steps toward life.

This was my Earth Day 2019:  It started with 20 of us from the newly formed McMinnville Congregations and Climate Movement joining together for the National Prayer for the Earth organized by Interfaith Power and Light.  With congregations all over the U.S., we gathered at noon April 22, around a simple altar in the courtyard of First Baptist Church.  We sang songs, shared our stories and prayed the common prayer (above). 

By 3pm I was on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol at another rally in support of the Clean Energy Jobs Bill (HB 2020), a cap and investment program for Oregon to meet our emission reduction goals.   We stood with children and youth from all over the State, as they spoke of their future on the Planet.  They delivered 1,000 signatures from school students all over Oregon in support of putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions, raising revenue and creating jobs for a new energy future.

Governor Kate Brown showed up to greet the students and cheer us on.  She was her geeky energetic politician self, touting all Oregon has done for the Earth.  I didn’t expect to be stirred much by the speeches when I showed up there.  We’ve been working on this for six sessions now and the political oratories don’t vary much…you know:  “we’ve done this, we need to do that.”   But two things did stir me.  One was the obvious:  students speaking from innocent hearts and their determined youth. A boy from South Eugene clearly addressed our collective adult conscience.  The other words that moved me were spoken by Senator Michael Dembrow.   He and Representative Karin Power co-chair the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction made up Democrats and Republicans from the House and Senate.  The Joint Committee has studied “cap and invest” the past year, holding monthly hearings, many of which I’ve attended.  Dembrow and Power came out to greet the students and receive the thousand signatures.  Then Senator Dembrow briefly addressed the crowd:

His words were nothing so astounding:  “It’s so easy to get tired by doing this kind of work,” he said.  “That’s why gatherings like this are just so special.  Because 5 minutes ago I felt like I needed a nap…It may seem kind’ve obvious that when you’ve been working hard on this for so long, maybe seeing an email that is really positive, it’s not—-(you think) maybe it doesn’t make that much difference.  But I have to tell you that my email in-box is filled with “vote for House Bill 2020 messages!”  Not so astounding maybe, but his words stirred me because, I guess I got a glimpse of the Senator’s humanity and sense of the grind of public policy work.  And also, an un-solicited validation of the importance of the small work we do by showing up… on the Capitol steps, at a Joint Committee hearing, at a town hall meeting or in your legislator’s office or in-box.  So I thought I’d put it out to all you blog readers out there—to remind you of the importance of a small email.  The leadership of Karin Power and Michael Dembrow to get the Clean Energy Jobs Bill passed and this cap and invest program in place is so critical.  And keeping their in-boxes filled with  “vote for HB 2020 messages” and “way to go!” messages, does make a difference in this often soul-grinding work.

Please take 20 seconds to send emails to these two climate justice champions.  All you have to say is “Way to go! Keep working to pass HB 2020.  Thank you for your work for all of us!”

            Senator Dembrow email:  sen.MichaelDembrow@oregonlegislature.gov

            Representative Karin Power email:  rep.KarinPower@oregonlegislature.gov

After the rally I took the elevator up to the 3rd floor of the Senate wing and made my way back to the office of our Senator Brian Boquist.  Our people from Yamhill County have been in that office numerous times in recent sessions and 4 or 5 times in 2019.  The Senator’s lead staff is his wife, Peggy.  I greeted her from behind her computer.  She walked out and shook my hand.  I said, “I’m John Pitney, from McMinnville.”  She said, “I know who you are!”  Well, that’s part of why we do this advocacy work, right?  What’s more important to a human than to know and be known. 

Over the years we have talked with the Boquist’s about the solar panels they have on their farm buildings.  We have pondered together Laudato Si—the Pope’s Encyclical on the Climate as people of faith (Boquists are practicing Catholics).  Last year we discussed their son’s suicide and the bill the Senator sponsored to allow involuntarily committal of loved ones who pose a danger to themselves or others.  He received hate male from other Republican legislators and anonymous death threats for suggesting a law that might, some how, restrict a person’s freedom to bear arms!   Anyway, advocacy is about cultivating relationships with your lawmakers of all parties and persuasions.  Which is pretty much what love is, I guess.  Maybe we are getting something done.

Beside the Clean Energy Jobs Bill, take a look at this list of climate-related bills still alive in the Oregon Assembly.  Studying through this list, I’d say we are making a difference.

1.  Rooftop solar: HB 2618—grants to reduce the cost of solar for homes & businesses. 

2.  Renewable gas: SB 98—gas utilities to provide more gas from sources like wastewater and dairies.

3.  Offshore oil drilling ban: SB 256—bans drilling off the Oregon coast (passed and signed!)

4.  Fracking ban: HB 2623—prevents new fracking for oil or gas in Oregon for 10 years. 

5.  Oil train safety: HB 2209—provides more safety/oversight of oil trains. 

6.  Weatherization: HB 3094—incentives for efficiency upgrades to low/moderate income homes. 

7.  EV transition: SB 1044—sets goals and for transitioning to electric vehicles in Oregon. 

8.  EV charging: HB 3141—requires new multi-family housing to provide EV charging.

9.  Dirty diesel: HB 2007—new diesel emission standards for medium-heavy trucks and buses. 

10.  Driver’s license for all: HB 2015—all OR residents regardless of status  eligible for License. 

11.  Oregon Climate Authority (OCA): SB 928 creates OCA, climate work & transition to clean energy. 

Please take few seconds to send those emails.  Give thanks for our policy makers and proudly keep on keeping on.