| Other January 2013 messages | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Fred H Olson (fholson cohousing.org)
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| Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:44:23 -0700 (PDT) | |
January 2013 messages Index (Search for *** repeatedly to find messages below) Wed, 16 Jan wanda mccaa Last night's meeting follow up Wed, 16 Jan Diggitt McLaughlin Re: Last night's meeting follow up Wed, 16 Jan wanda mccaa Fw: Fresh Energy & carbon tax in Minnesota : Next Generation Energy Act 2007 Thu, 17 Jan Shannon Williams Next Climate Change Group Meeting Thu, 17 Jan Robert McCaa 100 days of climate action. Re: Next Climate Change Group Meeting Thu, 17 Jan Demi Miller Minnesota legislators and scientists team up on climate change Thu, 17 Jan Audrey Kingstrom Re: 100 days of climate action. Re: Next Climate Change Group Meeting Thu, 17 Jan Nancy B. Miller Re: 100 days of climate action. Re: Next Climate Change Group Meeting Fri, 18 Jan Carole Rydberg Info on next week at the Legislature Fri, 18 Jan Diggitt McLaughlin Re: 100 days of climate action. Re: Next Climate Change Group Meeting Fri, 18 Jan Nancy B. Miller Re: Info on next week at the Legislature Fri, 18 Jan wanda mccaa Fw: Thanks & 100 Days of Climate Action Calendar Sat, 19 Jan Carole Rydberg Good info from MN350 Sun, 20 Jan Demi Miller Even the Ramsey Co. Garden Club - is hosting a Lecture on Climate Change ! Wed, 23 Jan Robert McCaa Climate hearing at the State Capitol: riveting expert testimony, packed room Re: Good info from MN350 Wed, 23 Jan Shannon Williams Fresh Energy to speak at March 17 Forum Wed, 23 Jan Shannon Williams Events of interest... Mon, 28 Jan Shannon Williams Reminder - Meeting this Wednesday Mon, 28 Jan Carole Rydberg Re: Reminder - Meeting this Wednesday .... and Demi ... how Tue, 29 Jan Robert McCaa NYT: tools to tackle climate change Re: Reminder - Meeting this Wednesday Wed, 30 Jan Demi Miller More tools to tackle climate change Re: Reminder - Meeting this Wednesday Wed, 30 Jan Demi Miller Al Gore's visit & George Monbiot Thu, 31 Jan Shannon Williams Notes from Wednesday's meeting ========================================================= *** >From wmccaa [at] yahoo.com Wed Jan 16 13:11:45 2013 Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:11:44 From: wanda mccaa <wmccaa [at] yahoo.com> Subject: Last night's meeting follow up Dear CCC (if that is us) I took the sign in list last night and now have a group email list I hope. This is a test of it. Please let me know if it is wrong in some way that you can figure out. Wanda McCaa ========================================================= *** >From diggittmcl [at] gmail.com Wed Jan 16 14:49:45 2013 Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:49:02 From: Diggitt McLaughlin <diggittmcl [at] gmail.com> Subject: Re: Last night's meeting follow up You have Demi's and my email addresses right. Thanks for doing this. Diggitt ========================================================= *** >From wmccaa [at] yahoo.com Wed Jan 16 20:42:24 2013 Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:42:22 From: wanda mccaa <wmccaa [at] yahoo.com> Subject: Fw: Fresh Energy & carbon tax in Minnesota : Next Generation Energy Act 2007 Her is a message from Bob. He would be happy to have any of you join him. It is also a second check of our email list with some additions and corrections. Wanda ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Robert McCaa <rmccaa [at] umn.edu> To: 'wanda mccaa' <wmccaa [at] yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 8:32 PM Subject: Fresh Energy & carbon tax in Minnesota : Next Generation Energy Act 2007 Hello, I liked Fred's idea of the carbon tax--more comprehensive then promoting solar, wind, etc. Fresh Energy seems to be quite active and is launching 100 days of climate action, beginning Jan 23. http://fresh-energy.org/2013/01/launching-100-days-of-climate-action/ Tomorrow, Thurs, there is a breakfast meeting at Common Roots: Thursday, January 17, 8:30AM - 10:00AM Common Roots 2558 Lyndale Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota I will go. Turns out in 2007, Minnesota enacted the "Next Generation Energy Act" which taxes coal-fired electricity generation. Here's a report from STRIB in 2010: http://www.startribune.com/business/81606907.html?refer=y Bob. Robert McCaa Professor of Population History Ambassador, IPUMS-International Minnesota Population Center, 50 Willey Hall 225 19th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA global cell: 1+952.33.IPUMS (952.334.7867) fax: 1+612.626.8375 http://www.hist.umn.edu/~rmccaa https://international.ipums.org alternate email: robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com ========================================================= *** >From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Thu Jan 17 14:42:44 2013 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:42:37 From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org> Subject: Next Climate Change Group Meeting Hello everyone! Please mark your calendars for the next gathering of the FUS climate change work group: Wednesday, January 30 7 - 8:30 p.m. Dietrich Room Shannon Williams Social Justice Coordinator First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis ========================================================= *** >From robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com Thu Jan 17 16:42:37 2013 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:42:25 From: Robert McCaa <robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com> Subject: 100 days of climate action. Re: Next Climate Change Group Meeting Hello FUS Climate Action Group, Thanks to Nancy and the energy from the meeting, this morning I went to 100 Days of Climate Action at Common Grounds hosted by Sierra Club and Fresh Energy. The room was packed with ~30 representatives from various groups with lots of enthusiasm, ideas, and plans. An amazing amout of exchanging info, networking, etc. in barely an hour! (plus free coffee, bagels, scones, and more!) My raw notes are pasted at the end of this. If you would like to chat about a specific item, please phone me at home: 612.378.0660 The web site that I used as a starting point is: http://fresh-energy.org/ Some suggestions gleaned at Common Grounds: 1. Legislative hearings by Sen. Marty on environment, next Tues and Thurs, 12-2. If you would like to car-pool from our place (covered visitor parking 1235 Yale Place), I will leave at 11:20 and could take as many as 3 or 4 riders (phone to let me know that you are coming). Bodies are needed to pack the hearing room. There will be no opportunity for testimony. Look, listen, learn and network. 2. National Preach-in (or was it Teach-in?) on Climate Feb 8-10 - is it too late for FUS to tie in? 3. Downtown Ministers group with leadership from Plymouth Congregational will try to build a coaltion on climage change (similar to opposition to marriage referendum) 4. Feb 17 - climate rally in DC. want to turn out hundreds of thousands. 5. continue to build action to climax on earth day My smart-phone notes: 100 days climate action Jessica.tatro @ sierraclub.org plays in FUS orchestra (or sings in chorus). Jay drake hamilton fresh energy- dynamic speaker. she offered to speak to any group, particularly republicans and fence-sitters on climate. Jim Lenfestey wrote the STRIB op ed: Plymouth Congregational will promote climate change action with Downtown Ministerial association clean air defense coalition 10 states upper midwest. Climate assessment came out friday from pew: Pew clean energy report pewenvironment.org/cleanenergy See report on minnpost.com Next week sen marty hearing t&th environment. Noon - 2pm. Fill the room. Mn350 divestment. Franken clean energy top priority Dennis mckenna (grad St. Thomas, a Minnesotan!) is Obama chief of staff. Write him to congratulate and encourage. Need republicans in 2 nd & 3rd districts to call kline and P. to support. Natl preach in on climate mipl.org 2/8-10 2/17 climate rally in dc 2/20 bill mckibben speak at st thpmas. See flyer Pew clean energy report pewenvironment.org/cleanenergy. Minnpost.com Has environment page with excellent reporting Kline is a fly fisherman. Relate in a depoliticized way District is more democratic. Step outside our safety zone to talk to others. Get in new circles. Ellison bill to stop fossil fuel subsidies. Thank al .F & amy K. for supporting Ellison. Minneapolis: Push mayor & city council candidates to make climate issues top priority. MPIRG: Precinct caucuses support referendum to municipalize city energy (or at least drive a harder bargain with Centerpoint on the 20 yr renewal). Post a story on the fresh energy blog about fus energy award. Mar 10 st thomas. Speak up. Leadership training. Cool planet. ========================================================= *** >From peersupport [at] earthlink.net Thu Jan 17 18:24:06 2013 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:23:50 From: Demi Miller <peersupport [at] earthlink.net> Subject: Minnesota legislators and scientists team up on climate change Hi Friends, This was just posted on one of my list-serves. Very appropriate to our focus: =================== http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/187059651.