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Film of the Month
At RI IPL, we are always adding new films to our Film Lending Library. All of our films are available for member congregations to borrow. Many of them come with discussion notes as well. In order to showcase the films we have available, we're adding a Featured Film of the Month column to our newsletter.
A compelling loo
k at the lives and issues behind the "war on coal," From The Ashes premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival and aired on National Geographic in the U.S. on June 25, 2017.
At least 40 people gathered at the Peace Dale Congregational Church on June 23 for a special preview screening. People liked the documentary very much, because it reports with compassion and equity about the miners who have lost their jobs due to the decline of the coal industry, and emphasizes coal's harmful effects on human health and the climate. The film had a strong effect on the audience who made thoughtful comments during a brief discussion at the end of the movie. Lively discussions in small groups continued over refreshments to conclude the evening. The Peace Dale Congregational Church with the lead of Wally Young and Don Hermes and supported by the RI IPL South County Action Team also showed the movie Before the Flood earlier this year, hosted a Solar Sunday, and is planning more movie screenings throughout the summer.
You can easily bring a movie to your congregation, too. Just contact Kristen Ivy at
From Appalachia to the West's Powder River Basin, the film goes beyond the rhetoric of the "war on coal" to present compelling and often heartbreaking stories about what is at stake for our economy, health, and climate. The film invites audiences to learn more about an industry on the edge and what it means for their lives.
"From the Ashes is an important documentary that underscores one of the most dominant and controversial industri
es in the history of the United States," said National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe. "The film explores the reality of coal's role in climate change while offering insight into solutions that could help revive the struggling economies of dying mining towns and still safeguard the environment. We are thrilled to partner with RadicalMedia and Bloomberg Philanthropies to amplify the complex conversation about the coal industry as well as alternative forms of energy."
"For over a century, mining and energy companies have been privatizing coal's profits while socializing its costs. Coal plant pollution kills 7,500 Americans a year and causes many more serious illnesses," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and co-author of the new book "Climate of Hope." "From the Ashes shows the risks we face as a nation if we continue to rely on coal and examines how Americans in local communities, including in coal country, are helping to lead the transition toward cleaner air and stronger economies."
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Green Infrastructure at Home
Rain Barrels
The average household in the US uses about 250 gallons of water per day. Seventy percent of that water, suitable for human consumption, is being used outdoors! Yet splashing off your roof is tens of thousands of gallons delicious fresh rainwater suitable for a multitude of uses.
Rain barrels are an important part of a stormwater-friendly yard care routine. A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater that would normally flow off of a rooftop and into storm drains. That stored water can then be used later, usually to water lawns or for other outdoor water uses. So a rain barrel helps prevent stormwater pollution and conserves water! The barrel can be placed under a gutter downspout or can be connected directly to the downspout.
Saving and conserving water starts at home. It is the small things that you do every day that lead to change. Water splashing off your roof could go a long way to offset outdoor consumption and help towns manage their water supplies. A 2,000-square-foot home can collect as much as 36,000 gallons of rainwater in one year by using rain barrels to capture water from downspouts-more than enough to meet the average American family's water needs.
Your town may have a rain barrel community purchase program or you may purchase ready-made rain barrels from lawn and garden centers, hardware stores, and through the internet. Locally, the
RI Water Lady
has rain barrels available
for pick up.
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BOARD of DIRECTORS
The Rev. Dr. Anita Schell
Emmanuel Newport
Newport
Ray Frackelton, PhD
Newman Congregational
Rumford
Marty Davey
St. Gregory the Great
Warwick
Christine Muller
Baha
'
i Community
Kingston
Christine Cassels
St. Luke's
East Greenwich
Sarah Atkins
Emmanuel Newport
Newport
The Rev. David Helfer
Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of
South County
Peace Dale
STAFF
Kristen Ivy Moses
Executive Director
First Unitarian Church
Providence
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Dear Friends,
Summer is such a great time to travel! Did you know that you can travel responsibly with just a few small changes? I've shared some tips with you that I learned about my own travels.
