Earth Care News
November 2019
In this newsletter:
VT Interfaith Power & Light’s Annual Conference a Success!
2019 Cool Congregations Challenge
Ask Congressman Welch to Support the 100% Clean Energy Act of 2019
Climate Solutions Caucus – Statewide Forums
Middlebury Conference – Down to Earth on Friday, Nov. 15
Vermont Youth Climate Congress – Nov. 17, 12:30 pm, VT State House
Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network Conference – Dec. 7
U.S. Formally Begins to Leave the Paris Climate Agreement
One of the Biggest Countries in the World is Running Out of Drinking Water
New Book of Pope Francis’ Thoughts on the Environment
Reminder: Watershed Manual Presentations Offered to Congregations
VT Interfaith Power & Light’s Annual Conference a Success!
VTIPL’s conference, Envisioning and Acting for the World We Want, went very well. A link on VTIPL’s website will take you to a page with five videos from the conference including: the Welcome by VTIPL President Dick Hibbert; Molly Anderson’s part of the Keynote; Jim Antal’s part of the Keynote; the “Agricultural Solutions for a Shifting Climate” workshop led by Molly Anderson and Jon Turner; and the workshop “What the Green New Deal Means for the Country” led by Jim Antal. Also, the conference book list has now been posted. It’s all on VTIPL’s conference webpage. And for those of you who attended, please send your evaluation soon by mail or email. (Email if you didn’t receive the evaluation form, and I’ll send it to you.) Thank you!
2019 Cool Congregations Challenge
National Interfaith Power & Light’s annual contest, Cool Congregations Challenge, is happening now. Leading congregations nationwide that have done great work in any of the five categories are recognized and rewarded. The categories are: Cool Congregations Planner; Energy Saver; Renewable Role Model; Sacred Grounds Steward; and Community Inspiration. The winning congregation in each category will receive $1,000. Find the details here.
Ask Congressman Welch to Support the 100% Clean Energy Act of 2019
This bill, from Virginia Representative McEachin, would be among the first that Democrats in Congress are putting forward to drastically cut down on our country’s carbon emissions. Sign on to ask Representative Welch to support it. More information about the bill is in this “Bloomberg Environment” article.
Climate Solutions Caucus – Statewide Forums
The Climate Solutions Caucus, a group with a growing number of Vermont legislators, is eager to take action on climate. They have organized a series of climate policy forums around the state to share their legislative priorities for the 2020 session and bring more Vermonters into the climate conversation. Here’s the list of forums already scheduled (and more will be scheduled):
Middlebury: Nov. 7, 5 – 6:30 pm, Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall (2 Duane Court)
East Arlington: Nov. 13, 6:30 – 8 pm, Federated Church of East Arlington
Brattleboro: Nov. 19, 7 pm, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (16 Bradley Ave.)
St. Johnsbury: Nov. 20, 6:30 – 8 pm, Catamount Arts (115 Eastern Ave.)
St. Albans: Nov. 20, 6 – 8 pm, St. Albans City Hall (100 N. Main Street)
Essex: Nov. 21, 7 – 8:30 pm, Essex Police Station (145 Maple Street)
Vergennes: Nov. 22, 6 – 8 pm, Vergennes Union High School Library
(50 Monkton Rd.)
More information about the forums is here.
Middlebury Conference – Down to Earth on Friday, Nov. 15
The New Perennials Project at Middlebury College is inviting the public to their 2nd annual conference, Down to Earth: Nourishing Change in the Champlain Valley, on Nov. 15, 9 am – 12:30 pm, in Wilson Hall in the McCullough building (14 Old Chapel Rd.). Aubrey Streit Krug, PhD, from The Land Institute will give the Keynote address, Caring for the Ecosphere. Also, there will be a panel discussion with these five panelists: Corie Pierce; Nancy Winship Milliken; Matt Schlein; Sister Gail Worcelo; and Thomas Jackson. To watch a short video from last year’s conference, click here.
Vermont Youth Climate Congress – Nov. 17, 12:30 pm, VT State House
Students from across Vermont will come together at the State House to pass a declaration of freedom from fossil fuels and a resolution urging policy makers to protect the future by taking Bold Climate Action NOW! Find out more and register here.
Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network Conference – Dec. 7
This will be the 12th annual VECAN conference. It will be at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Sat., Dec. 7, 9 am – 4:30 pm. Get the details and register today!
U.S. Formally Begins to Leave the Paris Climate Agreement
The Trump Administration has now formally notified the UN that the United States is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement. There is a one-year waiting period, so the process will be complete in early November next year – the day after the election. More information is in this NPR story.
One of the Biggest Countries in the World is Running Out of Drinking Water
In eastern Australia, over a dozen towns and cities are approaching the day when the last of the drinking water is gone. Read more.
New Book of Pope Francis’ Thoughts on the Environment
The Vatican Publishing House, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, recently released this book which gathers together writings and discourses from Pope Francis on the environment, and aims to explain a Christian vision of ecology. It looks like it’s not yet available in English, but hopefully will be soon! Find it here.
Reminder: Watershed Manual Presentations Offered to Congregations
VT Interfaith Power & Light offers presentations on the Congregational Watershed Manuals (Christian or Interreligious edition) to interested congregations. Here is the order form for the manuals, or they can be downloaded from VTIPL’s website.
VTIPL helps people of faith and spirit better understand the climate crisis and take action to care for Earth.
Vermont Interfaith Power and Light
P.O. Box 209, Richmond, VT 05477
info@vtipl.org 802-434-3397 www.vtipl.org