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue Minnesota legislators and scientists team up on climate change Article by: JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY and BILL MCAULIFFE , Star Tribune Updated: January 16, 2013 - 5:37 AM Five researchers described the environmental challenges ahead. Science made a comeback at the State Capitol on Tuesday. Five of Minnesota's most prominent researchers on agriculture, land use, weather and climate change gave a room packed with legislators a quick but sweeping summary of the global environmental problems facing the state. They touched on floods, drought, massive thunderstorms, a changing forest, invasive bugs and rising demand for groundwater. The point, Reps. Jean Wagenius and Alice Hausman said, is that the DFL-controlled House intends to base new laws and policy decisions -- especially those related to climate change -- on research rather than dogma. "It's science vs. ideology," said Hausman, a DFLer from St. Paul and chairwoman of the House Capital Investment Committee, describing a debate that is going on nationally as well. "There are still some that question the science." It was the first of five joint committee hearings on looming environmental issues scheduled between now and the end of January. The others will focus more narrowly on groundwater, changes in infrastructure to handle extreme weather events and air pollution. Wagenius, chairwoman of the House Environment Committee, said Tuesday's hearing was designed to give legislators the big perspective "at a graduate level" on the connections between climate change and the way Minnesotans use their natural resources through agriculture, water demand and forestry. But some in the room questioned the premise. "There is science and experts, and then there is political debate," said Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano. "And one side questions the authenticity of global warming. How do you know, if we are looking at only 200 years?" New highs and new lows The hearing came on the same day that the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced 2012 was the 10th-warmest year globally since 1880 and the 36th in a row with an annual temperature above the 20th-century average. This century's 12 years all rank among the 14 warmest on record. Last year was the warmest on record across the United States and third-warmest for Minnesota. Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota climatologist, used complex charts and graphs to explain that it is not the change in weather trends alone that threatens disastrous consequences -- it is the pace of change. Temperatures might rise faster than people or nature can adapt, Seeley said. For instance, he said, the huge storms that caused damaging floods in Duluth in June resulted in the largest discharge of water recorded from the St. Louis River. Yet five months later the St. Louis River also recorded its lowest discharge. And though the big storms dump enormous amounts of water on the land, they are so intense that much of the water runs off before it can soak into the ground and into the aquifers. That, combined with drought in some parts of the state, is creating significant problems for farmers, Seeley said. "Many of our soil moistures are at the lowest levels we have ever recorded," he said. The changes also raise critical questions about water use in Minnesota -- a "headwater state" that gets all its water from the sky in the form of rain and snow. That's both good and bad, said Harvey Thorleifson, director of the Minnesota Geological Survey. "We have control over it, but we are vulnerable to drought," he said. Looking to solutions But there are solutions as well. Bonnie Keeler, a University of Minnesota graduate student who studies the economics of land use, said conservation efforts in the right place can pay enormous dividends in protecting water, development, recreation and health. "The benefits are greater than the costs," she said. Nick Jordan, a U professor of agronomy and plant genetics, told the committees that agriculture can help reduce Minnesota's greenhouse-gas emissions through development of biofuels. He also described a new type of crop called pennygrass that farmers could plant after harvesting soybeans; it holds water and soil on the land, provides critical forage for bees, and could boost profits by $300 per acre. Peter Reich, a forestry professor, said that though it's impossible to predict how or how quickly Minnesota's northern forests will change, it could be possible to move in warmer-species trees, native to places like Iowa, to establish a different but more resilient woods. "We have to realize we've already messed with nature. And nature may not fix itself," he said. But even those who accept the science said it doesn't solve the daunting political problem of climate change. "I don't have an answer for my colleagues who see this as a natural event," said Rep. John Benson, DFL-Minnetonka. Nevertheless, the climate challenges must be faced, said Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, even if only "in bites." "Can we handle the whole of climate change? No," she said. "But we can take factual research and move on that. We'd be irresponsible if we didn't." -in Love and Peace, -Demi Miller "Whenever people say, 'We mustn't be sentimental,' - you can take it they are about to do something cruel. And if they add, 'We must be realistic,' - they mean they are going to make money out of it." --Brigid Brophy "We know how to transform this world to reduce our impact on nature by several fold, how to provide meaningful, dignified living-wage jobs for all who seek them, and how to feed, clothe, and house every person on earth. What we don't know is how to remove those in power, those whose ignorance of biology is matched only by their indifference to human suffering. This is a political issue. It is not an ecological problem." -Paul Hawken, from a speech at the Bioneers conference in Oct. 2002 ========================================================= *** >From akingstrom [at] comcast.net Thu Jan 17 21:22:06 2013 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:22:03 From: Audrey Kingstrom <akingstrom [at] comcast.net> Subject: Re: 100 days of climate action. Re: Next Climate Change Group Meeting Bob this is fabulous! Thanks for your initiative. I would join you in a car-pool next Tues.--if you have room. Or, I could drive if there were more people who wanted to go-and give rides also. Right now, I'll plan to go with you unless you are full. Audrey ========================================================= *** >From nancy.miller [at] prodigy.net Thu Jan 17 23:11:20 2013 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:11:17 From: Nancy B. Miller <nancy.miller [at] prodigy.net> Subject: Re: 100 days of climate action. Re: Next Climate Change Group Meeting You all are just the best bunch I ever encountered!! Thank you so much for your wits, your imagination, your savvy, and your commitment to this profoundly important cause. I wish I could go with you on Tuesday, but I have to go elserwhere. But when I get back......! Nancy ========================================================= *** >From carydberg [at] comcast.net Fri Jan 18 05:40:18 2013 Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:40:11 From: Carole Rydberg <carydberg [at] comcast.net> Subject: Info on next week at the Legislature Hello Shannon and all "CCC" members: First, just some hints (perhaps out of date) regarding parking in the area of the Capitol: I haven't been there regularly in quite a while now but there were times when I would park in the Sears parking lot to go to Legislative hearings (or to marches). However, there was an employee in a white truck who would follow you and chase you away (and you could be ticketed) if he saw you parking in that lot and then head toward the Capitol! Sometimes I would be tricky and park on the west side of the Sears store,go into the Sears store from the west side, walk through the store, and exit on the east side and head to the Capitol... and then he did not chase me! Generally, however, I would park on the side streets south or east of the McDonald's on University and walk over. If it is extremely cold, you can also go into the State Office Building, go down one flight of stairs, and walk through the tunnel to the Capitol. You may find closer parking but the streets near the McDonalds was always my backup plan if things were crowded. Perhaps I am just too cheap to use lots and meters even if they are empty! Does anyone want to share other suggestions for parking, etc.? Simply want to share more details about the Climate Change Hearings (and others) at the Legislature next week. As you know, the most important ones to attend are the Climate Change hearings of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee (John Marty, chair) in room 107 of the Capitol on Tuesday and Thursday. WAMM is suggesting that people bring signs, by the way. On Tuesday, there is a session of the Senate scheduled at noon. Apparently it is expected to be a VERY short meeting because the Marty hearing is to begin at 12:30 "or 15 minutes after" the Senate session ends. IF Room 107 in the Capitol is so crowded that you can't get into the room (happy thought) you could go to room 5 in the State Office Building (SOB) and go to the House Energy Committee (Melissa Hortman, chair). It will simply be on electric utilities but will give you a chance to get a feel for that committee IF you can't get into the Climate Change Hearing. That meeting is also scheduled to start at 12:30 ... although the House is also having a session of the whole at noon so perhaps it will begin a little late also. On Thursday the 24th, there is no meeting of the Senate at noon and so the Climate Change Hearing will be having the second half of the hearing at noon on that day in the same room, Capitol rm. 107. If you are really into this and want to arrive early on Thursday, however, you may want to drop by room 200 in the SOB any time after 8:15 for the House Committee on Capitol Investment - Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Finance Committee. Their topic that morning will be "Discussion of extreme weather resiliency" which could also be quite interesting and is, of course, also connected to climate change. That is a committee that we will also be interested in as the legislative session continues. Simply being present does give one a feel for the various members. By the way, I have lists of the members of all committees and the ones who may be most familiar to us may be Frank Hornstein and Yvonne Selcer on the House Energy Committee, John Benson (a dear old friend) and Jean Wagenius on the House Energy Com., and Scott Dibble on the Marty Committee. P.S Also, there are cafeterias in the lower levels of both the Capitol and SOB. Hope to see you at the Capitol and at the meeting at FUS on the 30th. Thank you Nancy, Shannon, Bob .... and ALL, Carole Rydberg ========================================================= *** >From diggittmcl [at] gmail.com Fri Jan 18 11:25:01 2013 Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:24:18 From: Diggitt McLaughlin <diggittmcl [at] gmail.com> Subject: Re: 100 days of climate action. Re: Next Climate Change Group Meeting How about getting Jay Drake Hamilton to do a forum? Diggitt ========================================================= *** >From nancy.miller [at] prodigy.net Fri Jan 18 11:46:56 2013 Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:46:55 From: Nancy B. Miller <nancy.miller [at] prodigy.net> Subject: Re: Info on next week at the Legislature What a stupendous resource you are, Carole! That goes, too, for all you wonderful people who came to the meeting last Tuesday. I'm still glowing! I'm sorry I'll miss the Capitol visit next week because I'll be in Mexico until February 5, but I'm sure I'll catch up on it and a lot more on my return. Many, many thanks to you all! Nancy ========================================================= *** >From wmccaa [at] yahoo.com Fri Jan 18 14:06:44 2013 Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:06:39 From: wanda mccaa <wmccaa [at] yahoo.com> Subject: Fw: Thanks & 100 Days of Climate Action Calendar NOTE: there were 4 attached files to this message. They can be found at: http://justcomm.org/fusclimate/100DaysofClimateActionMNInternalCalendar.pdf http://justcomm.org/fusclimate/ClimateLegacy1pager.pdf http://justcomm.org/fusclimate/ClimateLegacyOutline.pdf http://justcomm.org/fusclimate/ClimateStoryWorksheet.doc ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Jessica Tatro <jessica.tatro [at] sierraclub.org> To: robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 10:39 AM Subject: Thanks & 100 Days of Climate Action Calendar Hello! Thanks again for joining Sierra Club & Fresh Energy for 100 Days of Climate Action Campaign Launch yesterday! It was great to hear about all the amazing work going on to protect our planet from climate change. We're excited to work with you all to call on the Obama Administration to make climate a priority! 100 DAYS OF CLIMATE ACTION CALENDAR I have added all of the existing events and notes into a 100 Days of Climate Action Internal Calendar on google docs. You can add events as they arise (or details to existing events) by clicking this link or e-mailing me at jessica.tatro [at] sierraclub.org. You can share this calendar with others with this link (which does not allow editing). I have also attached a pdf copy of the current calendar. See: http://justcomm.org/fusclimate/100DaysofClimateActionMNInternalCalendar.pdf TAKE ACTION! Thanks to everyone who filled out our 100 Days of Action Sheet yesterday. If you did not get a chance to let us know how you will contribute to 100 Days of Action and/or if you did not get to share your story about why you take action against climate change, you can fill out the attached Climate Story Worksheet and send it back to me. See http://justcomm.org/fusclimate/ClimateStoryWorksheet.doc Also, as requested, here is alink to send Obama a message to lead on climate. Thanks again, and have a great weekend! Link to edit calendar: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TZKzwQTN24z3Rp2FSQ3I_hnYmB29xj4A43inclQhzac/edit Link to share calendar: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TZKzwQTN24z3Rp2FSQ3I_hnYmB29xj4A43inclQhzac/pub-- Jessica Tatro Organizing Representative Sierra Club Beyond Coal to Clean Energy Campaign 2327 E Franklin Ave. #1 Minneapolis, MN 55406 (612) 659-9124 ext 309 phone (612) 963-9642 cell ========================================================= *** >From carydberg [at] comcast.net Sat Jan 19 07:33:52 2013 Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 07:33:49 From: Carole Rydberg <carydberg [at] comcast.net> Subject: Good info from MN350 Dear friends, It is time to take the first actionable steps in the Advance Next Generation Energy campaign and we need you ! In 2007 a landmark piece of legislation was passed in Minnesota. The Next Generation Energy Act set science-based goals on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy dependency, and overall energy conservation. We are not on track to achieve most of these goals! Minnesota legislators need to hear from you to Advance Next Generation Energy -- to take the necessary bold steps to addressing climate change. Join us! We ask you to take action in one of these three ways: 1) Attend the State Senate Environment and Energy Committee Climate Hearing on Thursday, Jan 24th from 12-2:30pm. This is our chance to set the tone and urgency of climate change action by packing the room! Sign up here if you're interested in attending a hearing. <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=https://docsmYdOtgooglemYdOtcom/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGE0NmltVXFpNzBpUkh3WjhRaFRkeVE6MQ#gid=0> (See below for details) 2) Contact Governor Dayton's office today <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://mnmYdOtgov/governor/contact-us/> . Help encourage Governor Dayton to take his first step of many in confronting climate change this session. We want to apply pressure to Governor Dayton to mention climate change during the State of the State Address on Feb. 6th, 2013. (See below for details) 3) Tell your legislator that you want Minnesota to Advance Next Generation Energy. Call their office, write a letter, and/or schedule a meeting to talk about the issues that matter to you. Contact your legislators now! <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://wwwmYdOtlegmYdOtstatemYdOtmnmYdOtus/leg/faq/faqtocmYdOtaspx?id=47> Now is the time to lead our leaders