Oregon's environmental movement is constantly changing, with exciting new developments all the time.  Accordingly, the "engel" blog will in a few months be replaced with a new blog, at a slightly different address, that can better address local actions in Oregon's Washington County area.  Look forward to more diverse posts from multiple authors, as well as an expanded focus that takes into account the way major businesses in our area influence government.  Laying a foundation for this new approach will require some time - thus the blog is out of service for a while.  Check back here around July for access to the new blog.  And in the meantime, you can still sign the PETITION TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD in support of strong action against global warming.

-Nick

 I'm happy to report that Forest Grove has become the thirteenth city in Oregon (out of more than 800 across the nation) to endorse the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement - thereby making a public commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  While the Agreement is not binding, it is one more way for cities to show their good intentions, and provides citizens with a tool to hold their local governments accountable.  Forest Grove's decision follows its approval of a new Vision Statement, "Goal 1" of which is to "Promote safe, livable, and sustainable neighborhoods and a prosperous dynamic green city."  And not long ago, Forest Grove became the first city in Oregon to officially oppose all Liquefied Natural Gas terminals and pipelines in the state.  Even to a skeptic like me, it's becoming more and more apparent that this city is serious about going green. 

Forest Grove also joins Beaverton and Hillsboro as the third city in Washington County to endorse the Mayors Climate Agreement.  This might just give a little extra ammunition to citizens who suggest that perhaps Washington County itself should endorse the county-level version of the same document - the Cool Counties Declaration.  If you live in Washington County, ask the Board of Commissioners to consider doing just that - SIGN THE PETITION TODAY!

-Nick

On April 1st, Fossil Fools Day, about ten of us students at Pacific University - accompanied by two staff members from the Oregon Sierra Club - set out to march around the Pacific campus and into downtown Forest Grove, letting everyone we met know that we think fossil fuels are just plain foolish!  We built up petitions, talked to passers-by, and had a good time; we even got a little press coverage.  Ours was one of over 100 actions taking place across the country in protest of the fossil fuel industries - such as coal, oil, and liquefied natural gas.  It's time to make these bad investments a thing of the past!

-Nick