January Newsletters–AASHE and VT Interfaith

The following are some amazing bulletins and newsletters from some great organizations. Check out their local events and news!

AASHE bulletin

VT Interfaith Power and Light newsletter:

GREEN MOUNTAINS, BLUE WATER:
Earth Care News from
Vermont Interfaith Power and Light (VTIPL)
January 2015
In this newsletter:
Preach-In: Weekend of February13 – 15
Energy Independent VT Educational Forums
Better Buildings by Design Conference
Greening Our Religions
For Congregations: Sign National IPL’s Paris Pledge
Vermontivate! – Opportunities for Congregations
Congregations Receive Solar Grants
Governor Shumlin’s Inaugural Address
Efficiency Vermont Community Forum
Confronting Climate Change Summit
Other Resources – Articles on: Pope Francis’s encyclical;
   Keystone XL; Engagement vs. Divestment; and more
PREACH-IN: Weekend of February 13 – 15
Preach-In, a program of national Interfaith Power and Light, is
in its fifth year. Congregations of all faiths are encouraged to
take part by having a global warming/creation care sermon and/
or a program on this topic during Valentine’s Day weekend:
February 13 – 15 this year. Many resources, including sample
sermons from the major faiths, are available on the Preach-In
website. Encourage your faith community to register and receive
the Preach-In kit: https://www.preachin.org/
All can join in saying a prayer for Earth and climate, Noon, 2/14.
ENERGY INDEPENDENT VT EDUCATIONAL FORUMS
Come to a forum and find out more about the Energy Indepen-
dent Vermont campaign to put a price on carbon pollution, cut
other taxes, and give low-income Vermonters an additional
rebate. Forums are happening: 1/20 in E. Montpelier; 1/21 in
Burlington; and 1/22 in Waitsfield. Get details and RSVP here:
BETTER BUILDINGS by DESIGN CONFERENCE
This annual conference, sponsored by Efficiency Vermont, and
held Feb. 4 – 5 at the Sheraton in S. Burlington, is a great way
to learn about energy-efficient products and designs. Efficiency
Vermont is offering a limited number of scholarships to reduce
the admission cost. The application deadline is Jan. 28. Go to:
GREENING OUR RELIGIONS
This five-event series, beginning on Jan. 26, 7 pm, at Ascension
Lutheran Church, has teachings from five faith traditions on the
place of humans in nature. The lectures were first held in 2008
at Ascension Lutheran Church. In this series, the video of each
lecture will be shown on successive Mondays with discussion
following. The first event, 1/26 – Islam, and second, 2/2 –
Christianity, will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church, 7 pm,
95 Allen Rd., South Burlington. The next three events will be
held at the Shambhala Center, 7 pm, 187 South Winooski Ave.,
Burlington: Native American Traditions – 2/9; Judaism – 2/16;
and Buddhism – 2/23. Get details and register at:https://burlington.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=212405
Ascension Church, Shambhala Center, and VTIPL are sponsors.
All five events are free and open to all. Donations accepted.
FOR CONGREGATIONS: Sign National IPL’s Paris Pledge
With this pledge, congregations commit to reducing their carbon
pollution 50% by 2030, and to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Ahead of the UN Climate Meeting in Paris, National IPL leader,
The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, encourages congregations to
show the country and world that U.S. faith communities will
commit to do their part to reduce emissions. Sign on here:
VERMONTIVATE! – Opportunities for Congregations
“Vermontivate!” is an exuberant online game that promotes
taking action to save energy and live more sustainably. Kathy
Blume, the Executive Director, encourages congregations to
form teams and play. She’d like to speak to your congregation
and explain more about it. Individuals are also encouraged to
play. More about “Vermontivate!” is here:https://vermontivate.com/
Contact Kathy: kathy@vermontivate.com
CONGREGATIONS RECEIVE SOLAR GRANTS
Congratulations to two Vermont congregations: the Charlotte
Congregational Church and the Second Congregational Church
in Bennington! They received grants from Green Mountain
Power as part of a special program to help nonprofits install
solar arrays.
GOVERNOR SHUMLIN’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
This year, the Governor’s address focused on renewable
energy and cleaning up Lake Champlain. He gave a shout out
to Vermonters volunteering on town energy committees and
praised clean energy businesses in Vermont. The speech is
posted on Vermont Natural Resources Council’s website:
EFFICIENCY VERMONT COMMUNITY FORUM
Attend this forum on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 6 – 7:30 pm, at Camels
Hump Middle School in Richmond (173 School Street), to give
Efficiency Vermont feedback about their programs and hear
about their work.
CONFRONTING CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT
Vermont Council on Rural Development is holding the summit
“Creating Prosperity and Opportunity Confronting Climate
Change” on Feb. 18, at Vermont Technical College, Randolph.
OTHER RESOURCES
Article about Pope Francis’s upcoming encyclical on the
Global group of Catholic bishops call for end to fossil fuels:www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30408022
Eco-Justice Notes on “The Keystone Showdown”:https://www.eco-justice.org/E-150109.asp
Article in the journal “Nature” – geographical distribution of unused fossil fuels when limited to 2 degrees C warming:www.nature.com/nature/journal/v517/n7533/full/nature14016.html
VTIPL educates people of faith and spirit about the climate
crisis and actions to care for Earth.
Vermont Interfaith Power and Light
P.O. Box 209, Richmond, VT 05477