fusclimate Mailing List: Messages March thru April 11, 2013

[Fred H Olson (fholson]

Messages March thru April 11, 2013

Index  (Search for *** repeatedly to find messages below)
Mon,  4 Mar Shannon Williams   URGENT: Thank your legislator for supporting 
Solar!
Wed,  6 Mar Shannon Williams   FW: FYI Renewable Energy Standard hearing 
rescheduled to 9:00am Friday March, 8
Wed, 13 Mar Shannon Williams   This is the week! MN Legislators voting on clean 
energy bills NOW!
Wed, 20 Mar Shannon Williams   Senate vote this week on Keystone XL -- how 
Minnesota can help
Sun, 24 Mar Nancy B. Miller    Climate change networking
Mon, 25 Mar Shannon Williams   RE: Climate change networking
Mon, 25 Mar Shannon Williams   Proposed climate change meeting
Wed, 27 Mar Shannon Williams   Next meeting of the CCC
Thu, 28 Mar Shannon Williams   Tweak to climate change meeting
Sat, 30 Mar Carole Rydberg     Re: Next meeting of the CCC
Wed,  3 Apr Shannon Williams   State Climate Change Action Items
Sat,  6 Apr Carole Rydberg     Re: State Climate Change Action Items
Mon,  8 Apr Shannon Williams   Please SIGN ON to protect Minnesota from Frac 
Sand Mining!
Wed, 10 Apr Shannon Williams   CCC Reminder
Thu, 11 Apr Nancy B. Miller    Climate Change Changers


========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Mon Mar  4 16:26:36 2013
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2013 16:26:30
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: URGENT: Thank your legislator for supporting Solar!

An action item from Jim.  Please take a moment to help out with this action
item if you're able and interested!

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis


 Hi Shannon, is SJC  folks aware of this?  We  intend to alert   our
lelgislator  in Aitkin  County.
Cheers-  jim Lynskey

  _____

  <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/Articles/MN_350_simple_logo.jpg>

Greetings from MN350,

Your State Representative Raymond Dehn is sponsoring  an important bill to
increase solar  energy  in Minnesota.  We are so grateful for his
leadership, but we are concerned that pressure from  el ectrical Co-Ops who
are heavily lobbying against the bill could be taking a toll.    So we're
asking you to let Rep. Dehn know that you support  his leadership to stand
up for clean energy and a livable climate.

Please call or write today to Rep. Dehn to thank him for co-authoring the
<http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://wwwmYdOtmepartnershipmYdOtorg/billtracker/2013-solar-energy-jobs-act/>
 2013 Solar Energy Jobs Act (
<http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://wwwmYdOtmepartnershipmYdOtorg/billtracker/2013-solar-energy-jobs-act/>
 House File 773)! This bill sets the
precedent Minnesota needs to transition into a Clean Energy Economy and help
limit climate change.  Please urge Rep. Dehn to stay strong as she
encounters opposition from the Fossil Fueled electricity co-ops this week
and throughout the session.

Contact Rep. Dehn by calling 651-296-8659 or writing to
<mailto:rep.raymond.dehn [at] house.mn> rep.raymond.dehn [at] house.mn
<mailto:sen.scott.dibble [at] senate.mn>


And last, but not least, once you are done, please let us know
<http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=https://docsmYdOtgooglemYdOtcom/forms/d/1FtKEzh6qbN-AqBLGXW2Et1xtuaRZSseWUklj905aHy4/viewform>
 how you made contact!

To stay plugged in and to continue to advocate for clean energy policy
follow the
<http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://wwwmYdOtmn350mYdOtorg/advance-next-generation-energy/>
 Advance Next Generation Energy Campaign.

In partnership,
Chuck Prentice
MN350 Outreach and Education Co-Chair

Here is some background:
Last week the
<http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://wwwmYdOtmepartnershipmYdOtorg/billtracker/2013-solar-energy-jobs-act/>
 2013 Solar Energy Jobs Act  was heard
by the Energy committees in both chambers. This bill will require 10% of
Minnesota electricity to be Solar generated by 2030, create residential
solar production incentives, and boost Minnesota made Solar panel
manufacturing.

