In our current Oregon political climate, we can’t wait on political leaders who have consistently failed to protect our watersheds to finally do something effective. Climate change is coming upon us swiftly, as witnessed by decreasing rain and snow-pack, and longer droughts. Our so called “leaders” have failed to address it locally and regionally. We can do our part, and our local efforts do matter. We need to use peaceful, democratic and effective means – such as new local laws – to assert community rights and nature's rights that counter the dominance of corporate/ wealth profiteering interests at all levels. Our re-claiming democracy needs to start at the local level, where we have the most influence, and where we can more effectively counter those who favor treating us as a resource colony to extract wealth off of, and favor profits over people.