GREEN MOUNTAINS, BLUE WATER:
Creation Care News from
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light
May 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.
URGE OUR U.S. SENATORS TO PASS CLIMATE BILL
Please click the link below to send a message to our senators
(through national Interfaith Power and Light’s website) that
encourages them to strengthen and support the climate bill.
And just as importantly, PASS THIS ON to your relatives and
friends, particularly those in states where their senators are
hesitating to support the bill. It will take votes from both sides
of the aisle to pass the American Power Act, aka the climate
bill. We need to tell our senators that this bill is important to
us and we want them to support it.
http://action.theregenerationproject.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.as...
PRAYER SERVICE - IN RESPONSE TO GULF CRISIS
Join us for an interfaith prayer service on Sunday, June 13,
7:30 pm, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Burlington.
As the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico continues, we’ll come
together for a time of prayer and reflection. We will pray for
the devastated ecosystem and for the people who suffer as a
result of this catastrophe. Contact: info@vtipl.org mailto:info@vtipl.org.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS RESPOND TO GULF CRISIS
The links below are to articles about the Gulf of Mexico
tragedy from two religious leaders: Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew, leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians
around the world, and Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori,
the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew/sins-agai...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bishop-katharine-jefferts-schori/lessons-f...
BURLINGTON SHOWING of the FILM “RENEWAL”
The film “Renewal” will be shown at the Roxy Theater in
Burlington on June 16 at 7 pm. It tells several stories about
actions that different faith groups across the country have taken
to address environmental issues, and it includes a story about
Interfaith Power and Light. Following the “Renewal” showing,
one of the producer/directors of the film, Marty Ostrow, and
Vermont Interfaith Power and Light leaders will be there for
questions and answers. Contact: info@vtipl.org mailto:info@vtipl.org.
THE WILD AND THE SACRED
To commemorate the first anniversary of Thomas Berry’s
passing, the Green Mountain Monastery in Greensboro will be
hosting an event on Saturday, June 5 at 4 pm. Aurora Ancient
Singers will celebrate the theme “The Wild and The Sacred”
from the writings of Thomas Berry. For directions and to
learn more, contact: greenmountainmonastery@together.net mailto:greenmountainmonastery@together.net.
WEATHERIZATION SKILLSHOPS
Central Vermont Community Action Council is running a
series of “skillshops” throughout the state to help people learn
how to make their homes more energy efficient and
comfortable. These day-long skillshops teach skills that will
help participants save money on energy costs. The $150 fee
covers $100 in weatherization tools, supplies, and resources –
and lunch too. The skillshops will be held in eight different
locations beginning in Barre on June 12 and ending Oct. 2 in
St. Albans. To see the full list of locations and dates and to
learn more, go to: http://www.weatherizationskillshop.com/schedule
RENEWABLE ENERGY NEWS
Renewable Energy Vermont is a VT organization dedicated to
promoting renewable energy in the state. It publishes an email
newsletter each month that’s full of useful information about
renewables. The newsletter has links to many articles about
renewable energy that were published in Vermont newspapers.
Here’s a sampling of topics covered in the May newsletter: a
biomass plant proposed at the former track in Pownal, CVPS’s
SmartPower plan, and a press release about a challenge for VT
companies – offering an opportunity to demonstrate, in the VT
State Park System, their newest renewable energy and energy
conservation products. To sign up to receive the newsletter, go
to the REV website: www.revermont.org http://www.revermont.org.
TRIPLE CRISES OF CIVILIZATION
The Rev. David Murphy and George Plumb are residents of
central Vermont who advocate living sustainably. They’ve
been reading and studying about solutions to the triple crises
confronting our world, and they are helping educate others
about the problems we face. They recently wrote an article
that includes recommended books to read for an understanding
of the serious situation we’re in. To read their article and
booklist, which was printed in VT Digger, click this link:
http://vtdigger.org/2010/05/14/plumb-murphy-on-the-triple-crises-of-civi...
VIDEO: EASING THE PANE – MAKE STORM WINDOWS
Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light produced the video in the
link below. They sent the link to other state Interfaith Power
and Light organizations so we can help congregations make
their houses of worship more energy efficient. Perhaps some
Vermont youth groups might be interested in making storm
windows as a service to their congregations. Watch the video
here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyffrneKaSI
IMPROVING YOUR HOME’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is part of
the U.S. Department of Energy. Their website is loaded with
helpful information on energy efficiency and more. The link
below brings you to a page which outlines steps to take to find
out about where your home is losing energy. Of course, there
is a cost to improving your home’s energy efficiency, but over
time, the money you spend will be more than offset by the
money you save in lower energy costs.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/home_energy.html
And don’t forget to check with Efficiency Vermont to learn
about incentives and to get professional advice. Here’s the
website: http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/pages/
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