This monumental piece of legislation will create more than 2,000 jobs within
its first year and make Minnesota a leader in renewable energy technologies.
As expected, large electricity co-operatives and the Chamber of Commerce are
in strong opposition. Their arguments echo their arguments from 2007 when
they claimed 25% renewable energy by 2025 was not possible in Minnesota. Not
only have we already achieved our 2025 goal in most of the State, but wind
energy is considered a least cost alternative to coal and nuclear energy.

For a bit of context on what is possible, New Jersey has the same solar
energy resource as Minnesota but it produces more Solar energy per month
than we have in the history of Minnesota. When we put the right policies in
place we can achieve of our Solar potential and strengthen our economy in
the process.

 No more?
<http://1skymn.usnpo.org/index.php?g=mcm.gif.eq.1skymn.eq.jameslynskey [at] 
msn.com.eq.277> You have received this message because you are currently
subscribed to 'LD_59B_List'. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click
unsubscribe
<http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?listInQuestion=75&unsubscribe=jameslynskey%40msn.com&theKey=OYkTFMyKFmTy%40kFK.uik>
 .

========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Wed Mar  6 16:48:18 2013
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2013 16:48:13
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: FW: FYI Renewable Energy Standard hearing rescheduled to 9:00am Friday 
March, 8

Please see info below.  Thank you to Diggitt for finding this information!

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

 From: Diggitt McLaughlin [mailto:diggittmcl [at] gmail.com]
 Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 8:35 PM
 To: Shannon Williams
 Subject: FYI Renewable Energy Standard hearing rescheduled to 9:00am Friday
March, 8

Shannon, this looks like something the climate change group (and maybe other
people) might be interested ikn.

Diggitt

Hi All,

The Renewable Energy Standard hearing has been moved to Friday morning:

Friday, March 8, 2013, 9:00 AM
Room: 118 Capitol
Chair: Rep. Melissa Hortman
Agenda: HF880
<http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/bills/billnum.asp?Billnumber=HF880&ls_year=88&session_year=2013&session_number=0>
  (Hornstein) Renewable energy
standard increased and extended to 2030, solar energy standard established,
renewable energy projects exempted from the certificate of need process,
uniform reporting required of rate impacts of meeting the renewable energy
standard, and treatment and trading of renewable energy credits modified.


You can confirm hearing times using this link:
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/calendarday.aspx

Thanks much,
Kurt Kimber

On Friday, March 1, 2013 5:52:36 AM UTC-6, Kurt Kimber wrote:


The first hearing for legislation mandating 40% of MN's energy to come from
renewables by 2030 (the Renewable Energy Standard) will be held this Monday,
March 4 at the state capitol.  We need to pack this hearing to overflowing.

Renewable Energy Standard
Monday, March 4, 2013
3:30 PM (or 30 minutes after session ends)
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Melissa Hortman

Agenda: HF880
<http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/bills/billnum.asp?Billnumber=HF880&ls_year=88&session_year=2013&session_number=0>
  (Hornstein) Renewable energy
standard increased and extended to 2030, solar energy standard established,
renewable energy projects exempted from the certificate of need process,
uniform reporting required of rate impacts of meeting the renewable energy
standard, and treatment and trading of renewable energy credits modified.

combined MN House and Senate calendar
<http://www.leg.state.mn.us/calendarday.aspx>

Also, below is a link the American Wind Energy Association put together to
support the 40% by 2030 RES push in MN.  All one has to do is put their zip
code in and the webpage will generate a form email to send to their
legislators.  People are free to personalize the form email if they want.
It is a quick and easy way to get messages of support in to legislators.
Please distribute widely and especially into outstate MN.

http://powerofwind.com/action-center/action/expanding-minnesotas-renewable-electricity-supply_1



--
--
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face of peak oil and climate change, please visit
http://www.transitiontc.org.

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--

The goal is to live in such a way that our lives will prove worth dying for.

The one thing that can't be taken from us, even by death,
is the love we give away before we go.

-- Forrest Church

========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Wed Mar 13 09:49:36 2013
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:49:30
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: This is the week! MN Legislators voting on clean energy bills NOW!

Action Alert!

