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
Contents:
MATCHING GRANTS UP TO $500 AVAILABLE FOR WEATHERIZATION – APPLY BY NOV. 1
INTERFAITH CLIMATE AND ENERGY CAMPAIGN TO HOLD CONGREGATIONAL GATHERINGS
FIRST IIP&L CONFERENCE A SUCCESS
16 MEMBERS RECOGNIZED AT CONFERENCE
94 CONGREGATIONS ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING AROUND "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH"
FR. CHARLES, A RELIGIOUS VOICE FOR CARE OF CREATION
SUPPORT IOWA’S SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CHARTER: AN INTERFAITH CITIZEN INITIATIVE
HELP SUPPORT IOWA INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT
ARCHDIOCESE LAUNCHING PARISH-BASED CLIMATE CHANGE EFFORT
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MATCHING GRANTS UP TO $500 AVAILABLE FOR WEATHERIZATION – APPLY BY NOV. 1
Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) Chair John Norris told participants Oct. 8 at the IIP&L Conference The Religious Response to Global Warming that the IUB will provide matching grants of up to $500 to help congregations and other qualified community organizations weatherize homes for Iowa’s low-income families, elderly, disabled individuals, and others needing assistance in their communities. Applications should be submitted by November 1 and projects completed by November 30.
A sample grant application has been completed to assist groups in filling out the grant application form. Upon award of a grant, each applicant will be required to execute a contract with the Iowa Utilities Board. A sample contract is available for applicant review. Visit www.state.ia.us/government/com/util/IWC.html
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INTERFAITH CLIMATE AND ENERGY CAMPAIGN TO HOLD CONGREGATIONAL GATHERINGS
Beginning in November, Iowa Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign will conduct, at not charge, congregational gatherings at more than 30 congregations around the state over the following seven months. If your congregation is interested in finding out more about hosting such an event, contact Tim Kautza, ncrlctk@mchsi.com; 515.270.2634.
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FIRST IIP&L CONFERENCE A SUCCESS
More than 75 people attended the inaugural conference of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines Oct. 8. Rev. Sally Bingham, founder of Interfaith Power & Light nationally, keynoted the gathering and shared thoughts about the benefits of Interfaith Power & Light. "Preaching and teaching about the faith community's environmental responsibility is important work, and I've found that most congregations respond favorably. People are ready to buckle down and change the way our society has come to view nature and natural resources. And, that’s witnessed by the people here today and the work that’s beginning among congregations in Iowa," she said.
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Union of Concerned Scientists Consultant Ed Woolsey, Iowa Utilities Board Chair John Norris, and Rev. Bingham discussed new initiatives at the local, state and federal levels. Two concurrent workshops introduced congregations and members to ways to increase energy efficiency, reduce global warming, and move toward more sustainable energy sources. Sustainable designer Kevin Nordmeyer, RDG Planning/Design, Des Moines, lead a workshop with Sue McEntee, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, West Des Moines, highlighting how congregations can accomplish this within their own facilities and Kate Dunning, Ann Eastman, and Sarah Webb of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Cedar Falls, unveiled a stewardship campaign to help households reduce energy costs and their impacts on global warming. Both workshops will be followed up later this year by workshops around the state. Watch this newsletter for more information about them.
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16 MEMBERS RECOGNIZED AT CONFERENCE
Inaugural members were recognized by Rev. Sally Bingham, executive director of The Regeneration Project, San Francisco, Calif. at the first conference of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, Oct. 8 in Des Moines. The very first congregational member, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Cedar Falls, was highlighted for pioneering a stewardship campaign that will be shared across the state over the next several years. Other inaugural congregational members recoognized were Des Moines Islamic Center; Redeemer Lutheran Church, Indianola; Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Waterloo; and St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, West Des Moines.
Eleven individual members were also recognized including: Daryl and Jan Andersen, Rex and Nancy Andersen, Ruth Hardin, Joan Hawley, Dena Kurt, Cathleen Real, James and Karen Schramm, Myrna Weller. Nearly 300 others congregations,organizations, and individuals were recognized for their contributions to IIP&L over the 8 months of its existence. Watch our website for a list of new members who have joined since the conference and screenings of An Inconvenient Truth.
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94 CONGREGATIONS ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING AROUND "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH"
More than 90 congregations, colleges, and seminaries around Iowa screened the global warming movie An Inconvenient Truth Oct. 1-8 in 45 Iowa communities and representing 14 faiths and denominations. More than 4000 Iowans viewed the movie joining an estimated 1 million movie goers around the nation.
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FR. CHARLES, A RELIGIOUS VOICE FOR CARE OF CREATION
A nine foot wind generator and two solar panels on the rectory roof, another atop the front porch and a solar water heating system above the garage are the pride of the Rev. Charles Morris, pastor of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Wyandotte, Mich. Father Charles is the executive director of the 124-member Michigan Interfaith Power and Light (www.miipl.org), the state affiliate of Interfaith Power and Light (www.theregenerationproject.org), speaks out about global warming through his actions. Read the complete story "Citing Heavenly Injunctions to Fight Earthly Warming" at www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/us/15green.html?_r=1&oref=login
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SUPPORT IOWA’S SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CHARTER: AN INTERFAITH CITIZEN INITIATIVE
More than 300 Iowans of faith support the recommendations and principles expressed in Iowa’s Sustainable Energy Charter regarding the beneficial impact a sustainable, renewable energy system can have on global climate change. The charter and sign-ons, developed by Iowa Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign and supported by IIP&L was presented by 13 religious leaders last December to Lt. Governor Sally Pederson. It will be updated and periodically presented to Iowa state policy leaders and religious leaders. It will also be released to media throughout the state in order to increase public awareness and support for a sustainable, renewable energy system in Iowa.
Please read the charter and consider adding your name to the growing list and invite your friends to do the same. Visit www.ncrlc.com/IICEC-webpages/iicec-web02.html
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HELP SUPPORT IOWA INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT
This electronic newsletter now reaches more than 600 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, synagogue, 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 www.ncrlc.com/1-pfd-files/IIPL_Brochure_final.pdf Your support is greatly appreciated and will put to good use.
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ARCHDIOCESE LAUNCHING PARISH-BASED CLIMATE CHANGE EFFORT
The Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is launching a parish-based effort to find practical, socially equitable and close-to-home solutions to global warming. The drive will organize parishioners to study global warming and develop ways to confront it in the community and through changes in public policy, said Matt Rezac, public policy manager for the archdiocese's Office for Social Justice. For the complete article, visit www.startribune.com/462/story/743157.html
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