An Oregon Story

An Oregon Story is a gorgeous, well-researched, 83-minute documentary about Oregon’s visionaries who put so much love and labor into land-use planning and conservation practices that protect our beaches, farmland, and forests from urban sprawl and other inappropriate development. You can stream or download the video here. If you have any trouble, you can also click here to go directly to the movie.

Right now urban growth boundaries are at risk from Senate Bill 1537, an otherwise great bill to help build more housing for Oregonians. However, we do not need to expand urban growth boundaries to address the housing shortage. If you are inspired by the documentary and want to help protect our precious land from encroachment, please let your elected officials know. You will find a sample letter here with talking points that you can edit and send to your state legislators and Governor Kotek. Also check out this appeal from the filmmakers, as well as submitted testimony from Chris Hall (Water League) and Alan Journet (SOCAN) to the Senate Committee on Housing and Development.

Let’s keep Oregon beautiful!

The Need To Grow – Special Screening

Special March 2021 Event:

Can we feed the world without destroying the planet? That depends – on what we do NOW.

Join us for this FREE screening of Conscious Earth Films’ award-winning documentary:

The Need to Grow  –  

by Zoom on Sunday, March 21, 2021, from 1:00-3:00 pm.

Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83446772362?pwd=Rk9kdHJyeDRxTlJONWZlWEgvS2w5Zz09

Other Side of the Hill

Free Zoom Screening of New Film on Rural Oregon Renewable Energy Initiatives

“Other Side of the Hill” shows how rural communities in Eastern Oregon are reaping economic rewards now by transcending the toxic partisan rhetoric of climate change

On Thursday, October 29, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., the SOCAN-Ashland Climate Action Project will host a free private Zoom screening of “Other Side of the Hill,” a new film about renewable energy initiatives underway in Eastern Oregon. The film is presented in partnership with Ashland Works, Climate Reality Project-Southwestern Oregon Chapter, McCloud Watershed Council, Pollinator Project Rogue Valley, Rogue Community College Earth Club, Southern Oregon Pachamama Alliance, Sustainable Rogue Valley, and Sustainability at Southern Oregon University.  

Directed by James Parker and Juliet Grable of Synchronous Pictures and Executive Produced by local and regional climate activists Julian Bell, Deb Evans, Ron Schaaf, and Tom Bowerman, “Other Side of the Hill”  explores the impacts of a changing climate in rural Eastern Oregon as seen through the eyes of local leaders on the ground. From innovative timber operations in Wallowa County to large scale solar in Lakeview, the film amplifies the voices of rural communities often left unheard. In a time of cultural divide between rural and urban Oregon–and toxic partisan politics around climate action–it’s inspiring to learn about communities that have found common ground in an urgency to address a changing landscape.  

The 30-minute film will be followed by Q&A with the filmmakers, visionaries, and “stars,” as well as leaders in Rogue Valley renewable energy initiatives. 

You must RSVP to attend. To join us, email carmen@socan.eco.  

Attendance is limited–RSVP now!

Trailer | Film website | Film Facebook page