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

 From: abbie.plouff [at] gmail.com [mailto:abbie.plouff [at] gmail.com] On 
Behalf Of
 Abbie Plouff
 Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 4:33 PM
 To: Shannon Williams; Bob McCaa
 Subject: This is the week! MN Legislators voting on clean energy bills NOW!

Hello Shannon and Bob -

Hope you're well! Things have been kind of hectic - I would love if it you
could send this email out to your concerned group.

**

Hello everyone!

This is it! This is the week that our energy bills are being heard, the week
they're getting voted on! We must show our dedication to these bills and
come out in style. Slap on your business attire, and show your support for
these bills.



The MN House Energy Policy Committee will convene Wednesday to hear the 2013
Energy Omnibus Bill. Call your representative in the MN House TODAY and tell
him or her to include increasing the
<https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF0880&version=latest&sess
ion=ls88&session_number=0&session_year=2013> Renewable Energy Standard to
40% by 2030,
<https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF0773&version=latest&sess
ion=ls88&session_number=0&session_year=2013> the Solar Energy Jobs Act, and
the
<https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF0773&version=latest&sess
ion=ls88&session_number=0&session_year=2013> Solar Power Cost Reduction Act
in this year's Energy Omnibus Bill and to support the bill.

 <http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/> Find your legislator's
contact information.

<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FtKEzh6qbN-AqBLGXW2Et1xtuaRZSseWUklj905aHy
4/viewform> Please fill out this form with any feedback once you have
contacted your legislator.

Once you've called your representative, come to the Energy Policy Hearing in
the House.

6:00 PM      House
Meeting Time Note: The committee will meet at 6:15pm or 15 minutes after
session.
 <http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committee.asp?comm=88009> Energy
Policy
Room: 500N State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Melissa Hortman

Thank you all so much for doing the work that you do! I hope to see you
there!


========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Wed Mar 20 09:52:48 2013
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:52:35
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: Senate vote this week on Keystone XL -- how Minnesota can help

I know our own Marcy Leussler showed up for this!  Update below.

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

 From: Julia Nerbonne -- MN350.org [mailto:organizers [at] 350.org]
 Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 1:03 PM
 To: sjc [at] firstunitarian.org
 Subject: Senate vote this week on Keystone XL -- how Minnesota can help

Hello Friends,

Yesterday in the driving snow, over 150 Minnesotans showed up at
Senator Klobuchar's office in Minneapolis to tell her to vote against
a proposal in the Senate that would force construction the Keystone XL
pipeline.

That kind of turnout on short notice in the snow is unheard of, and it
definitely made an impact on the Senator's staff (and the police who
were a bit surprised to see us all there). And it looks like it
worked, for now: after a 40 minute discussion with her staff that
included a spirited explanation of the climate impacts of the tar
sands and a clear message that our growing grassroots movement was
watching her vote closely, it looks like Sen. Klobuchar is leaning
against voting for the pipeline.

Showing up works. Grassroots pressure works. And our movement, working
in solidarity with our friends in Idle No More, the Red Lake Blockade
and many other groups across the state, is making an impact.

But you better believe that the oil industry will be putting on their
own pressure in every way they know how. They'll fight dirty, so we
need to keep up the pressure and keep Sen. Klobuchar from supporting
this pipeline. The best way to do that is to call her office and let
them know that you stand with the folks who showed up yesterday in the
snow.

Can you call now and tell Sen. Klobuchar that she needs to reject this
pipeline?

Here's the number to use: Sen. Klobuchar - (202) 224-3244

Then, click here to report how your call went and to share this call
to action: act.350.org/call/kxl-tier-1-2013/
<http://act.350.org/go/2834?t=1&akid=2828.824190.06EUhg>

Bottom line: We showed Sen. Klobuchar what the movement had to offer.
We are cautiously optimistic that she will now vote no, but it's
important to keep the pressure on until we're totally sure.

So we wait and watch and see what Amy does.  We are certain our
presence has helped her to understand that it is a whole new era of
movements in Minnesota.  We are stronger together.  We will fight for
our future.

In Solidarity,

Julia Nerbonne and the MN350 team

P.S.  If you are interested in the nail biting activity that is
happening in the Minnesota legislature, come to our general membership
meeting on  Wednesday, March 20 at 6:30 pm  We'll be at Kenwood Park
Center, 2101 Franklin Ave. W, Minneapolis, MN 55405.  There will be
many exciting updates as well as representatives from the Clean Energy
and Jobs and Transit for a Stronger Economy campaigns.

