GREEN MOUNTAINS, BLUE WATER:
Creation Care News from
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light
July 2010
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light (VTIPL) works to educate
Vermont’s faith communities about the climate crisis and the
threat it presents to our planet. VTIPL’s goal is to move faith
communities toward responsible stewardship of Creation by
reducing greenhouse gas emissions through personal and
community action. VTIPL helps people take action in their
houses of worship, homes, and workplaces to conserve energy,
use it efficiently, and increase the use of renewable energy.
To submit items and give updates, email info@vtipl.org mailto:info@vtipl.org.
CRUNCH TIME FOR A CLIMATE BILL
In the next several weeks the U.S. Senate will debate a climate
and energy bill – a bill that can help mitigate the climate crisis.
Now is the time to ask our senators to work for passage of the
strongest possible bill. A real key, however, is to persuade
some of the “fence-sitter” senators from other states to vote for
it. If you have friends and/or relatives in these states, please
ask them to urge their senators to support a strong climate and
energy bill. Vermont is fortunate to have senators who are
environmental leaders – let’s remember to thank them. Here’s
a link to a list that gives some indication of where the 100 U.S.
senators might stand on a climate and energy bill – also note
that the list is from May; changes have happened since then.
www.eenews.net/eed/documents/climate_debate_senate.pdf http://www.eenews.net/eed/documents/climate_debate_senate.pdf
A number of different possible bills are circulating in the
Senate. The most important thing is for Congress to pass a
comprehensive climate and energy bill with enforceable limits
on carbon emissions. Click here to find out more about this:
www.usclimatenetwork.org/policy/congress http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/policy/congress
LOCKING IN OUR FUTURE
A recently released report on climate stabilization targets from
the National Academy of Sciences details long-term effects
from climate changes. The report illustrates how decisions
made now and actions taken in the near term will affect Earth’s
climate for centuries and millennia to come. Click here
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12877&page=7
and when the page opens, click on “PDF SUMMARY” in the
left column to read the report.
OP-ED ON GULF DISASTER, NEED FOR CHANGE
An op-ed by VTIPL’s Coordinator, Betsy Hardy, was in The
Burlington Free Press on July 7th. It’s been posted on VTIPL’s
website in the “VTIPL NEWS” section. Read it here:
http://www.vtipl.org/node/161
POLL SHOWS MAJORITY SUPPORT CLIMATE BILL
A recent poll shows a large majority of Americans want
Congress to pass a climate bill this year. Over 63% of those
polled are in favor of a bill that would “limit pollution, invest
in domestic energy sources and encourage companies to use
and develop clean energy. It would do this in part by charging
energy companies for carbon pollution in electricity or fuels
like gas.” The poll is at: http://lcv-ftp.org/LCV/2000cew.pdf
10% CHALLENGE FOR CONGREGATIONS & 10/10/10
National Interfaith Power and Light is inviting congregations
to take part in a 10% Challenge - reducing carbon emissions
of houses of worship by 10%. This is connected to 350.org’s
10/10/10 workday. Click http://interfaithpowerandlight.org to
find out more and to sign up your congregation to take part in
this challenge. To learn more about 350.org’s 10/10/10 Global
Work Party, go to: www.350.org http://www.350.org
CLIMATE CONVERTS
In national Interfaith Power and Light’s Climate Convert pro-
gram, people are invited to wear buttons that say “Converted?”
to show that they are converted on climate, i.e. they believe
human-induced climate change is a real and pressing danger.
IPL especially asks people to wear the buttons from August 6
to August 8, when Congress is on recess and legislators are
home. Go to: http://interfaithpowerandlight.org to find out
more and to get Converted? buttons.
GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES ON ENVIRONMENT
On the Vermont League of Conservation Voters website, you
can read interviews with the six major candidates in which
they answer questions on a range of environmental topics
including energy, the green economy, public transportation,
water quality, smart growth and land conservation, etc. Two
of the questions, for example, that each candidate answered
are, “Once elected, which three environmental issues will be
your highest priorities?” and “How do you envision Vermont
being supplied with energy in the future?” Read the interviews
here: http://www.votegreengov.org/candidates/ and don’t
forget to vote in the primary on or before August 24.
BUY LOCAL – BOOK DISCOUNT ON “EAARTH”
Hopkins Bookshop has offered to sell Bill McKibben’s new
book “Eaarth” for a discounted price of $18 to people in
VTIPL’s network -- just say that you heard about the offer
from Vermont Interfaith Power and Light. Hopkins is located
in Burlington on the ground level of the Cathedral Church of
St. Paul at 2 Cherry Street (near Battery Park). Here’s a way to
buy an outstanding book at a reduced price and to support a
wonderful, local bookshop. There will be a modest shipping
charge for those who can’t pick up their order. Call them at
877-287-2422 or email: info@hopkinsbookshop.com mailto:info@hopkinsbookshop.com.
GIVE LOCAL - SUPPORT VTIPL
Many people contribute to a number of nonprofit organizations.
VTIPL supports this wholeheartedly! And we hope you’ll add
VTIPL to the organizations you support. VTIPL is a Vermont
nonprofit working with faith communities and individuals all
over the state to help mitigate the climate crisis. We need your
support! Most of VTIPL’s funding comes from Vermont faith
communities and from individual Vermonters. Please send a
contribution to the address below. Thank you.
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light
1 East Village Drive, Burlington, VT 05401
Tel. 802-658-0902 info@vtipl.org mailto:info@vtipl.org www.vtipl.org http://www.vtipl.org
