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1) CARE OF CREATION: Interfaith Prayer, Poetry and Scripture
2) HOT TOPICS: Articles on Global Warming Around the Globe
3) FACING FACTS:
Current Statistics on Global Warming
Trends
4) GOOD NEWS: Reports on Rebates, Things You Can Do, and Current
 Legislation, CO2 Reductions and Other Good News
5) CIPL NEWS: Featured Congregation & Commentary from Executive Director
6) SUGGESTED READING: Tips on Current Resource Reading on GW
and Other
Conservation Topics
7) EVENTS: Announcements of Coming Events related to the Environment
8) FINAL REFLECTION: Interfaith Prayer of Thanksgiving
CARE OF CREATION
The work of California Interfaith Power and Light is energized by the
understanding that every major faith tradition call on us to be
stewards
of Creation. We have a responsibility to protect the earth for our
children and future generations. For CIPL members, faithfulness to
the
care of Creation is a spiritual mandate. We continually strive to
nourish
our commitment to the goal of living as responsible stewards. In so
doing, we draw from the wisdom of Creation's many faith traditions.
“Water
flows over these hands.
May I
use them skillfully
To preserve
our precious planet. ”
Thich Nhat Hanh
HOT TOPICS
Global Warming Approaching Point of No Return, Warns Leading Climate Expert
Addressing leaders from 114 countries this month the chair
of IPCC, (International Panel on Climate Change) Dr. Rajendra
Pachauri, stated his belief that the world has "already reached
the level of dangerous concentrations of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere." He called for immediate and "very deep"
cuts in the pollution if humanity is to "survive".
Also meeting this month at a conference of Small Island Developing
States, the new director of that body, the former head of
India's Tata Energy Research Institute, told delegates that,
"Climate change is for real. We have just a small window
of opportunity and it is closing rather rapidly. There is
not a moment to lose."
Dr. Pachauri pointed to the dying of the coral reefs and
the shrunken polar ice caps to substantiate his conclusion
that the danger point may have already been reached. He also
cited alarming measurements showing that levels of carbon
dioxide (the main cause of global warming) have leapt abruptly
over the past two years, suggesting that climate change may
be accelerating out of control. Further explaining, he said
that because of inertia built into the Earth's natural systems,
the effects of emissions of the 1960s were only now registering
and that much greater effects would be seen as the increased
pollution of later decades registered their impacts. He concluded:
"We are risking the ability of the human race to survive." (Condensed from an article written by Geoffrey Lean in The Independent News & Media (UK) Ltd.)
Not an Asteroid, but Global Warming?
There is nothing new under the sun, as the saying goes and scientists are saying that about global warming. The catastrophe that resulted in the mass extinction of 90% of the species of the ocean and 70% of the land species some 250 million years ago, is now thought to have been cause by massive and prolonged volcanic activity which put huge amounts of CO2 into the air. The "Great Dying, as this phenomena is called, has been the subject of debate in the scientific community, but new evidence analyzing sulfur and carbon isotopes from core samples along with analysis of 126 fossil skulls found in southeastern South Africa's Karoo Basin, support the global warming theory.
Dr. Peter Ward, one of the chief scientists involved in two studies, explained that at the time of the Great Dying, global temperatures climbed as carbon dioxide levels rose in the atmosphere and oxygen levels fell, forcing gasping animals to gather at sea levels. "And the plants are not dealing well with the heat" either, he added. "Eventually the imbalance reaches a critical point, and everything dies." (Read the complete article posted at : http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24732-2005Jan20.html) Our Belching Planet
Marin County's Coastal Post printed an interesting, but scary article this month about how global warming could give the globe a bad case of the burps! The gist of it went something like this: There's a whole lot of methane locked in the frozen artic tundra and contained in the mud at the bottom of the sea. (400 gigatons, according to the articles author, Jim Anderson) As greenhouse gases go, methane has it hands down over CO2; it's about 20 times as "strong" which presumable means heat trapping. Temperature increases of only a couple of degrees would cause this methane to be burped into the atmosphere, accelerating warming to runaway speed. To read the full article, go to
http://www.coastalpost.com/05/01/08.htm
FACING FACTS
Current Statistics
* Up to 25 % of the world's coral reefs have been destroyed.
* Polar ice caps have shrunken up to 20% in the past three
decades.
* Artic ice sheets are 40% thinner than it was in 1970 and
the polar caps are expected to be
gone all
together by 2070.
* Snowmobiles can emit as much pollution in one hour as 100
automobiles operating for the same
amount
of time.
GOOD NEWS
A Cool Move
At its January 18 meeting, the City of Berkeley in the Bay Area, voted to join Kyoto USA, to adopt a resolution in support of the Kyoto Protocol and to urge the U.S. government to join the other nations of the world in their commitment to address the threat of Global Warming. Kyoto USA is a Bay Area group of volunteers dedicated to bringing about a lowering of greenhouse gas emissions by getting individuals and cities to transition to energy efficient policy and operation. They put it this way: " It is our hope that our local efforts will encourage similar organizing and advocacy efforts by people, businesses, large and small, schools and local governments throughout the U.S." To help cities with the transition, another organization has been created: ICLEI-US Cities for Climate Protection. Their website is www.iclei.org.us.ccp. And for more information about Kyoto USA, go to www.kyotousa.org
Coal Plants Agree to Cool It
Earlier this month, the operators of six coal-burning power plants in upstate New York agreed to a settlement for reducing air pollution that would be the equivalent of removing 2.5 million cars from the state's roads and every diesel truck and bus in the nation. Governor Pataki, whose administration has imposed strict regulations on emissions said, "This is an historic afternoon." The agreements represent "the largest single reduction of pollutants as a result of a settlement ever, in the history of New York State."
(Information taken from NY Times article of Jan.12, by Jim Cooper)
Celebrate Good Protocol
The first international treaty on global warming, the Kyoto Protocol, goes into effect on February 16 and will affect 128 nations, if all live up to their agreement. While it is true that global warming seems to be happening at a much faster rate than was understood at the signing of the Protocol, it sets a precedent for global co-operation on a global problem and can only be celebrated as GOOD! We invite our members to encourage that prayers of thanksgiving be offered in their communities of faith for this all-important first step. February 16th might be an excellent date for writing to urge the current Administration to join the Protocol. It is never too late!
CIPL NEWS
Congratulations to February's Featured Faith Community: Presentation Center
In Los Gatos
If there were a 'Queen of Ecology', it would have to be Sister Patricia Marie Mulpeters, director of Presentation Retreat Center in Los Gatos. But no royal colors for this earthy sister; she is all green! And so is the Center, which is currently under construction to add a new dining room and visitors' center. These new buildings are more like eco-learning sites because they model the latest in 'green building' techniques and feature "truth windows" which allow the guests of the Center to study the building's interior green construction techniques.
Presentation Center will include a myriad of eco-friendly features including recharging stations for electric passenger and utility vehicles, photovoltaic panels and "living roofs", complete with green plants. The walls of the new buildings are insulated with straw bales, drawing from building practices of old. Mary McCullough, director of communications, along with the other Sisters at Presentation Center, say that the Center is a model for how to engage in sustainable living as spiritual practice for healing the earth.
Sister Mulpeters believes that it is the responsibility of the Center to practice and model sustainability and care for the environment as much as it is to offer spiritual renewal. Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Presentation is definitely a place where one can find tranquility and renewal. In addition to its pleasant cottages in southwestern style of architecture, it features a duck pond and glen of majestic redwood trees on its 264 acres. Sister Mulpeters says, " We began to think that the gift of Presentation Center is not primarily in programs but in the healing power of its natural beauty." 10,000 guests visit the Center each year and the Sisters hope they will take home with them a new vision of how to live in reverence and harmony with the environment. To learn more about our Featured Faith Community, go to www.prescenter.org.
SOME GOOD NEWS - FOR A CHANGE
A Commentary from the Executive Director
It is easy for us to get depressed when we read the morning newspaper and watch the evening news on TV. The reports on the negative consequences of global warming seem to get worse. New computer models are telling us that the world's average temperature could rise faster and sooner than earlier studies suggest.
So how do we cope with this news? How can we make a bigger positive impact on the environment? How can we strive to better Care for Creation? The answer is simple. You are the good news. You are making a difference by your involvement in CIPL and by the steps you are taking to conserve energy.
