TAKE ACTION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSPORTATION EQUITY

On Sunday, February 12, Greening Grace will host a letter-writing campaign to protest MBTA’s proposed fare increases and service cuts and urge legislators to change the funding formula for the MBTA. Please join us in Grace Church's Wiles Hall at 11:45 am! 

Years of borrowing for – instead of paying for – repairs and improvements to the states’ roads and transit systems have left the state without enough money to fund basic transportation operations. Also, the funding mechanism that the legislature put in place for the MBTA (a portion of the state sales tax) failed to produce the anticipated revenue. As a result, the MBTA is proposing grave fare hikes and service reductions to pay the bills. For example, the MBTA plans to cut all commuter rail service on weekends, and one of the proposals would eliminate four bus routes that service Medford. Service cuts and fare hikes will urban poor families the hardest because of their dependence on public transit and their limited ability to afford the fare increases. Also, it is wrong to cut public transit when we need to take serious steps to tackle climate change.

Come with your laptops, pens, friends, and kids. There will be chocolate snacks to help bring out your inner environmentalist.

To learn more about the proposed service reductions and fare hikes, go to http://www.mbta.com.

Question about the event should be directed to Jonathan Hunt or Catherine Smith at greeninggrace@gracemedford.org.

Faith Communities involved in Climate Change Conversation

Bishop Geoff Davies is at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, South Africa (COP17). He was interviewed by OneClimate.net, who are reporting live from Durban during COP17.   Bishop Davies relates the need for action on climate change and the economic resistance to abolishing slavery in England and Apartheid in South Africa.

Here are some other really powerful quotes from Bishop Davies:

We believe in life before death.

Christians should worry less about getting to heaven and more about climate crisis on earth

We have been tasked by God to look after this creation and to look after one another on this creation.

Destruction of creation is a sin against God and crime against humanity.

Listen to this powerful call to action of the Faith Community by Bishop Davies.

Peace, Jon

In your mind, what is the most important thing (or lack of) coming out of the international negotiations in Durban?

Energy-upgrade work party at Shiloh Church in Medford

The Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) is doing weatherization barn-raising on Saturday, Nov 19th at 9am at the Shiloh Baptist Church.

You may recall that HEET helped Grace Church do our own weatherization barnraising that was amazingly successful last year.  I encourage everyone that can, regardless of skill level to join in and lend a hand.  You'll definitely meet some great people and if you're not careful, you might learn something too.

Details:

Saturday, November 19, 2011

9am to 1pm

Shiloh Baptist Church in West Medford

1 Holton & Bower

West Medford, MA 02155

Please sign up so they know how many to expect.  You can choose to be a normal volunteer, a team leader in training or if you really know what you are doing a team leader.  They can use all skill levels.


Sign Up for Energy-Upgrade work party at Shiloh Baptist Church

Here is some snippets from the sign up form about the event:

• Shiloh Baptist Church, a low income, primarily black church needs some help reducing its energy bill. We will install efficient light bulbs, low-flow water measures, reduce drafts and build interior storm windows to reduce those cold winter drafts. 
• Learn how to reduce your own energy bill, while helping a church reduce its bills so it can continue to deliver great community services such as its food pantry, computer lab and community space.

Please invite your friends and neighbors too, but please sign up in advance.

Peace,
Jon

Grace Church is involved in the organization of the event, but I felt it was an event of interest to our community and one worth sharing broadly.

"FLOW" Showing at Unitarian Universalist Church on Friday

Given the interest in social justice and water we have at Grace, I thought everyone should be aware of this opportunity to see this film.  I haven't see it myself, but based on the description I want to see it.

Peace,
Jon

Nov. 18: Film in Medford about water and the environment

The Social Justice Committees of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford and the First Parish Church of Malden will hold a screening of the award-winning documentary, "FLOW", produced by Irena Salina.

Come learn about what experts and scientists are calling the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st century: the world water crisis.

Beyond identifying the problem, "FLOW" also gives viewers a look at practical solutions to the water crisis.

The film will be followed by a discussion led by Nick Cohen, a local expert in fresh water conservation, and an Environmental Justice Coordinator. Nick is also
with Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-Cap) and the Mystic River Watershed Collaborative.

The event takes place Friday, November 18, at 7 p.m. in Benker Hall, Unitarian Universalist Church, 147 High St., Medford. There will be refreshments served. All are welcome.

For further information contact: Michael Glen, 781-396-6424 or Karen Lynch,
781-420-6186.

Recycling those Candy Wrappers

Bring in your candy wrappers to recycle!

Happy Halloween!

Tis the season of handy out and eating candy.  Be sure to save your candy wrappers (and your kids') and bring them to church so we can recycle them through TerraCycle.  So far this year we have raised over $150 from TerraCycle and kept pounds of material out of the landfills.

Other things that we can TerraCycle include:

• Cookie Wrappers
• Drink Pouches
• Candy Wrappers
• Energy Bar Wrappers (including Cereal Bar Wrappers)
• Chip Bags

Unfortunately NO MORE COFFEE BAGS for TerraCycle.  StarBucks stopped sponsoring the program and they have discontinued their recycling program for coffee bags.

Be sure to remove all crumbs from the wrappers before bringing them in and putting them in the kitchen corner by the oven.

If you'd be interested in helping to sort and pack up the wrappers for recycling, please talk to Alicia or Jonathan Hunt.

Happy Halloween!
Jon