P.P.S. - Here's a photo of us on the Senator's doorstep yesterday:

  <https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.350.org/images/350MN_at_Klobuchar_office.jpg>

  <http://act.350.org/o.gif?akid=2828.824190.06EUhg>

  _____

350.org is building a global movement to solve the climate crisis.
Connect with us on Facebook <http://facebook.com/350.org>  and Twitter
<http://twitter.com/350> , and sign up for email alerts
<http://350.org/signup?akid=2828.824190.06EUhg> . You can help power
our work by getting involved locally, sharing your story
<http://local.350.org/stories/?akid=2828.824190.06EUhg> , and donating
here. <http://350.org/donate?akid=2828.824190.06EUhg>

To stop receiving emails from 350.org, click here.
<http://act.350.org/cms/unsubscribe/unsubscribe/?t=2&akid=2828.824190.06EUhg>


========================================================= ***
>From nancy.miller [at] prodigy.net Sun Mar 24 17:23:02 2013
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2013 17:22:58
From: Nancy B. Miller <nancy.miller [at] prodigy.net>
Subject: Climate change networking

As I think you'll agree, networking is an important component of
however we as a congregation want to act in dealing with the
challenges of climate change. In that connection, I had a very useful
conversation this afternoon with one Helen Ackerman, whose name was
given to me by a friend who knows of our common concern. Helen and her
husband, John, are members of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in
the Linden Hills neighborhood; John is a retired Presbyterian
minister.

St. John's, Helen told me, is just beginning, as we are, to think
about how to respond to the challenges of climate change. They've
just recently had several meetings of about twenty people, as we did
in January, to talk about how they'd like to proceed. They've come
up with three basic approaches: political; focus on specific projects
(e.g., making buildings in our community carbon neutral); and
spirituality--I think this means emphasizing humans' connection
with the Earth. Helen thinks her church would agree about the
usefulness of networking.

Helen also told me about an extremely interesting and powerful meeting
last week sponsored by the League of Women Voters at Mayflower
Congregational Church (near the Russian museum). Among several highly
qualified and interesting speakers was J. Drake Hamilton of Fresh
Energy, who will be addressing our Forum next Sunday, March 31. Helen
and others have said she's a terrific presenter, so let's all do
what we can to get a really good turnout at the Forum.

We have a lot on our plates, so to speak, as we Set the Table for the
ministerial candidate arriving in early April, but let us think and
talk--soon--about how we want to engage the whole congregation in
useful work.

Shannon, would you be the point person for getting responses from all
those I've cc'd on the message and start thinking about when we
might meet to do some brainstorming on how to proceed as a
congregation?

And You, the CC'd, would you tell Shannon your thoughts? (cc-ing me,
natch)

Nancy
========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Mon Mar 25 10:54:47 2013
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:54:43
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: RE: Climate change networking

Here is an upcoming event at the UU of Minnetonka that might be the
perfect place to meet some interfaith/climate change partners.  The
event is on Friday, April 12.

"Climate Change: What Do We Really Know?"
Hurricanes, floods, droughts, heat waves, and wildfires are all
naturally-occurring phenomena that happened long before the current
rise in global temperatures. But things have changed. Prolonged
droughts across the heartland of the U.S., the destruction caused by
Hurricane Sandy, glaciers melting faster than any time in history,
coral reefs dying, and the 12 hottest years on record in the last 15
years are but a few indicators of the concerns about climate change.
To learn more, join three local churches at a climate-change forum.
Registration opens at 6:30, event starts at 7:00. Free. This event is
co-sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka
(UUCM), St. Luke Presbyterian Church, and St. Edward the Confessor
Episcopal Church and is supported by MN350.org, Cool Planet, and
Interfaith Power and Light. All are welcome.

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis


========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Mon Mar 25 11:19:10 2013
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:19:06
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: Proposed climate change meeting

Hi all,

What do you think about meeting after the Eat & Meet on April 10?  The
new minister will be attending the Eat & Meet so there is not a
program planned for after.

