For the Pioneer, 3/21/2013
The USNF Climate Action Group (CAG) has been busy working on a number of fronts to address the issue of climate change. We know that many USNF members and friends are also deeply concerned and perhaps overwhelmed about this monumental problem and would like to feel that personal actions they take are meaningful. We believe that personal actions alone are inadequate without community support and infrastructure, and without political and economic policy changes. On the other hand, individuals have to be willing to change aspects of their lifestyles in order for policy changes to become acceptable in society. As a way to provide encouragement and build a spirit of collective action, the CAG is excited to launch this April the first of a continuing series of monthly “Climate Actions of the Month”. Each bundle includes a timely action on each of 4 levels: personal, community, state/national/global, and educational. We encourage you commit to one or more of these actions each month, knowing that we are working on the same goals together. If a suggested action doesn’t work for you, feel free to substitute an action of your choice that is meaningful to you. We are working on developing a website that will have more detailed info on the whys and hows of each action, as well as a way we can track our progress together, and collect your ideas of actions into a master list. The CAG meets the 1st and 3rd Sunday each month after the 2nd service. Please join us! To learn more about the CAG contact Molly Hale at hellomolly@comcast.net or 585-0791. This month’s actions focus on the tar sands, about which President Obama will be making a crucial decision within weeks.
April Featured Climate Actions
1. Personal:Get a residential energy audit through Mass Save to determine the energy improvements most appropriate for your home. 75% of the cost (up to $2000) of energy improvements may be paid by your utility. Whether you are a homeowner, a renter, or a landlord, call Mass Save at 1-866-527-7283.
2. Community: Organize a neighborhood potluck to develop familiarity among neighbors. This will help lay the groundwork for neighborhood cooperation on many levels.
3. State/National/Global:
a.) Call Obama ASAP at 202-456-1111 to urge him to say no to the Keystone XL pipeline that would carry tar sands material. We need to start reducing CO2 emissions significantly, not create new ways to increase them. If Keystone is approved then we’re locking in a several more decades of dependence on fossil fuels.
b.) Sign the CREDO petition to urge Obama to say no the Keystone pipeline. The URL is here: http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/kxl_seis/?r=13093920&id=55907-908966-vwHoWcx
4. Inform yourself: Learn about tar sands and the Keystone XL pipeline. Much info can be found on the web, but here are two articles to start with:
