global warming
Spiritual Progress: Congregations Going Green
Congregations Caring for Creation (C3) is an interfaith network of more than 80 congregations that are making the active care of Creation integral to spiritual life and social justice in their congregation. C3/MNIPL is the Minnesota chapter of a national movement called Interfaith Power and Light (IPL).
Air Pollution and Our Health
When most people think of unhealthy air, they think of a stifling, summer day, plagued by high ozone levels and a thick layer of smog over the Twin Cities. However, Minnesota’s worst recorded air alert occurred during the winter of 2005, and ozone was not the culprit. Instead, a stagnant air mass trapped fine-particle pollution near the ground.
Commingling the Environment & Health Care
Healthcare workers are a hidden, next generation treasure of environmentalists. This group includes, but is not limited to, doctors, such as those specializing in infectious disease, nurses of all disciplines in heath care, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, dietitians, pharmacists, and emergency rescue response workers.
“Warming” Family Ideas
• Lighting – replacing one 75 watt incandescent bulb with a 19-watt compact fluorescent can cut 55 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Assign your math-loving child the task of determining how many light bulbs you need to replace and the reduction in emissions. Engage children in budgeting for purchases and replacement.
What Minnesotans Can Do About Climate Change
As a Minnesotan, I am proud of our state’s can-do spirit. It gives individuals the ability to overcome challenges that may seem impossible. When I was young, this spirit is what inspired me to become an arctic explorer, and today it continues to push me toward new adventures. It is what also compels me to take a stand in the face of a crisis, and right now there is a global warming crisis brewing over the future of the planet.
Typical Outdoor Lighting Needs a Major Overhaul
Few of us give much thought to outdoor lighting because it is all around us: on our streets and parking lots, barn yards and buildings. We feel safer with lights and have come to depend on them. Outdoor lights give us a feeling of security against personal attack and vandalism. They provide visibility so that we can see where we are walking, find our car in the parking lot, find the entrance to the building, and illuminate nighttime activities. As the population expands, so does outdoor lighting.
However, the problems with typical outdoor lighting are numerous:
