Our Climate, Our Faith, Our Future

Agendas

Week 1:

• The Science of Climate Change (Andy Long)
• Supporting Materials:
  • David Attenborough looks at the temperature data
  • James Hansen interviewed on David Letterman
  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fourth Assessment, 2007
• Practical Practice for fighting GCD: Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

Week 2:

• The Science (and politics) of Climate Change: How to Respond? (Andy Long)
• Supporting materials:
  • Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See
  • Don Blankenship — even more terrifying! Some Milestones in the Blankenship Video
  • Eco Barons -- Edward Humes — Steve Ross's suggestion
  • Stirring it up: how to make money and save the world — Gary Hirshberg
• Practical Practice for fighting GCD: Green Cleaning Solutions

Week 3:

• Summary of Week1 portion of Kilowatt Ours plus Steve Ross additions (Steve Long)
• "Kilowatt Ours website"

Week 4:

• Summary of Week2 portion of Kilowatt Ours plus Steve Ross additions (Steve Long)
• "Kilowatt Ours website"

Week 5: What can we do at MWPC or in other local faith communities? (Steve Long)

• Elevate the importance of our environment in the minds of everyone in the congregation without getting into the unfortunate political aspects that have attached themselves to so many discussions about the issues.
  • Sermon at all three services (LP) that gently talked about the effects of some key areas (clean water, air, chemicals in food, etc.) and their impact on the health of the people in the congregation (and, of course, their children). If he could use local, undisputable facts (which we'd have to find), it would be ideal. In other words, raise an awareness of how this affects each of us directly.
  • Then it could move to the Christian aspect of how it affects other, less fortunate people, in our communities and around the world.
  • Stay away from global warming and all those alarms, valid as they may be, and suggest that each of us think about changes that we could make.
  • Every week in the bulletin, we could have an insight or tip. [less frequently than weekly, if necessary] These could include some of the more mundane tips (like CFLs), but hopefully might include inspirations and ideas people don't see every day. It might be possible to take it even farther, including it in Sunday School. We could also (if this is even possible) add a page to the web-site with lots of tips or with links to sites that were safe & helpful. The most important thing would be to keep it non-controversial.
• Some thoughts on how to "market" global climate change
• "Paragraphs" for Men's Discovery — Bill wanted an action item, and chose this.

Resources shared

• Gardening:
  • Kitchen Gardeners
  • Union of Concerned Scientists' publication -- the Climate Friendly Gardener
• Transition Anderson - good information on local activities
• Ohio Interfaith Power and Light: A Religious Response to Climate Change
• Summary of "Cut Your Energy Bills" Consumer Reports article
• Energy Investigation of Your Home
• Reduce the Number of Catalogs you Receive
• Ohio Duke energy customers can buy green energy
• Local Produce Providers, including delivery service and non-profit benefits
• AAPG report that Greg Craven lists as the most credible skeptic group
• Environmental Working Group
• P&G Aims for Sustainability in noteworthy areas
• Next Steps - 6/29/2010 gathering at Tucker home
• Men's Discovery Discussion Materials
• Theological Perspectives from "Faith Seeking Understanding" by Daniel L. Migliore