O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey's end.
Amen.
Below are pictures of my Cool Harvest Garden. Next Month I'll show you pictures of my Cool Harvest Salsa Collection Garden and how to design and plant your own rain garden.
Is your congregation or organization holding a climate change or environmental event. We want to know about it!
Email me the details of your event and I'll share it on our webpage and in our newsletter. Please send newsletter submissions by the 15th of the month.
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Blessings,
Kristen Ivy Moses
Executive Director
Rhode Island Interfaith Power & Light
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Reflections from RI IPL's Executive Director
I fly to Washington DC twice a year to visit my parents. Recently I looked up what it would cost to
offset my flight and found out that it's only about $1 each way! I can definitely afford to do that. I learned that by flying coach and choosing economy airlines with newer aircraft, I can lower the carbon impact of my flight.
Carbonfund.org has partnered with
JetBlue
and
Virgin America airlines to make it easy to calculate the carbon offset necessary for your flight.
Typically, car rental agencies want to upgrade you to a larger model. A recent model SUV may get as little as 19 miles per gallon, resulting in a pound of CO2 for every mile you drive. Public transportation, bicycling, and walking all have less impact than renting a car. If you must rent a car, choose the smallest one that works for you. On my most recent trip, I reserved a hybrid rental car thinking that was a great option for the rental company to offer. When I arrived, it turned out that they don't have hybrids at that location. We chose a compact instead, which had plenty of room for me, my husband, my son and his car seat, and our luggage.
Hotel construction has a huge impact on the environment. Booking a rental house or apartment is often less expensive than a hotel and may offer options such as extra bedrooms, a full kitchen, and even a patio or yard.
Airbnb
is an easy to use rental website that offers options all over the world. If you do choose to stay in a hotel, pick an eco-conscious one. Try searching for hotels in the
TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Hotel Program. Hotels with
the leaf badge have to meet minimum standards, including having recycling and linen-reuse programs, and educating guests about their practices. The greater the impact of a property's green practices, the higher the status level the receive. Also look into
LEED-certified hotel buildings.
The U.S. Green Building Council puts its stamp on buildings and upgrades that meet minimum green requirements and adds points for extras, such as building on land that has already been developed. This certification only applies to the building itself, not the hotel's practices.
Reuse your hotel towels to minimize water and detergent waste. Bring your own refillable water bottle and travel mug and skip the disposable cups and unsanitary glasses in the room. Turn off the lights when you're not in your hotel room. Turn the AC down. Some hotel rooms are absolutely freezing! You may even need to leave a note on thermostat asking housekeeping to leave it at your desired temperature.
There are even responsible options for cruises! Most travelers don't realize that these floating cities have a huge environmental impact, polluting the air we breath and the water they sail in. Taking a shorter cruise and choosing your ship carefully will lessen the impact. Choose a greener cruise with the Friends of the Earth Cruise Ship Report Card.
I hope that you choose to travel responsibly this summer and throughout the year!
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The Invenergy project
Burrillville Land Trust president, Paul A. Roselli:
Climate Change Activism - When a town and state decides to say NO to fossil fuels and fracked gas, but why do government officials ignore the wishes of an entire state in opposing a proposed 1-gigawatt fracked gas/oil fired power plant proposed for the middle of the woods in northwestern Rhode Island? Come find out as Learn the Facts about the Invenergy project, get updates, learn activism measures, how to take part in climate change reductions, meet folks from the Burrillville Land Trust, sign petitions, and more.
Sunday, July 2
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday, July 9
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
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Interfaith Power & Light's CoolHarvest program is a food, faith, and climate program for congregations interested in responding to climate change through educating their members about climate-friendly food choices and engaging them in activities, such as organic gardening, that can inspire and have a positive impact. The program, with its two free downloadable units and suggested companion DVDs, is brought to you by Interfaith Power & Light.
