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February 20, 2007
Periodic news items and alerts about global climate change justice, energy efficiency, energy conservation, and sustainable energy alternatives for congregations.
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Blessings!
Tim Kautza
Coordinator
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Rachel L. Anderson
Editorial Assistant
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CONTENTS:
Cool Congregations at Cedar Rapids and Dubuque
Politicians Sign New Climate Pact
Lenten "Powering Down" Available from IIP&L
Texas Baptists Turning Green – But Not All the Way
Record for hottest January isn't broken ... it's smashed
The Greening of the Church
Dingell, Waxman and Pelosi Reach Deal on Climate Change Committee
Power Firms Have A Puzzle To Solve
Pelosi: Expect House Global Warming Bill by July
CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury
Help Support Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
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Cool Congregations at Cedar Rapids and Dubuque
"Congregations Together in Mission" is an annual event put on by the Southeastern Iowa Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as a resource for its 149 congregations. Open to all people of faith, it will be conducted March 10 at First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids and will feature our Cool Congregations workshop as one of 59 workshops. To attend Cool Congregations that day, please register and pay for the event on-line before March 1 at https://www.sporg.com/pom/registration?cmd=event_info&event_id=70666
Questions? Contact Lorraine Jordan (319) 338-1273; jordan@seiasynod.org
Cool Congregation workshop participants learn how to organize a congregation-wide stewardship program where congregants can increase energy efficiency, save money and reduce global warming pollution. Participants learn how to help congregants measure their carbon footprint (i.e. their family contribution to global warming) and then determine how to reduce their impact. The last Cool Congregations workshop that will be open to the public will be conducted at the Church of the Resurrection, Dubuque, March 31. Contact Paul Schultz, schultzpf@msn.com
Politicians Sign New Climate Pact
Last Friday, February 16th a group of international politicians reached a new agreement that they hope will replace the Kyoto Protocol, (which expires in 2012) and have it in place by 2009. US Senator Joe Lieberman anticipates that the US Congress would enact a law on cutting emissions by the end of next year, possibly this year. His co-sponsor in climate legislation, presidential candidate John McCain, was emphatic on the need for new initiatives. "I am convinced that we have reached the tipping point and that the Congress of the United States will act, with the agreement of the administration," he told the forum.
Dr John Holdren, the head of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), feels differently about the success of the act. He said President George W Bush needed to appreciate that the US economy would not suffer unnecessarily if emissions were capped. According to Holdren, in order to go forward we must acknowledge that the costs of fixing our environment will cost less than the costs of economic damage we will suffer if we do nothing.
For More Information: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6364663.stm
Lenten "Powering Down" Available from IIP&L
IIP&L has adopted "Powering Down," a program developed by Catholic Committee on Appalachia to reduce the use of fossil fuels during the Lenten season. It gives handy tips and tools for conducting Lent classes on global warming for all ages. The program packet also includes a series of sermons that are geared towards adults who are ready and willing to hear about the responsibility we have to this planet. The packet also includes a brochure of information about the topic and why you should help lower your own carbon emissions for Lent. To purchase "Powering Down" $11.00, email ncrlc@mchsi.com or call 515.270.2634,
Texas Baptists Turning Green – But Not All the Way
Much to everyone’s surprise, Texas Baptist leaders are working to block Republican Gov. Rick Perry's plan to speed the approval process for 18 new coal-fired power plants. Why is this surprising? It’s an unusual move considering that they are the largest national Baptist organization who officially opposes environmental activism. "This is cutting edge stuff for Baptists — even moderate Baptists," Bruce T. Gourley, the associate director of The Center for Baptist Studies at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. said.
This moderate Texas group is independent but still considers itself part of the Southern Baptist Convention. They often clash with the leadership of the larger groups. Paynter, director of the commission, said Texas Baptists' involvement stems from heightened concern over how dirty air is affecting the health of church members.