in advancing policies and laws that match the magnitude of the climate crisis. Your voice matters, your presence will make a difference -- take a few minutes and reach out to your legislator and Governor Dayton and tell your neighbors and friends to do the same. Many thanks, Abbie ANGE Campaign Manager ------------------------------------------------------------------------ More Information on Above Actions: 1) Climate Hearings When: Thursday, January 24 from 12:00-2:30 (if you can't make this one, join us on Tuesday, January 22) Where : Minnesota State Capitol. Committee room 107 What: The Senate Environment and Energy Committee is holding two hearings next week on Climate Change. This is an opportunity to show legislators the public wants bold legislative action today. Why: There is a need to tell legislators the public wants bold Climate Change legislation, now. Sign up here if you're interested in attending a hearing. <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=https://docsmYdOtgooglemYdOtcom/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGE0NmltVXFpNzBpUkh3WjhRaFRkeVE6MQ#gid=0> BOLD COLORS REPRESENT BOLD ACTION: wear bright and bold colored scarfs, shirts, pants, etc. over your business attire to stand out in the crowd! If you feel so inspired, bring a sign. 2) Contact Governor Dayton's office today <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://mnmYdOtgov/governor/contact-us/> . We in the ANGE campaign would like to see the Governor to take his first step of many in confronting climate change this session. We want to apply pressure to Governor Dayton to mention Climate Change during the State Of The State Address on Feb. 6th, 2013. Here's an example of what you could say: We know Governor Dayton cares about the environment because of Executive Order 11-32 and the resurrection of the Environmental Quality Board and Environmental Congress. Minnesotans across the state turned out for 6 citizen forums in 2012 and hundreds more are submitting their comments. We are asking him to acknowledge this passion and the movement we're building by mentioning climate change in the State of the State Address. We want to see Governor Dayton show the state and the country he is the environmental leader we know he can be. Online Comments <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://mnmYdOtgov/governor/contact-us/form/> Telephone: 651-201-3400 Toll Free: 800-657-3717 3) There are two great bills that will hit the floor in Congress. The Transportation Bill would make transit more accessible throughout the state. The Solar Energy Standard bill is to increase the current Renewable Energy Standard and make 10% of energy in Minnesota come from solar, in addition to the 25% renewable energy currently mandated. Tell your legislator personally your thoughts on these bills and that you want Minnesota to Advance Next Generation Energy . Call their office, write a letter, and/or schedule a meeting to talk about the issues that matter to you. Contact your legislators now! <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=http://wwwmYdOtlegmYdOtstatemYdOtmnmYdOtus/leg/faq/faqtocmYdOtaspx?id=47> Sign up here to help organize an in-district meeting with your representative. <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?resource=https://docsmYdOtgooglemYdOtcom/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGE0NmltVXFpNzBpUkh3WjhRaFRkeVE6MQ#gid=0> No more? You have received this message because you are currently subscribed to /'MN350_All'/. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click unsubscribe <http://1skymn.usnpo.org/?listInQuestion=39&unsubscribe=carydberg [at] comcast.net&theKey=uYGyvWTGq [at] uikuYFE.KTE>. [ Part 2.1, Text/HTML 365 lines. ] [ Unable to print this part. ] [ Part 2.2, Text/HTML (Name: "index.php") ~2.5 KB. ] [ Unable to print this part. ] ========================================================= *** >From peersupport [at] earthlink.net Sun Jan 20 22:24:07 2013 Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:23:59 From: Demi Miller <peersupport [at] earthlink.net> Subject: Even the Ramsey Co. Garden Club - is hosting a Lecture on Climate Change ! The Garden Club of Ramsey County has an excellent speaker on climate change in Minnesota for its February meeting. Dr. Corney is thorough, interesting, and knows his stuff. The meetings are open to the public, and are free of charge. February 18, 2012 Climate change (Auditorium) Jeff Corney PhD, U of M *Time*: Delicious treats and decaf coffee start at 7:00. The speaker starts at 7:30 and usually finishes about 9:00. *Location:* Highland Library and Hillcrest Recreational Center 1978 Ford Pkwy. Saint Paul, MN 55116 ========================================================= *** >From robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com Wed Jan 23 08:22:02 2013 Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:21:50 From: Robert McCaa <robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com> Subject: Climate hearing at the State Capitol: riveting expert testimony, packed room Re: Good info from MN350 Hello, FYI. At yesterday's State Senate Environment and Energy Committee Climate Hearing riveting expert testimony explained the science of climate change and the urgency for action in Minnesota. The room was packed--including 4 from FUS: Carole, Roger, and Audrey. The second speaker, Paul Douglas, introduced himself as an "albino unicorn"--an Evangelical Christian who is convinced that climate change is real and due to the burning of fossil fuels. There was no testimony in opposition. However, during the 15 min. Q&A, there was hostile questioning from 3 Republican members. The committee page is here: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php Click the "Subscribe" button to keep informed. The testimony was web-cast and may be viewed here: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/media/media_video_popup.php?flv=cmte_envenergy_012213.flv I plan to attend the hearing on Thurs: "Minnesota Initiatives and Solutions". If you would like to car-pool, please email or phone me. bob. Professor of Population History, Ambassador, IPUMS-International Minnesota Population Center , 50 Willey Hall 225 19th Ave S. Dear friends, It is time to take the first actionable steps in the Advance Next Generation Energy campaign and we need you ! In 2007 a landmark piece of legislation was passed in Minnesota. The Next Generation Energy Act set science-based goals on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy dependency, and overall energy conservation. We are not on track to achieve most of these goals! Minnesota legislators need to hear from you to Advance Next Generation Energy -- to take the necessary bold steps to addressing climate change. Join us! We ask you to take action in one of these three ways: 1) Attend the State Senate Environment and Energy Committee Climate Hearing on Thursday, Jan 24th from 12-2:30pm. This is our chance to set the tone and urgency of climate change action by packing the room! Sign up here if you're interested in attending a hearing. (See below for details) 2) Contact Governor Dayton's office today . Help encourage Governor Dayton to take his first step of many in confronting climate change this session. We want to apply pressure to Governor Dayton to mention climate change during the State of the State Address on Feb. 6th, 2013. (See below for details) 3) Tell your legislator that you want Minnesota to Advance Next Generation Energy. Call their office, write a letter, and/or schedule a meeting to talk about the issues that matter to you. Contact your legislators now! Now is the time to lead our leaders in advancing policies and laws that match the magnitude of the climate crisis. Your voice matters, your presence will make a difference -- take a few minutes and reach out to your legislator and Governor Dayton and tell your neighbors and friends to do the same. Many thanks, Abbie ANGE Campaign Manager ________________________________ More Information on Above Actions: 1) Climate Hearings When: Thursday, January 24 from 12:00-2:30 (if you can't make this one, join us on Tuesday, January 22) Where : Minnesota State Capitol. Committee room 107 What: The Senate Environment and Energy Committee is holding two hearings next week on Climate Change. This is an opportunity to show legislators the public wants bold legislative action today. Why: There is a need to tell legislators the public wants bold Climate Change legislation, now. Sign up here if you're interested in attending a hearing. BOLD COLORS REPRESENT BOLD ACTION: wear bright and bold colored scarfs, shirts, pants, etc. over your business