Modern agribusiness - that favors toxic pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, GMO foods (genetically modified), distant farm-to-plate transportation, and the factory farming of animals - exacts a heavy toll on the atmosphere. It is estimated that nearly one-fifth of climate change pollution comes from the food industry.
Sow a Cool Harvest has an organic gardening focus for faith communities and individuals that are interested in participating in the local, healthy food movement in response to climate change. I am using a 6' x 3' raised bed to grow all of the seeds in the Urban Garden Collection Kit shown below. Here are some pictures of my Cool Harvest Garden:
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Red Russian Kale
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Gold Marie Vining Bean
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Boothby_s Blonde Cucumber
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White Icicle Radish
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It's not too late to start your own Cool Harvest Garden!
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Discover Rhode Island and enjoy free su
mmer activities
The Rhode Island Great Outdoors Pursuit i
s
a game to help you and your family
to enjoy the recreational resources and out
door activities our state parks have to offer, and to get moving toward a healthier lifestyle.
To play the Rhode Island Great Outdoors Pursuit, simply print a Great Outdoors Pursuit passport for each child under 18 and collect stickers by participating in fun outdoor activities and challenges. Children will earn a sticker for each event or challenge they participate in. Present your passport at the Great Outdoors Pursuit awards finale to receive rewards.
For more information, registration, and a calendar of events
Click Here.
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with Save the Bay
Responsible tourism is about respecting the environment, learning about regional culture, and contributing towards local economy. Save The Bay's lighthouse tours encompass this in both full and half-day
cruises discovering the historic lighthouses of Narragansett Bay. Discover the lighthouses that played important roles in the history of the Bay and are actively assisting in marine navigation. Tour proceeds are used toward educating South Eastern New England students about the Bay.
Southern Lighthouse Tour
Starting in Newport, this tour includes a stop at Rose Island and a tour of the Rose Island Lighthouse and grounds and a picnic lunch.
$55 per Adult
$50 per STB Member/Senior/Child 3-12
Saturday, July 8, 2017
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Alofsin Piers
Fort Adams
Newport, RI
"Ultimate" Lighthouse Tour
Sail down the West Passage to Newport and return home via the East Passage, including a tour of Rose Island light.
$100 per Adult
$90 per STB Member/Senior/Child 3-12
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Save The Bay
100 Save The Bay Drive
Providence, RI
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Sunday, July 30
Park free and enjoy the sand and surf at any one of Rhode Island's seven beautiful state beaches - Scarborough, Wheeler or Salty Brine in Narragansett; Charlestown Breachway, East, or East Matunuck in Charlestown; or, Misquamicut in Westerly.
Some beaches will have special activities.
Last year's
Governor's Bay Day also included fishing in Rhode Island's saltwaters without a fishing license. and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) also waived the roundtrip fare on all service to South County Beaches on Route 66 (URI/Galilee). Service to the beach was provided on a first come, first served basis.
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Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
Join our friends at the
Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council for a special night at the Pawtucket Red Sox! Every ticket sold benefits efforts to provide critical organizational support to the WRWC in their year-round efforts to maintain and extend the Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway Bike Path.
Tickets are $10 per person.
$5 of each ticket purchased
by using this
special link
will be donated back to WRWC
.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
7:05 PM
McCoy Stadium
1 Columbus Ave
Pawtucket, RI
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Act on Climate: Steps to Individual, Community and Political Action
Free Online Course
The course is intended to help learners understand, address and respond to climate change with individual, community and political action. Drawing from a range of academic experts and professional leaders, it focuses on how to apply social change theories to translate learning into action in the areas of food, energy, transportation, and the built environment (cities).
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Help RI IPL build connections to the community.
"LIKE" our Facebook page and "FOLLOW" us on Twitter so our postings will
go further and reach more
people.
Sent RI IPL related events or announcements to Kristen Ivy Moses, executive director, at kristenivy@ri-ipl.org.
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Rhode Island Interfaith Power & Light
PO Box 15043, Riverside, RI 02915
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