A story in the Feb. 2 Gazette-Times reported: "The world's leading climate scientists said global warming has begun, is 'very likely' caused by man, and will be unstoppable for centuries." This is not a surprise, global warming or climate chaos has been observed since the late 1800s.

What is different is that this report represents the most authoritative group on global warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

How does an individual impact this global problem? Most area residents know changing to fluorescent light bulbs, turning down the heat, driving less and consuming less all helps, but how much?

We received our Pacific Power bill recently. It noted that our renewable energy purchase through the Blue Sky program of 3,209 kilowatt hours prevented 6,418 pounds of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere - the equivalent of not driving 6,867 miles. Pacific Power noted that the combined Blue Sky purchases of 51,000 homes and businesses were equal to taking 51,368 cars off the road for one year. That would be like having no cars driving in Corvallis for a year!

Invest in renewable energy and consider getting involved in one or more of these opportunities:

• Third annual Eco-Film Festival: 7 pm. every Friday in February, Oddfellows Hall, 223 S.W. Second St. Admission free; donations accepted along with donations of canned foods for South Corvallis Food Bank. Non-profit tables related to film's subject on display.

- Feb. 9: "Buyer Be Fair: The Promise of Product Certification." What do you know about coffee and wood and how to choose a sustainable product? Filmmaker John de Graaf will lead you on this journey.

- Feb. 16: "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil." Cuba was faced with a fossil fuel shortage after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Learn how it adapted to life with minimal oil with technology and flexibility.

- Feb. 23: "Source to Sea: The Columbia River Swim," Vicariously swim the Columbia River with Christopher Swain while exploring beauty and desecration. Learn about solutions to keeping the river and ourselves in good health. One of the filmmakers will be there to discuss the film.

This series is sponsored by the Oddfellows, Corvallis Environmental Center and Northwest Earth Institute. Information: 752-3517 or cnwei@peak.org.

• Allied Waste household hazardous waste event: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 10, 110 N.E. Walnut Blvd. Bring household hazardous waste and fluorescent light bulbs for disposal. Information: 754-0444.

• Winter tree planting - Long Tom Watershed: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 and Feb. 24. The Long Tom Watershed Council is seeking volunteers to plant trees along restored stretches of creeks. Information: Jenna Garmon, 541-683-6949 or jgarmon@longtom.org.

• Hesthavn nature program - Art and Nature: 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. Artist Leslie Green encourages each child to experience and interpret nature using various art materials. Register by calling Elise at 750-7390 or writing to eelliottsmith@yahoo.com. Suggested donation: $10.

• The ice cave - A Woman's Adventures from the Mojave to the Antarctic: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library meeting room. Author and wilderness traveler Lucy Jane Bledsoe will recount her wilderness experiences. Sponsored by the Marys Peak Group n Sierra Club and the Friends of the Library. Free.

• What to eat - What You Should Know About Personal Responsibility Versus Social Responsibility: 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 16, LaSells Stewart Center. Marion Nestle will explore the social, cultural, economic and institutional factors that affect what, how much, and when to eat; and how much is controlled by personal decisions as well as marketing and government policy. Free.

• Neighborhood naturalist/tracking, wild edibles, native plants, birding: 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 18, meet at Avery Park Rose Garden. Trip will be conducted in a "poke around" fashion and will take a holistic nature observation approach. Children welcome but trip is not structured for small children. Leave dogs at home. Free. Information: Don Boucher, bouchdon@peak.org or www.neigh

borhoodnaturlist.com.

• A journey through the watershed: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. either Feb. 23 at Beazell Memorial Forest or March 10 at Hoover Elementary School. For teachers and non-traditional educators, scouts and 4-H volunteers. Bring your lunch and dress for the outdoors. This Project Learning Tree/Project WILD Aquatic Workshop is a natural resources education program emphasizing aquatic wildlife. Information: Call 800-554-6987 or www.cof.orst.edu/cof/extended/ofep. Sponsored by OSU Extension Service, Benton Soil and Water Conservation District and others.

• Volunteers for the Luckiamute Watershed: Help with a survey of Luckiamute watershed fish passage barriers and reconnecting migratory routes of salmon and trout. Hike up streams to map structures such as culverts and dams. Volunteers must be familiar with Windows computers and PDAs, have interest in GIS and GPS, have a valid driver's license and be available for full day, usually Saturday or Sunday. Information: Chris Stebbins, Benton Fish Passage Improvement Program, 766-6821, ext. 4532, or chris.stebbins@colbenton.or.us.

• Living in place - A Celebration of Nature and Community: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24, Oddfellows Hall, 223 S.W. Second St. Admission: $8-$15 sliding scale. Fundraiser for volunteer Lindsay Parker, whose daughter was hospitalized last summer. Includes authors Charles Goodrich, John Swanson and Bill Barker reading, and the premiere of Don Boucher's and Lisa Millbank's film "Nature on a Human Scale n Developing a Sense of Place." There will be art by Frances Stilwell, food, music, and the Bioregional Bazaar, featuring a mix of local goods and services for sale. For information or to donate to the bazaar, call 752-3517 or write to cnwei@peak.org. Sponsored by the Corvallis Northwest Earth Institute and the Odd Fellows.

• Natural step for communities book discussion course: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, Sunnyside-Up Café, 116 N.W. Third St. Eight-week discussion circle. Book cost: $24.95. Information: 752-3517 or cnwei@peak.org.

• Healthy children - Healthy Planet: 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 28, Corvallis Waldorf School, 3855 N.E. Highway 20. Eight-week Northwest Earth Institute discussion course covering raising children in a consumer culture. Materials fee: $16. Information: 752-3517 or cnwei@peak.org. Sponsored by NWEI and the Corvallis Waldorf School.

• Organic fertilizer sale: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 3, March 10 and March 17, First Alternative Co-op, 1007 S.E. Third St. Corvallis Tilth Organic Gardening Club offers a variety of organic fertilizer. Information: 758-0316.

• SIMBY (Start in My Back Yard): 1 to 3 p.m. March 4, Sunnyside-Up Café, 116 N.W. Third St. Drop-in sustainability support group. Share projects and ideas.

• Global warming - Changing CO2urse: Commit to address climate change in your community through discussion and action. Host this new Northwest Earth Institute discussion course. The four-week course can be offered in homes, businesses, faith centers or neighborhoods. Information: 752-3517 or cnwei@peak.org.

• The Benton Soil and Water Conservation District has started a collection of recycled reusable utensils, plates, napkins and serving dishes for community use. For a $10 refundable deposit and the time and energy to wash up, you can have a "reduced waste party." Information: 753-7208 or ce@bentonswcd.org

Maureen Beezhold coordinates the local chapter of the Northwest Earth Institute and is assistant coordinator for the Corvallis chapter of the Oregon Natural Step Network. For information on any of these projects, call 752-3517.