For More Information: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070207/25686_Texas_Baptists_Turning_Green_-_But_Not_All_the_Way.htm
Record for Hottest January isn't Broken ... It's Smashed
The new temperature record for January was caused by a waning El Niño and a gradually warming world, according to U.S. scientists who reported the data Thursday. The temperature of the world's land and water combined was 1.53 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 20th-century average of 53.6 for January, breaking the old record by more than one-quarter of a degree. That broke the 2002 record with land slide strength. The rise in temperature was about 0.81 degrees, which meteorologists said is a lot, since such records often are broken by hundredths of a degree at a time.
"That's pretty unusual, for a record to be broken by that much," said the data center's scientific-services chief, David Easterling. "I was very surprised." Easterling said a weakening El Niño was a factor, but not a big one. Temperature records break regularly with global warming, Kevin Trenberth said, but "with a little bit of El Niño thrown in, you don't just break records, you smash records."
For More Information: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003574774_warming16.html
Greening of the Church at Luther College
A free workshop for clergy, property, stewardship and social concerns committees, interested youth, and church council members of all faith will be conducted April 21, 2007, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Luther College, Decorah. The highly interactive program facilitated by Alycia Ashburn and Tim Kautza, will address the question, "How can our churches become more actively involved in caring for God’s creation?" and will help congregations learn how to start a "Creation Care" program. Congregations from Minnesota and Iowa (including our own Cool Congregations) will share creation care projects. For complete information, visit http://vocations.luther.edu/retreats_and_workshops/greening-of-the-church/index.html
Dingell, Waxman and Pelosi Reach Deal on Climate Change Committee.
A deal to create a select committee to study climate change and energy has been reached between the House Energy and Commerce Committee Rep John Dingell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The committee will only last until Oct. 30, 2008 and is not a committee with legislative authority. Some in Congress had viewed the creation of this new committee as an end-run around Dingell, an ally of the auto industry. Visit http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/UPDATE/702060414
Pelosi: Expect House Global Warming Bill by July.
"The House should pass legislation on global warming by July, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier this month as she amplified a growing congressional drumbeat on the issue. 'For 12 years, the leadership in the House of Representatives has stifled all discussion and debate of global warming,' Pelosi told the House Committee on Science and Technology. 'That long rejection of reality is over.' Pelosi's appearance marked the first time in memory a House speaker has testified before a House Committee, other lawmakers said. That action sent an incontrovertible message that she considers the issue a top priority." For more, visit http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1275
CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury
The Environmental Protection Agency and some large business are aggressively promoting the sale of compact fluorescent light bulbs as a way to save energy and fight global warming. But there is a possible downside to these energy and penny-savers: the bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin, and the companies and federal government haven't come up with effective ways to get Americans to recycle them.
However, even though CFL bulbs contain mercury, using them decreases the amount of mercury released to the environment. A coal-burning power plant, the most popular type in the Midwest, will emit four times more mercury to produce the electricity for an incandescent bulb than for a compact fluorescent. Just how much mercury is in each bulb? About five milligrams. An average home thermometer contains 500 to 2,000 milligrams.
In addition to increasing energy efficiency, CFL bulbs have another positive factor: money. The total lifetime cost of buying and powering one of these bulbs totals to about $24.50. When compared to the total lifetime cost incandescent bulb, ($82.50), the $20 bucks doesn’t sound too bad.
For More Information: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198
http://www.iwrc.org/downloads/pdf/CompactFluorescentFacts.pdf
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:9lxHeDVjOQIJ:www.uni.edu/ceee/news/kuni_radio_scripts/
cfl_disposal.pdf+cfl+disposal+iowa&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&ie=UTF-8
Help Support Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
This electronic newsletter now reaches more than 700 Iowans; religious leaders, people of most every faith, readers, and activists concerned about global warming and the resulting impacts of global climate change on creation and poor and vulnerable people. We receive kudos weekly from many who are pleased to receive the newsletter and who praise the work of our two organizations. Iowa Interfaith Power & Light is a membership organization. Congregational membership (church, syn agogue, mosque, center, school, hospital, or organization) is $50. You can become a member with any contribution you feel is appropriate. Contributions can be sent and made payable to IIP&L, 4625 Beaver Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310-2145. For more about membership, visit http://www.ncrlc.com/1-pfd-files/IIPL_Brochure_final.pdf Your support is greatly appreciated and will help maintain the integrity of God’s sacred creation, Earth.
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