October 2009
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.
Please share this newsletter with others. To submit items
or give updates, send an email to info@vtipl.org
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION: OCT. 24
Many events will be happening across Vermont and the
world on this day of action which is sponsored by the
group 350.org (www.350.org). The aim is to get the
attention of world leaders, to send a message to them
before their meetings in Copenhagen in December, to
convey the urgency of signing a strong climate agree-
ment. The level of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere
is almost 390 parts per million. Leading scientists say
350 ppm is the safe upper limit for life on Earth.
In Vermont, here are some of the events happening on
10/24. For contacts and more info, go to: www.vtipl.org.
BARRE/MONTPELIER: Bike ride to raise funds for the
bike path (for less car dependence) starting at 1 pm;
public officials will speak about bike path plans.
BRATTLEBORO: Centre Congregational Church will
show the film “Renewal” on Fri., Oct. 23, 7 – 9 pm, with
potluck snacks & desserts, readings and music at 6:30.
On 10/24, there’s a march & rally from 11 am – 1 pm.
BURLINGTON: Prayer vigil in City Hall Park at 3 pm, 350
photo shoot at UVM Green at 2 pm and silent walk to City
Hall Park while bells are ringing; reception at Firehouse
Gallery, 4 pm.
CHARLOTTE: Prayers, readings, and bell ringing from
3:30–4:30 pm at the Congregational Church. Transition
town sponsors a dance party at the church from 7–10 pm.
GREENSBORO/HARDWICK: Tour of homes using renew-
able energy start at 8:45 am, ending at Green Mountain
Monastery, Greensboro, with a lunch of soup and bread.
Later, 350 minutes of local music starts at 3:50 pm at
Hazen Union School.
LINCOLN: Starting at 10 am, 350 minutes of meditation,
garden walks, food sharing, group photo at Metta Earth.
MANCHESTER: 350 people meditate on the town green
for 35 minutes.
MIDDLEBURY: Events on the town green from 10 - 4
including VISION 2020- envisioning a sustainable future,
350 potluck dishes, collecting 350 non-perishable food
items, 350 minutes of drumming and more.
NORTH POMFRET: Collection of 350 non-perishable
food Items by the Congregational Church, to be donated
to local food banks, and an evening program at 7 pm.
RUTLAND: 350 minutes of prayer, give-away of 350 CFL
bulbs and clothespins, 350 minutes of videos about the
environmental crises and more.
SOUTH BURLINGTON: Kathryn Blume will be the MC
at a dance party at Higher Ground at 9 pm; it will be
simulcast all over. Go to: www.vt350dance.com
BELLS ACROSS VERMONT
Faith communities in eleven+ Vermont towns plan
to ring bells on Oct. 24th to sound an alarm about the
climate crisis and the urgent need for action to avert
it -- to save God’s creation. To date, we know that bells
will ring in Barre, Bennington, Bethel, Burlington,
Charlotte, Greensboro, Killington, Montpelier, Northfield,
Randolph and Tunbridge. We encourage more churches
to join in so bells will ring throughout the state. People of
faith are called to care for creation. Here’s a way to alert
people to the need to step up and take this responsibility.
BURLINGTON PRAYER VIGIL – City Hall Park, 3 pm
People who want to participate in the prayer vigil in
Burlington on 10/24 but can’t be there in person can
send prayers to VTIPL (info@vtipl.org) for inclusion.
Anyone may send a prayer and children’s prayers are
especially welcome– on creation, animals, plants, climate,
landscape, people affected by the climate crisis, or any-
thing on this general theme. We invite houses of worship
to include this notice in their bulletins.
CLEAN ENERGY JOBS AND AMERICAN POWER ACT
The Senate is beginning work on this climate legislation.
VT Senators support a strong climate bill; let them know
you do too, then send this link to out-of-state friends &
relatives: http://action.theregenerationproject.org/
BUTTON-UP WORKSHOP IN BURLINGTON
On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, a Button-Up Work-
shop will be held at Contois Auditorium in City Hall from
7 – 8:30 pm. This free event, open to all, teaches people
about winterizing to cut energy costs and CO2 emissions.
It’s sponsored by Burlington Electric Dept. and Legacy
Project. Go to: http://burlingtonlegacyproject.org/
REMINDERS:
-Renewable Energy Vermont’s fall conference: Sheraton
Conference Center, Burlington, Wed., Oct. 28, noon – 7 p.m.,
and Thurs., Oct. 29, 8:30 am – 4 pm. www.REVermont.org .
-Environmental Action 2009, Sat., November 7, 8:30 – 5:30,
VTC, Randolph. www.vtenvironmentalaction.org
-Community Energy and Climate Action Conference
Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) is the
sponsor: Saturday, Dec. 5, Lake Morey Inn, Fairlee. Speakers:
Senator Bernie Sanders and Pat Parenteau., environmental law
professor. Go to: www.vecan.net
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light
P.O. Box 728 Richmond, VT 05477
Tel. 802-434-7307 info@vtipl.org www.vtipl.org