Every time you change a conventional bulb to a CFL you are making a positive impact on the environment. When you need a new car and buy a hybrid vehicle or look for one that is rated as a low or ultra low emissions vehicle you are Caring for Creation. When you buy new Energy Star rated appliances you will use less energy, and therefore create less pollution - and you become better financial stewards as you spend less money on your utility bills. You may also be able to buy green energy through your local utility. When you do that, all of your energy needs are supplied by renewable energy sources - no pollution - no problem.
CIPL is growing and we are collectively making a huge, positive impact on the environment. But we need your help to make an even larger change as we jointly Care for Creation. Please help us spread the word by telling your friends and neighbors about CIPL. Our website, www.interfaithpower.org, contains all the information needed to join CIPL and get started. Please contact me directly at tom@interfaithpower.org or 916-442-5447 ext. 13 if you have any questions or just want to hear more about how we can all really make a difference in the world we are all called upon to protect - for the generations to come.
Tom Bourne
Executive Director
Be an Agent of Change
CIPL urges each of its members to partner with us in drawing more of the 50,000
communities of faith in our state to become members of this fast growing religious
response to global warming. Email us at outreach@interfaithpower.org with your
referrals.
SUGGESTED READING
'You Can Prevent Global Warming And Save Money,' by Jeffrey Lanholz, Ph.D. and Kelly Turner, offers 51 money and energy-saving tips. It is now available used on Amazon.com from $2.83 and claims to save the average homeowner $2,000.00 a year. Might be worth the gamble!
EVENTS
Come and learn how little changes can make a big difference!
Sacramento CIPL Working Group Meeting
February 7th
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
St. John's Lutheran Church
1701 L Street
Sacramento, CA
RSVP to Rev. Dexter McNamara
916-448-2212
dexter@isbsacramento.org
February 11-12th
'Choices of Food & Faith'
sponsored by Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
Westminster Woods Conference Center.
For more details log onto www.prcweb.org or call Rebecca Barnes Nobel, San Francisco Theological Seminary, (415) 451-2826.
San Diego CIPL Working Group (RECAP) Meeting
February 22nd
6:00-7:30 PM
SDG&E
8335 Century Park Court
San Diego, CA
RSVP to Rev. Glenn Allison
858-790-3744
tachs.glenn@sbcglobal.net
FINAL REFLECTION
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Does your congregation have an eco-event coming up? Let us help you get the word out to all of our covenant congregations. Do you know of a great film or reading that you wish everyone would take advantage of? Let us know about it and we will include it in the Newsletter. Send us all copy by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the next monthís edition. Email Sally Juarez at outreach@interfaithpower.org.
CLOSING REFLECTION
Interfaith Prayer of Thanksgiving
God has shaped a wondrous world: "I created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in-between ñ and not any of it is in vain." (Al Anbiya 16 ñ Islam)
We give thanks for this world and for all who work to protect it.
God has granted the gift of wisdom: "Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of God, the Source of power and wisdom." (Gleanings from the Writings of Bah·'u'll·h, CXXXVI, p.295 ñ Bahaíi)
We give thanks for the wisdom of the who have joined together to prevent global warming
God has taught the virtue of prudence: "Ben Zakkai asked: what is the right path to take? Eliezer said, seeing the positive; Joshua said, a good friend, Yose said, a good neighbor, Elazar said, a good heart; Simeon said, prudence and foresight." (Pirke Avot 2:13 ñ Judaism)
We give thanks for the foresight of the leaders who have taken prudent actions to prevent global warming.
God has created caring hearts: "And equanimity, and charityÖ and tenderness towards all that sufferÖ such be the signs of one whose feet are set on that fair path." (Bhagavad-Gita: 16 Krishna ñ Hinduism)
We give thanks for those who work for a sustainable, just future from generation to generation.
God has given the world hope and love: "And faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." (I Corinthians 13:13 ñ Christianity)
Filled with hope and love, we go out into the world to bring hope and love its furthermost reaches.
God has called on us to choose life: "Therefore choose life, that you and your descendants might live." (Deuteronomy 30:19)
We recommit ourselves to choosing life through our life choices, to sharing Godís love with all of creation by working in our congregations, communities and nation to promote energy use that brings blessings, not curses, to all life.
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