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Wed Mar 27 13:22:34 2013
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:22:22
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: Next meeting of the CCC

Hello Climate Change Changers!

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 10 following the Eat & Meet
(6:30/6:45).

If you have any agenda items, please send them to me and I will compile an
agenda.

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Thu Mar 28 13:29:53 2013
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:29:46
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: Tweak to climate change meeting

Hi everyone,

I didn't realize that when I set our next meeting for after Eat & Meet that
the ministerial candidate is having an open Q&A after the Eat & Meet.  I'm
assuming you'd like to attend that.  So, if it's okay with you, let's have
an informal meeting while we eat.  If you're able, please come at 5:45.
We'll grab a table and get a couple things out of the way before food is
served at 6.  The Q&A starts at 7.  Thanks for your understanding and
flexibility!

I hope you can make it to the Fresh Energy forum on Sunday morning!  I will
also plan to make an announcement during forum and assembly about our group,
and the social justice offering will be for Fresh Energy.

I can/will bring some next step ideas to our meeting.  If you have any
thoughts or ideas, please send them my way so I can compile all ideas into a
document before the meeting.

Happy Thursday!

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

========================================================= ***
>From carydberg [at] comcast.net Sat Mar 30 14:55:58 2013
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:55:46
From: Carole Rydberg <carydberg [at] comcast.net>
Subject: Re: Next meeting of the CCC

I'm sorry but Rog and I will be leaving MN on April 9th on our first of
several trips to be with our younger daughter in New Hampshire. Keep up
the good work!
Carole

========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Wed Apr  3 10:28:08 2013
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2013 10:27:47
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: State Climate Change Action Items

 From the Interfaith Power and Light group.

Time to Step Up!  Promote groundbreaking legislation at the State Capitol

As you may know exciting things are happening at the MN State capitol that
give us the opportunity to step up and take action!  Some of you were
involved back in 2007 when the Next Generation Energy Act was passed.  Well
we are back at it again.  And going for the gold.

There are several opportunities for MNIPL members to get involved in the
next few weeks to advance groundbreaking carbon reduction legislation. We
are working in collaboration with two major statewide coalitions.  Please
take a minute to click the hyper-links and read about these exciting
efforts.

--The  <http://www.transit4mn.org/> Transit for a Stronger Economy Coalition
is seeking to raise $332 million annually for transportation improvement
across Minnesota.

--The  <http://www.cleanenergyjobs.mn/> MN Clean Energy and Jobs Campaign is
advocating for 40% Renewable Energy Standard, a 10% Solar Energy Standard,
and broad energy efficiency measures.

There are two ways that you can get involved in helping to pass this
landmark legislation.

1. Become part of the MNIPL legislative rapid response team

Attend Finance Committee Hearings.  This is really important because while
the bill has passed through the Energy and Environment committees in the
Senate and House, the next step is the Finance Committee which has less of
an internal favor toward environmental issues. We need as many people as
possible to come to the finance committee hearings. We don't have a time for
those hearings yet, but they will be happening within the next week or so.

Are you interested in becoming part of the MNIPL legislative rapid response
team?  We are working with a great group lead by MN350 coordinator Abbie
Plouff.

Sign up to be on the rapid response team
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17YUOLSGQaNMlP6ToW9m6UPXzSs2Z3PDfudNca9iyup
c/viewform>  here.

2. Attend the Clean Energy Jobs Day of Action

This Earth Day, we have an exciting opportunity to get involved in a Clean
Energy Jobs Day of Action. Registration starts at 9:30 am, followed by lobby
training and meetings with your representatives. At 3 pm, we will fill the
rotunda for a rally in support of clean energy. We will update you soon with
an agenda for the day, including our very exciting speakers at the rally.

<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BwLai5qO_cdm1-2IAAP_hHQTT5UKvbnE6rdtbVty5P
I/viewform>

<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BwLai5qO_cdm1-2IAAP_hHQTT5UKvbnE6rdtbVty5P
I/viewform> Register here for the Day of Action!

Thank you so much for your time and energy. We really can't combat climate
change without the input of a diverse group of people, and communities of
faith are absolutely essential to the effort.

