VT Interfaith Power and Light newsletter

REEN MOUNTAINS, BLUE WATER:
Earth Care News from
Vermont Interfaith Power and Light (VTIPL)
January 2016
In this newsletter:
Paris Climate Talks – Report Back Meeting
Successful Nov. 28 Bell-Ringing Event
Nations Approve Landmark Climate Accord
Sign Onto Pipeline Letter To Gov. Shumlin
Cool Congregations- Challenge Deadline Extended
Bill McKibben to Speak at St. Jacobs
“Merchants of Doubt” Film Showings
Faith Climate Action Week: April 15 – 24, 2016
The Climate Crisis and Hope
Efficiency Vermont’s Conference: Feb. 3 – 4
Integrating Ecology and Justice
Solar and Wind Tax Credits Extended
Stocks: Fossil Fuels Tumble as Renewables Soar
Still Time to Donate to VTIPL in 2015!
If you haven’t given yet, there’s still time to make a donation.
Mail a check to: VTIPL, P.O. Box 209, Richmond, VT 05477
PARIS CLIMATE TALKS – Report Back Meeting
Aly Johnson-Kurts and Senowa Mize-Fox were participants in
VT’s delegation to the UN meetings in Paris. They will speak
about their experiences on Jan. 3, 4:30 – 6 pm, with a potluck
to follow, at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 130 Main St.
For more information, contact Aly: aly@radvt.org
SUCCESSFUL NOV. 28 BELL-RINGING EVENT
Sue Riggen contacted VTIPL to report on their very successful
Nov. 28 event in Montpelier, just before the start of the Paris
COP 21 climate meetings. The bell-ringing/vigil had 60 people
and 3 churches participating. One at a time, each church
rang bells for three minutes while there was singing, prayer
and speaking. Then the group was silent while all 3 churches
rang their bells together for three minutes. Sue said, “it was
very moving to be in solidarity with activists around the world
at the start of the COP 21 meetings.”
NATIONS APPROVE LANDMARK CLIMATE ACCORD
This article by Coral Davenport in the “New York Times” gives
SIGN ONTO PIPELINE LETTER TO GOV. SHUMLIN
Business owners, faith leaders, and Vermonters from many
walks of life have signed onto a letter to the Governor opposing
the natural gas pipeline in Addison County. Individuals are
invited to join them by adding their name to the letter. To read
the letter, learn more, and sign on, go to:
COOL CONGREGATIONS- Challenge Deadline Extended
The deadline for congregations to enter national Interfaith
Power and Light’s Cool Congregations Challenge has been
extended to Jan. 15th. Prizes will be awarded to the winning
congregations in each of the categories. Get the details here:
BILL MCKIBBEN to SPEAK at ST. JACOBS
“Climate Change and the Response of People of Faith” will be
Bill McKibben’s topic when he speaks at St. Jacob’s Eastern
Orthodox Church in Northfield Falls on Sat., Jan. 23 at 4 pm.
Admission is by donation. A Vespers service follows at 5 pm
for all who want to stay for it. Refreshments will be served.
Parking is limited; please carpool. For contact information and
“MERCHANTS of DOUBT” FILM SHOWINGS
Two showings of the documentary “Merchants of Doubt” are
now scheduled: Thurs., Jan. 28, 7 pm, at Middlebury’s Ilsley
Library, 75 Main St., and on Thurs., Feb. 18, 7 pm, at Ascension
Lutheran Church, 95 Allen Rd. in South Burlington. If you’d
like to have a showing in your congregation or community,
contact VTIPL: info@vtipl.org Watch the trailer and find out
FAITH CLIMATE ACTION WEEK: APRIL 15 – 24, 2016
Formerly called “Preach-In”, national Interfaith Power and
Light’s Faith Climate Action Week will be held during Earth
Week in April 2016. Sign up to receive information at:
THE CLIMATE CRISIS and HOPE
This thought-provoking essay by Joseph Gainza was printed in
VT Digger on Dec. 14. Joseph was a workshop leader at VTIPL’s
conference in October. Read his essay here: https://www.vtipl.org/node/308
EFFICIENCY VERMONT’S CONFERENCE: Feb. 3 – 4
Efficiency VT’s “Better Buildings by Design” conference will
be at the Sheraton, S. Burlington, Feb. 3 – 4, 2016. As always,
there will be a great variety of workshops and much information.
Find out more and register here: www.efficiencyvermont.com/conference
INTEGRATING ECOLOGY and JUSTICE
In their article in “Solutions” Journal, Mary Evelyn Tucker
and John Grim speak of how Pope Francis, in his encyclical,
“shifts the climate debate to one of a human change of
consciousness and conscience.” https://thesolutionsjournal.com/node/237383
SOLAR AND WIND TAX CREDITS EXTENDED
This article in “Bloomberg Business” explains how the law that
Congress recently passed is a “big deal” that will significantly
strengthen and expand renewable energy in this country:
STOCKS: Fossil Fuels Tumble as Renewables Soar
On the first full day of trading following the UN Climate
negotiations in Paris, fossil fuel stocks dropped as stocks in
renewables were going up. Read more in EcoWatch: https://ecowatch.com/2015/12/16/renewable-energy-stocks/
VTIPL educates people of faith and spirit about the climate
crisis and actions to care for Earth.