attire to stand out in the crowd! If you feel so inspired, bring a sign. 2) Contact Governor Dayton's office today . We in the ANGE campaign would like to see the Governor to take his first step of many in confronting climate change this session. We want to apply pressure to Governor Dayton to mention Climate Change during the State Of The State Address on Feb. 6th, 2013. Here's an example of what you could say: We know Governor Dayton cares about the environment because of Executive Order 11-32 and the resurrection of the Environmental Quality Board and Environmental Congress. Minnesotans across the state turned out for 6 citizen forums in 2012 and hundreds more are submitting their comments. We are asking him to acknowledge this passion and the movement we're building by mentioning climate change in the State of the State Address. We want to see Governor Dayton show the state and the country he is the environmental leader we know he can be. Online Comments Telephone: 651-201-3400 Toll Free: 800-657-3717 3) There are two great bills that will hit the floor in Congress. The Transportation Bill would make transit more accessible throughout the state. The Solar Energy Standard bill is to increase the current Renewable Energy Standard and make 10% of energy in Minnesota come from solar, in addition to the 25% renewable energy currently mandated. Tell your legislator personally your thoughts on these bills and that you want Minnesota to Advance Next Generation Energy . Call their office, write a letter, and/or schedule a meeting to talk about the issues that matter to you. Contact your legislators now! Sign up here to help organize an in-district meeting with your representative. Minneapolis , MN 55455 USA global cell: 1+952.33.IPUMS (952.334.7867) fax. 1+612.626.8375 http://www.umn.edu/~rmccaa https://international.ipums.org alternative email: robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com ========================================================= *** >From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Wed Jan 23 14:20:02 2013 Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:19:51 From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org> Subject: Fresh Energy to speak at March 17 Forum Thanks to Bob .. J. Drake Hamilton from Fresh Energy has confirmed that she will be our forum speaker on March 17. Fresh Energy web site - http://fresh-energy.org/ It would be wonderful if our group could help publicize this to FUS members and friends. Would you like me to ask J. if she could leave time at the end for some FUS organizing? Shannon Williams Social Justice Coordinator First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis ========================================================= *** >From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Wed Jan 23 15:05:00 2013 Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:04:43 From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org> Subject: Events of interest... 2013 LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION AND FORUM Jan. 29, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Amsterdam Bar and Hall, Saint Paul All are welcome to an evening of networking, environmental policy discussion, delicious appetizers and Summit beer. We invite Legislators, agency leaders and staff to join the public and members of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership at this fun event. For more information and to register, click <http://www.mepartnership.org/event/2013-legislative-reception-and-forum/> here. WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER? Feb. 12, 7-9 p.m. University of Minnesota Student Center, Saint Paul Sandra Postel, an author and international advocate for conserving and protecting water, will deliver a free, public lecture titled "Will We Have Enough Water? Adapting to a Warming, Water-Stressed World." Postel is a National Geographic Freshwater Fellow and is the author of three books on water, including "Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity" and "Pillar of Sand: Can the Irrigation Miracle Last?" The lecture is part of the Moos Family Speaker Series on water and the environment. The series honors the late Malcolm Moos, a former university president. <http://www.freshwater.org> More CELEBRATING AND PRESERVING WINTER Feb. 20, 7-9 p.m. Anderson Student Center, University of St.Thomas, Saint Paul Feb. 21, 12-2:30 p.m., Weyerhaeuser Chapel, Macalester College, Saint Paul Concerned about the climate? Bill McKibben will present Celebrating and Preserving Winter, a call to action to slow climate change. Learn how you can protect the season that defines Minnesota! Join Bill and Cool Planet in building a climate solutions movement. Have fun, make a difference! <http://coolplanetmn.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/bill-mckibben-back-in-town-this-feb/> More Shannon Williams Social Justice Coordinator First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis ========================================================= *** >From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Mon Jan 28 11:52:15 2013 Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:52:07 From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org> Subject: Reminder - Meeting this Wednesday Happy Monday, This is a reminder that the Climate Change committee is meeting this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Dietrich Room. Hope to see you there! Shannon Williams Social Justice Coordinator First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis ========================================================= *** >From carydberg [at] comcast.net Mon Jan 28 13:08:45 2013 Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:08:42 From: Carole Rydberg <carydberg [at] comcast.net> Subject: Re: Reminder - Meeting this Wednesday .... and Demi ... how about swing dancing lessons? Shannon Williams wrote: > > Happy Monday, > > This is a reminder that the Climate Change committee is meeting this > Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Dietrich Room. Hope to see you there! > > *Shannon Williams* > > Social Justice Coordinator > > First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis > This is an RSVP for Wednesday night and (in a VERY rapid change of subject) a suggestion that a future seasonal celebration at FUS utilize Demi's skills as a swing dancing instructor by adding a few dance lessons to the program! Noticing that both Audrey and Demi receive these mailings ... I simply couldn't resist! Rog and I will be there Wednesday night; hope to see you all there. Carole ========================================================= *** >From robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com Tue Jan 29 22:14:21 2013 Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:14:11 From: Robert McCaa <robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com> Subject: NYT: tools to tackle climate change Re: Reminder - Meeting this Wednesday Hello, Tomorrow's NYT reports on tools to tackle climate change. A 35 cent gas tax would go a long way to reducing carbon consumption. food for thought... Economic Scene In Energy Taxes, Tools to Help Tackle Climate Change Danny Johnston/Associated Press A combine in Arkansas last August. The cost of the drought last year has been estimated by the government at about $35 billion. By EDUARDO PORTER Published: January 29, 2013 * Facebook * Twitter * Google+ * Save * E-mail * Share * Print * Reprints * To understand the complicated politics of climate change in the United States, you may want to talk to Pamela Johnson, president of the National Corn Growers Association's Corn Board. She is concerned about the weather. The drought that parched the lower 48 states cut the harvest at her northern Iowa farm by about 40 bushels an acre. For the first time in memory, she says, she had to rely on the federally subsidized crop insurance program to stay afloat. And yet Ms. Johnson's main concern, and that of most other growers in the association, is not about how to deal with a changing climate -- how to slow the pace of warming and how to adapt to a warmer world with more erratic weather. Rather, growers worry that political support for crop insurance might flag after a year in which taxpayers paid billions in subsidies to farmers while virtually everybody else faced deep budget cuts. "We are Americans before we are farmers," Ms. Johnson said. "We know we have budget problems." Still, she added: "For our farmers, crop insurance is the main concern. It helps keep us in business." The erratic weather across the country in the last couple of years seems to be softening Americans' skepticism about global warming. Most New Yorkers say they believe big storms like Sandy and Irene were the result of a warming climate. Whether climate change is directly responsible or not, the odd weather patterns have underscored the risk that it poses to all of us. What's yet to be seen is whether this growing awareness of the risks will translate into sufficient political support to address climate change, especially after we figure out the costs we will have to bear to do so. In his inaugural address, President Obama wove Hurricane Sandy and last year's drought into a stirring plea to address climate change. "The failure to do so would betray our children and future generations," the president said. But even as he put global warming at the top of his agenda, he avoided dwelling on how much it would cost to address. And nowhere in his speech did he allude to the most powerful tool to address the problem: a tax on the use of energy. Dealing with global warming will be expensive. The price tag last year for the drought was about $35 billion, according to the reinsurer Aon Benfield. Hurricane Sandy cost a further $65 billion. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that last year ranked as the second-costliest in terms of natural disasters since 1980 -- lagging only 2005 when Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans. And yet this is nothing compared with what the future will bring. "The impact to date has been pretty small," said William Nordhaus of Yale, one of the leading economists studying the impact of climate change. Nicholas Stern of the London School of Economics, another expert on the costs of climate change, said: "What we are seeing is on the back of warming of only 0.8 degrees centigrade" since the second half of the 19th century. "What we risk is 4, 5, 6 degrees even by the end of this century." For all the damage wrought by Sandy and Katrina, weather disasters in recent years have cost us probably less than a tenth of 1 percent of our economic product. Yet, according to Professor Nordhaus, "Damages will rise more sharply than the temperature curve." The president's speech notwithstanding, the cost of dealing with these looming disasters is not to be found in the budgets discussed by the White House and Congressional Republicans, which would shrink much of the government to its smallest share of the economy since the early 1960s. Neither is the cost of steering the economy away from the fossil fuels that are to blame for a warming atmosphere. A report from the World Economic Forum estimated that would cost $700 billion a year in public and private investment. The reluctance is not because we have no idea how to finance these efforts. We do. Top economists agree a tax on fuels and the carbon they spew into the atmosphere would be the cheapest way to combat climate change. Most advanced countries rely on some variant of this tax. The question is whether the prospect of more droughts and more powerful hurricanes will push Americans to embrace it, too. Among the 34 industrialized nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, these taxes average about $68.4 per metric ton of carbon dioxide. The United States, by contrast, has a gas tax to pay for highway improvement, and that's about it. Total federal taxes on energy amount to $6.30 per ton. Some states add excise taxes -- California has a gas tax equivalent to about $46.50 per ton of carbon dioxide and a $2.33-per-ton tax on jet kerosene. But, according to a review by the O.E.C.D., the federal government is unique in imposing no taxes on other energy use, from residential heating to power generation. A tax on energy could single-handedly take on climate change. For starters, it would encourage people and businesses to burn less, reducing emissions at a stroke. One study found that a carbon tax of $15 per ton would reduce greenhouse emissions by 14 percent as people sought to save energy by driving less, insulating their homes and switching to renewable fuels, among other things. What's more, it would raise lots of money. Estimates reviewed in a report by the Tax Policy Center ranged from 0.6 percent of the nation's gross domestic product -- for a tax of $20 per ton of carbon dioxide -- to 1.6 percent of G.D.P. for a tax of $41 per ton. Consider this: 1.6 percent of G.D.P. is $240 billion a year. And $41 per ton amounts to an extra 35 cents a gallon of gas. By way of comparison, the Swiss economy does fairly well even while shouldering an effective carbon tax rate of more than $140 per ton. Some of the money raised through more taxes on energy could be spent steeling communities to cope with more intense hurricanes and moving others out of harm's way. It could even help ease the fiscal squeeze that so consumes our elected officials. There are drawbacks. A carbon tax would fall more heavily on the poor -- the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the poorest fifth of Americans spend 21.4 percent of their income on gas and utilities while the richest 20 percent spend only 6.8 percent. But economists at the budget office have pointed out that there are several ways to compensate lower-income Americans. For all the merits of an energy tax, the United States seems a long way from embracing one. It was only three years ago that the corn growers and the rest of the farm lobby allied with energy producers and other corporations to derail President Obama's first shot at climate change legislation, which would have set a limit on carbon emissions and required businesses to buy permits to emit. As things stand, drought is unlikely to change their minds. Farmers are still covered by crop insurance, and they have powerful allies in Congress who will fight to keep the subsidies in place. They may see little reason to support legislation that would make energy or fertilizer more expensive. "Farmers would be deeply affected by an energy tax," Ms. Johnson said. As things stand for them, it is probably cheaper to deal with the occasional drought. E-mail: eporter [at] nytimes.com; Twitter: @portereduardo A version of this article appeared in print on January 30, 2013, on page B1 of the New York edition with the headline: Taxes To Tackle Climate Change. Professor of Population History, Ambassador, IPUMS-International Minnesota Population Center , 50 Willey Hall 225 19th Ave S. Minneapolis , MN 55455 USA global cell: 1+952.33.IPUMS (952.334.7867) fax. 1+612.626.8375 http://www.umn.edu/~rmccaa https://international.ipums.org alternative email: robertmccaa [at] yahoo.com ========================================================= *** >From peersupport [at] earthlink.net Wed Jan 30 15:06:14 2013 Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:06:03 From: Demi Miller <peersupport [at] earthlink.net> Subject: More tools to tackle climate change Re: Reminder - Meeting this Wednesday Hi Friends' I'm looking forward to tonights gathering. In anticipation I've been noting and reading more of what's out ther on the web. Here's a scattershot from my friend Wanda Ballentine: [with an addendum to follow on Al Gore and on climate activist George Monbiot.] -------------------------------------------- http://ecowatch.org/2013/kerry-climate-change-hearing/ MUST SEE VIDEO: Sen. Kerry Takes Strong Stand on Climate Change at Sec. of State Confirmation Hearing - video How different lives might be if we had Gore & Kerry instead of Bush. http://ecowatch.org/2013/climate-change-task-force/ Congressional Democrats Launch Climate Change Task Force - video Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change will be co-chaired by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) & Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA). Goal to provide Congressional forum for discussions on solutions & actions to address climate crisis. Expected to convene meetings of members & release reports & help circulate information on global warming & solutions to problem. http://grist.org/climate-energy/why-greenlands-melting-could-be-the-biggest-climate-disaster-of-all/ Why Greenland's melting could be the biggest climate disaster of all "Those who claim it's cycles don't understand that humans driving cycle right now & for future," Coastal consequences of allowing Greenland to continue melting, pouring 23 ft worth of sea level into ocean over coming centuries, just staggering. Mayor of Hamburg, Shanghai, or Philadelphia, your job description that you think forward a century. They're completely inundated by 2200. Dark Snow project - trying to crowdfund expedition to sample ice at high elevations & determine how much soot from global wildfires & pollution amplifying the melting. Models might undershoot things, & all that water coming faster still. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/27/nicholas-stern-climate-change-davos Lord Nicholas Stern: 'I got it wrong on climate change -- it's far, far worse' Author of 2006 review speaks out on danger to economies as planet absorbs less carbon & is 'on track' for 4C rise Author of govt-commissioned review on climate change that became reference work for politicians & green campaigners, now says he underestimated risks, & should have been more "blunt" about threat posed to economy by rising temperatures http://www.climatecentral.org/news/hurricane-sandy-unprecedented-in-historical-record-study-says-15505 Risks of Hurricane Sandy-like Surge Events Rising Lists different storms in deadly storm surge, rare, but likely to become more frequent as climate continues to warm. Strange move to west mystifying, but if storm occurs as result of climate change could cause present-day 100- year surge event in NY to occur once every 3 to 20 years by 2100, & present day 500-year surge event to occur once every 25 to 240 years http://www.npr.org/2013/01/23/170079700/in-lower-manhattan-sandy-still-keeping-businesses-dark?ft=1&f=1001 In Lower Manhattan, Sandy Still Keeping Businesses Dark - audio Earlier, museum devastated by Sandy finally reopened. About 800 people packed lobby & galleries in lower Manhattan as Sandy swept up to 6 feet of water from East River to museum lobby, taking out elevators, escalator, & heating & air conditioning units. Everything in basement completely submerged in water, where all electrical equipment comes in & water pumps. Able to reopen because of temporary heaters powered by kerosene. But with exception of museum, every store on the block closed & boarded up. Museum is limping along. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/01/24/superstorm-sandy-businesses-suffer/1861477/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29 NJ - Year-round businesses struggle to survive after Sandy- video Insurance companies overwhelmed with claims. Some have reopened - say customers don't realize it. Business owners don't get unemployment but still have bills http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/nyregion/homes-in-flood-zone-doubles-in-new-fema-map.html?_r=0 NY Twice as Many Structures in FEMA's Redrawn Flood Zone http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0128/On-battered-Jersey-shore-Sandy-victims-struggle-with-costs-of-climate-change On battered Jersey shore, Sandy victims struggle with costs of climate change http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/28/us-usa-barges-mississippi-idUSBRE90R0VT20130128 More than 300 barges delayed by Mississippi River closure http://www.alternet.org/water/corporate-land-grabs-reveal-hidden-agenda-controlling-water?akid=9979.202899.uUxhF8&rd=1&src=newsletter783906&t=19&paging=off Corporate Land Grabs Reveal a Hidden Agenda: Controlling the Water Food crisis & recent droughts confirmed that controlling source of food, land & water that flows under or by it, equally or even more important. http://www.alternet.org/environment/las-vegas-accused-engineering-massive-water-grab-future-west-photo-slideshow?paging=off Las Vegas Accused of Engineering Massive Water Grab: Is This the Future of the West? [With Photo Slideshow] Climate change going to make life harder, water scarcer, & decisions about future tougher. http://www.hcn.org/issues/45.1/miguel-luna-gives-young-los-angelenos-a-beaker-and-a-job Miguel Luna gives young Los Angelenos a beaker and a job Excellent example of teaching students about water problems. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/sunday-review/the-biggest-carbon-sin-air-travel.html?ref=business&_r=0 Your Biggest Carbon Sin May Be Air Travel For many, air travel most serious environmental sin. One round-trip flight from NY to Europe or to SF creates 2-3 tons of CO2 per person. Average American generates 19 tons of CO2/yr; average European, 10. Check chart http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/opinion/sunday/enjoying-snow-while-we-still-have-it.html?ref=opinion&_r=1&Enjoying Snow, While We Still Have It & then - no water.... http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Major-climate-changes-looming-4227943.php Major climate changes looming Within lifetimes of today's children, climate could reach state unknown in civilization. http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020216231_indiacoffeeharvestsidexml.html Coffee farmers struggle to adjust to climate change Ill-timed rains used to be rare, coming maybe once a decade. So did unusually long & hot dry spells, which now come regularly. http://grist.org/climate-energy/how-climate-change-could-wipe-out-the-western-forests/ How climate change could wipe out Western forests http://ecowatch.org/2013/wood-products-soars-worldwide/ Ecosystems at Risk as Demand for Wood Products Soars Worldwide http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/4570/20130125/living-without-trees-causes-higher-mortality-rates.htm Living Without Trees Causes Higher Mortality Rates Result of estimates - 15,000 more deaths from cardiovascular diseases & 6,000 more from respiratory illness occurred, compared to areas with higher # of trees. Saw same pattern repeated over & over in counties with very different demographic makeups. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/species-on-the-move-present-a-vexing-conservation-challenge-15518 Species on the Move Present a Conservation Challenge Globe-trotting habits of migratory species pose immense challenge: As climate warms, how do you protect species with no fixed address? http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hrtp8FRjpFxM7tUYFwm4dHxajuhw Mozambique military called in to battle floods Mozambique's military been called in to help tackle severe flooding, killing 48 people & likely to spread to country's central & northern regions, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jwfYIaYK8sfxJr-J5GBL01uULEHA Australian troops called in to deal with floods Australia ramped up military response to deadly flooding in country's NE, as prepared for massive clean-up following storms which killed four & swamped 1000s of homes. Ex-tropical cyclone Oswald inundated Queensland & New South Wales. 1000s left isolated or displaced, but after rivers peaked in Tuesday waters began to drop gradually, http://www.smh.com.au/environment/high-price-of-melbournes-hot-weather-20130124-2d9tq.html High price of Melbourne's hot weather HOT weather in Melbourne set to cost city on average $46.5 million/year to middle of century. Commissioned by Melbourne City Council, found projected total costs for 2011-2051- heatwaves, urban heat island effect, & single hot days - will be $1.86 billion. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-01/29/content_16185385.htm Beijingers call for Clean Air Act -in Love and Peace, -Demi Miller "Whenever people say, 'We mustn't be sentimental,' - you can take it they are about to do something cruel. And if they add, 'We must be realistic,' - they mean they are going to make money out of it." --Brigid Brophy "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." --Anais Nin "I decided to accept as true, my own thinking." --Georgia O'Keefe "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." --Emma Goldman "God is a comedian, playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh." -- Francois Marie Arcet de Voltaire c. 1772 "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." -- Frederick Douglass "The life of the individual only has meaning in so far as it aids in making the life of every living thing nobler and more beautiful." -- Albert Einstein "Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too self-ful to seek other than itself." --Khalil Gibran "We know how to transform this world to reduce our impact on nature by several fold, how to provide meaningful, dignified living-wage jobs for all who seek them, and how to feed, clothe, and house every person on earth. What we don't know is how to remove those in power, those whose ignorance of biology is matched only by their indifference to human suffering. This is a political issue. It is not an ecological problem." --Paul Hawken, from a speech at the Bioneers conference in Oct. 2002 "Whenever the people are well-informed, They can be trusted with their own Government." --Thomas Jefferson, 1789 "Fire does not burn from the top down - it burns from the bottom up!" --Jesse Jackson ========================================================= *** >From peersupport [at] earthlink.net Wed Jan 30 15:45:14 2013 Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:45:03 