The 350.org International Day of Climate Action has come and gone.  Over 5000 actions in over 180 countries got world-wide attention, and the various actions around Oregon - including the rally in Pioneer Square - garnered decent local media attention.  It was a wonderful thing to be part of.  Whether a particular action or event fails or succeeds, the question is always: What's next?

350oregon.org was originally created to get the word out about local 350 events leading up to October 24th, 2009 - a day that seems forever ago, and yet is not even a month past as I write these words.

What's next is to repurpose 350oregon.org into a node for sharing information. There are at least a dozen organizations in Oregon with as many different local and national initiatives. We need to be able to see and share what we are doing with the other individuals and organizations here in Oregon who are fighting climate change.  How can we help each other? Where do we need to be today or tomorrow? Where do we focus our efforts so that they are most effective?

Collaboration, coordination, and community.  These are my watchwords in the days and months ahead.

My goal is help provide whatever tools I can in support of these things, and be of service where I am needed. I was lead organizer for the 350 Rally in Pioneer Square as an unpaid volunteer for Oregon Interfaith Power and Light, but that job is done now.  I'm unaffiliated with any particular organization, and this gives me a certain amount of independence to act quickly and nimbly in response to events and the needs of the community. 350 Oregon is just one way I can contribute.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is just around the corner, and we will hold candelight vigils in support of that.  In the spring US legislation comes the fore, and that is where we'll need to focus our efforts.  In the meantime, health care needs our support.

There is always a "What's next?"  One step after another after another and we reach our destination. Let's not forget to take care of ourselves and each other along the way, and have some fun as well.

In love and service,
Munro Sickafoose
350Oregon.org
November 18, 2009