Fighting for Green: Intentional or not, the outcome can be the same

"We didn't set out to be green activists," said Marc Weinberg, a real estate attorney in California.

According to a recent article in the LA Times, Weinberg sued his Home Owners Association after he was told he could not install solar panels on his house. He won his case - clearing the way for other residents to save some green by going clean. Read the article in the LA Times.

Weinberg's quote got me thinking: How many people actually "set out" to be green activists?

Did I set out to be a green activist? I don't think so. I just really like animals (whether they are the kind best observed in the wild or the kind that you eat) and I enjoy breathing clean air and drinking clean water. So when someone asks me to take action to protect all of these things, I do.

For other folks, it seems frustration, money, or health concerns are common catalysts for environmental activism. We're all starting to hear a lot about the ballot measures we'll be voting on in January. I suspect they, too, will turn some voters into unintentional environmental advocates. If these measures don't pass, Oregon will face serious cuts to the programs we care about--programs that ensure we have clean air and water, and programs that Oregon invest in clean energy and create local jobs

Learn more about these measures and find out how you can get involved.