From: Demi Miller <peersupport [at] earthlink.net> Subject: Al Gore's visit & George Monbiot Hi All, Following up on my last posting: Al Gore kicks off this year's Westminster Town Hall Forum series of environmental speakers - in just a week from now Feb 7th! [There lineup of other presenters is also quite good:] WESTMINSTER TOWN HALL FORUM ENVIRONMENTAL SPEAKERS SPRING 2013 SIX DRIVERS OF GLOBAL CHANGE AL GORE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 12:00 NOON BUILDING REAL FOOD COMMUNITIES ANNA LAPPE SUSTAINABLE FOOD & FARMING ACTIVIST THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 12:00 NOON SAVING NATURE IS A SMART INVESTMENT MARK TERCEK PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 12:00 NOON WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NICOLLET MALL & 12TH STREET DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS FREE & OPEN TO ALL MUSIC AT 11:30 AM PUBLIC RECEPTION FOLLOWS FOR MORE INFORMATION: 612-332-342 EXT.207 http://westminsterforum.org/http://westminsterforum.org/ Regarding George Monbiot: I'm seeing him more and more as the kind of eco-activist that understands change and what must be done to achieve it. He is the author of _/Heat: how to stop the planet burning/_, which shows how we can cut carbon emissions by 90% without destroying our quality of life; a collection of essays called _/Bring on the Apocalypse/_. And he has just finished a book about rewilding -- the large-scale restoration of ecosystems -- called _/Feral: rewilding the land, the sea and human life/__, _ For those of you who don't have any background on Monbiot, here's his Wikipedia listing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Monbiot This is his own short precis of his interests and passions that he has posted on his website: /My work is more sedentary than it used to be, so I temper it with plenty of physical activity: sea kayaking, ultimate frisbee, running and some heavy duty gardening: growing my own vegetables and much of my own fruit. / // /Here are some of the things I love: my family and friends, salt marshes, arguments, chalk streams, Russian literature, kayaking among dolphins, diversity of all kinds, rockpools, heritage apples, woods, fishing, swimming in the sea, gazpacho, ponds and ditches, growing vegetables, insects, pruning, forgotten corners, fossils, goldfinches, etymology, Bill Hicks, ruins, Shakespeare, landscape history, palaeoecology, Gavin and Stacey and Father Ted./ // /Here are some of the things I try to fight: undemocratic power, corruption, deception of the public, environmental destruction, injustice, inequality and the misallocation of resources, waste, denial, the libertarianism which grants freedom to the powerful at the expense of the powerless, undisclosed interests, complacency. / // /Here is what I fear: other people's cowardice. / // /I still see my life as a slightly unhinged adventure whose perpetuation is something of a mystery. I have no idea where it will take me, and no ambitions other than to keep doing what I do. So far it's been gripping. / -in Love and Peace, -Demi Miller "Whenever people say, 'We mustn't be sentimental,' - you can take it they are about to do something cruel. And if they add, 'We must be realistic,' - they mean they are going to make money out of it." --Brigid Brophy "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." --Anais Nin "I decided to accept as true, my own thinking." --Georgia O'Keefe "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." --Emma Goldman "God is a comedian, playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh." -- Francois Marie Arcet de Voltaire c. 1772 "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." -- Frederick Douglass "The life of the individual only has meaning in so far as it aids in making the life of every living thing nobler and more beautiful." -- Albert Einstein "Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too self-ful to seek other than itself." --Khalil Gibran "We know how to transform this world to reduce our impact on nature by several fold, how to provide meaningful, dignified living-wage jobs for all who seek them, and how to feed, clothe, and house every person on earth. What we don't know is how to remove those in power, those whose ignorance of biology is matched only by their indifference to human suffering. This is a political issue. It is not an ecological problem." --Paul Hawken, from a speech at the Bioneers conference in Oct. 2002 "Whenever the people are well-informed, They can be trusted with their own Government." --Thomas Jefferson, 1789 "Fire does not burn from the top down - it burns from the bottom up!" --Jesse Jackson On 01/30/2013 03:06 PM, Demi Miller wrote: ========================================================= *** >From sjc [at] firstunitarian.org Thu Jan 31 16:01:55 2013 Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:01:22 From: Shannon Williams <sjc [at] firstunitarian.org> Subject: Notes from Wednesday's meeting Hi everyone, I realized that I didn?t take great notes at our meeting because I was so engrossed in our conversation! If I?m missing big things, please let me know so that I can add it into the minutes. -Shannon CCC: January 30, 2012 Agenda (directed by attendees): o Feedback on legislative committee hearings o Setting goals and priorities for the group If you'd like to know what's going on in the legislative committees: o Watch channel 2.2 on digital TV o Attendees brought back a copy of the presentation on 1/22 - Climate Change in Minnesota: Cycle or Trend?". Available from Shannon W. in the FUS office. o Committee meetings: o Energy Policy - Mondays and Tuesdays, 12:30 - 2 p.m. o Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. o Transportation Policy - Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2:15 - 3:45 p.m. o Environmental Policy - Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4 - 5:30 p.m. Thanks to Carole - we have much more information about committees. Copies will be available at FUS. Brainstorm of issues/action ideas: o Take a look at what legislation is coming forward locally o Transportation legislation o Energy legislation o A national issue we could work on is carbon tax o Check out the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy ? climate change & transportation o Encourage a closer look at how meat consumption impacts climate change o Fresh Energy ? plug into what they?re doing. There is a webinar on Tuesday from 12 ? 12:30 to learn more about their legislative agenda. o Find out which districts FUS members live in. Extend personal invitations to ask members to make phone calls/letters when action alerts come up. o Explore the idea of installing solar panels at FUS. o Explore other energy/consumption savings options at FUS. o Help members find out their district at coffee hour. Make advocacy as easy as possible for our busy members. o Contact members who live in a district where their legislator is on the energy committee. Action/Next Steps: o Abbie Plouff, Campaign Coordinator for the Advance Next Generation Energy Campaign, is willing to speak to us about ANGE and how we can plug in. o ANGE is an umbrella campaign to bring together diverse groups across MN to work on climate change and implement policy to meet carbon reduction goals for the state. o The three major goals of the campaign are: o Build, enrich, and connect the climate movement in MN o Move policy through the MN legislature ? focusing on implementing the Advance Next Generation Energy Act of 2007, passing a new solar standard, and passing a comprehensive transportation bill o Establish Gov. Dayton as a climate leader o Shannon W. is going to find a time Abbie can speak to our group. First choice - after Eat n Meet on Feb. 6. Second choice - after cake auction on Feb. 10 o Demi is going to speak to his political connections about speaking to members about where we can be most effective with our advocacy efforts o We will begin hosting an advocacy table during coffee hour beginning February 10. We will have copies of MN house and senate members with contact information, along with action items. Other Updates: o Shannon is working with Fred (thank you) to determine the best way of establishing an email list serv for this group. o Shannon has not found any information about an environmental day on the hill. She?ll keep looking. If you hear of anything, please pass the info along! Next meeting will be whenever we can schedule Abbie to talk with us. Shannon Williams Social Justice Coordinator First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
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