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

========================================================= ***
>From carydberg [at] comcast.net Sat Apr  6 20:56:10 2013
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2013 20:56:04
From: Carole Rydberg <carydberg [at] comcast.net>
Subject: Re: State Climate Change Action Items

We will be in New Hampshire but I am passing this info along about a
climate program at the Wayzata UU Church. Know anyone in that area who
might be interested?
Carole

*Climate Change: What Do We Really Know?*

*
Hurricanes, floods, droughts, heat waves, and wildfires are all
naturally-occurring phenomena that happened long before the current rise
in global temperatures. But things have changed. Prolonged droughts
across the heartland of the U.S., the destruction caused by Hurricane
Sandy, glaciers melting faster than any time in history, coral reefs
dying, and the 12 hottest years on record in the last 15 years are but a
few indicators of the concerns about climate change.*

**

*To learn more, join three local churches at a climate-change forum.*

*Friday April 12, 2013 7:00--9:00 PM*

*This event is co-sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of
Minnetonka (UUCM), St. Luke Presbyterian Church, and St. Edward the
Confessor Episcopal Church and is supported by MN350.org, Cool Planet,
and Interfaith Power and Light and is open to all.

**

*Where:**
*Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka*
*605 Rice Street, Wayzata, MN 55364*

*
*6:30 -- 7:00: Registration, social gathering and information tables*
*7:00 -- 8:00: Guest speaker -- Prof. Dr. John Abraham, Univ of St. Thomas**
*8:00 -- 8:30: Representatives from MN350.org, Cool Planet, and
Interfaith Power and Light will share what their organizations are doing
about climate change and things you can do.*
*8:30 -- 9:00: informal conversation**

*Guest Speaker: Professor Abraham is actively involved in a research
project mapping ocean-temperatures to improve understanding of how ocean
temperatures rise as the Earth warms. He is also a nationwide Climate
Change Rapid Response Team member.*

*This event is free. Free will donations accepted.

**

*No advance registration is need. Please join us!*

*Contact information:**
*Kathryn Richmond*
*UUCM Social Justice Ministry*
**office [at] uucmtka.org* <mailto:office [at] uucmtka.org>*.*



========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Mon Apr  8 11:06:12 2013
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2013 11:05:59
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: Please SIGN ON to protect Minnesota from Frac Sand Mining!

Please see info below about Minnesota and frac sand mining.

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

Below find a SIGN ON PETITION in support of bills before the MN state
legislature that would require a moratorium on frac sand mining, while an
environmental study is done. This study would create a basis for standards
to protect sensitive Minnesota lands and waters from the Frac Sand Mining
rush that has devastated Wisconsin landscapes and communities. Silica sand
dust exposures are also a very serious health concern. Please circulate as
quickly and widely as you can!
Thank you!


Dear UU colleagues and friends:
The frac sand mining rush in Wisconsin has devastated rural landscapes and
communities. There were only 5 mining sites 5 years ago. There are now over
70 mining, processing and transportation sites constructed, with more
operations under construction or in permitting phases.
http://www.wisconsinwatch.org/viz/fracmap/.

Regulation cannot keep up. With the help of citizen watchdogs, the Wisconsin
DNR has recently sent letters of noncompliance to 80 to 90 percent of the
sites. Most complaints were about dust, but the majority of violations were
for stormwater and impacts to adjacent waterways.
http://www.wisconsinwatch.org/2013/03/03/frac-sand-dnr-violations/

Like the serious spill of holding ponds into the St. Croix river last year,
frac sand mining affects ecologies far beyond the border of the mines. Frac
sand hauling operations from Wisconsin are crossing into Minnesota,
threatening the quality of life and tourist economies of our historic river
towns along the Mississippi Great River Road. Hundreds of trucks daily are
heading across bridges and through towns, to load freight cars. These trains
are headed through the Twin Cities, oil and gas fracking sites across the
country.

Please review the call to action below, and sign this petition telling our
legislators to protect Minnesota!
http://signon.org/sign/mn-legislature-stop-the?mailing_id=11111
<http://signon.org/sign/mn-legislature-stop-the?mailing_id=11111&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=1917642>
 &source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=1917642

Thanks!

Dear Friends:
Minnesota Senate File 786, which would impose a moratorium on new or
expanded frac sand mining until an in-depth environmental study has been
completed, has made it through two committees and is now awaiting a hearing
in the Environment and Agriculture Finance Committee. The success of this
initiative is far from certain, however. Because
Senate File 786 has no House companion, we need the provisions in this bill
incorporated in the Omnibus Environment and Agriculture Finance Bill. And as
debate over that issue heats up, we can count on more opposition from the
frac-sand industry.

Hundreds of concerned Minnesota citizens and friends have already signed our
petition in support of Senate File 786. But by the time we deliver this
petition to Senate and House leaders in the next few weeks, we'd like to
have thousands of signatures. We urgently need to let our legislators know
just how passionately Minnesotans feel about this industry's potential
impact on health, infrastructure, water quality, agriculture and tourism.
So, if you haven't done so already, please share this email with your
friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers and ask them to also sign the
petition.
http://signon.org/sign/mn-legislature-stop-the?mailing_id=11111
<http://signon.org/sign/mn-legislature-stop-the?mailing_id=11111&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=1917642>
 &source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=1917642

The frac sand industry is well-funded and politically savvy, so we need your
support in this fight. If you have questions any questions, feel free to
email me. Sincere gratitude for your time and energy.

Best,
Tracy Sides

P.S. Please consider attending a screening of the new frac sand film
documentary, "The Price of Sand," at Minneapolis' Riverview Theater on
Wednesday, May 1st!
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e74xq15y5164a56b
<http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e74xq15y5164a56b&llr=paeiz6jab>
 &llr=paeiz6jab

========================================================= ***
>From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Wed Apr 10 14:42:25 2013
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:42:21
From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org>
Subject: CCC Reminder

Sorry for not sending out a reminder sooner!

For those who can make it - the Climate Change Changers will meet during
dinner at the Eat & Meet.  6:00 p.m. in the Lower Assembly Hall.  The goal
is to start working on our plan of action.

If you can't make the meeting tonight, please forward your ideas for
internal (within FUS) and external (state, national, or international)
action.

My family is headed to WI for the weekend to visit family and attend a
wedding.  We were planning on leaving in the morning, but with the weather
forecast, we are going to head out of town this afternoon.  Nancy will be
leading the meeting tonight.  (Thank you, Nancy).

See you all soon!  I'll be back in the office on Monday.

Shannon Williams
Social Justice Coordinator
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

========================================================= ***
>From nancy.miller [at] prodigy.net Thu Apr 11 13:14:04 2013
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:13:58
From: Nancy B. Miller <nancy.miller [at] prodigy.net>
Subject: Climate Change Changers

Hi, Shannon--

I trust you and yours arrived safely at your destination--and, of
course, that you're checking your email every fifteen minutes to
keep up with us, so here's a brief report on the CCC meeting
yesterday.

It was a small group that gathered--Marcy, the Lundquists, Demi,
Diggitt, Bill Karns, and me. I intend to send your excellent notes
about possible courses of action out to the group who met yesterday
and to a number of others who, I know, would have liked but were
unable to be there.  Few as we were, we were able to cover some
important points.

Marcy reminded us that FUS had been designated a Green Sanctuary in
recognition of our energy conservation efforts some years ago.  Demi
will check with his Cherokee Park church to learn and report back to
us details of their solar installations.

Marcy invited us to attend lobbying events at the Capitol on Monday,
April 22, when the legislature will address questions regarding clean
energy and new, higher energy standards. We agreed that it would be
useful to extend the invitation to FUS members via the Exchange. Car
pooling will be encouraged.

Marcy suggested that it would be useful to have postcards available at
the SJC table for FUS members to use in contacting legislators before
the end of the current legislative session (we'll determine when
that will be).

Mary Ann said she would be willing to head up an LED light-bulb sale
sometime in early fall. She hopes she might get an enabling grant from
the Foundation to help with financing.

This would be an excellent way to get FUS members' attention to and
involvement in climate change activities.

Mary Ann also said she would check with the Foundation about
divestment of any investments it may have in environmentally
undesirable companies, although it would probably be hard to check
mutual funds because of the diversity of their holdings.

We did not fix a date for the next CCC meeting, there being so few of
us there.

All best--and travel safely home.

Nancy