APRIL 2018

HELP US CELEBRATE EARTH DAY!

Greetings Friend!

It is April 22nd,1970 at a college in Boston, the first Earth Day and I was nominated to Co-Chair the event at my university. At only 19, I knew that if we created a movement and made our voices heard we would make a difference. Earth Day, started by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, began with a belief that we only have one earth, so we need to take care of her. Nelson announced a national environmental teach-in, calling it “Earth Day” to be held on April 22nd, 1970. On that day, an estimated 20 million people nationwide participated and the movement began. By the end of 1970 the EPA was established and shortly thereafter the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Act was enacted.

Fast forward to 2018, 48 years later and here we are again about to celebrate Earth Day, only this time I am a grandparent with two young, beautiful grandchildren. Although we have come a long way since April 22nd, 1970, these important protections are slipping away before our eyes and the threats of global warming are now the crisis of 2018.

We must act now and mobilize elders to stand up and take action to preserve this planet for our grandchildren. I still believe that if we create a movement we will make a difference. You can honor the earth and all grandchildren this Earth Day by making a contribution to Elders Climate Action so that we may continue our work and make the voices of elders stronger.


For the grandchildren, future generations and all life,
Geri Freedman
ECA, Co-Chair
EARTH DAY IS COMING... To celebrate our love of the earth we are calling on you!

Mark Your Calendar!
April 22, 2018

Let's work together to protect our grandchildren and future generations this Earth Day. When you make a contribution to Elders Climate Action, your gift allows us to continue to build a movement of elders committed to taking action on climate change.

We can make a difference by building political will through our collective voice and vote. Working together we can curb the tide of climate change.
Will you stand with us?
 
Honor your grandchildren with a donation to ECA this Earth Day.
Get INSPIRED
How to make a Personal Difference
(reducing our carbon footprint)

BY ECA Member, Geoff Ainscow


Does the news about global warming terrify you?
Here’s a pill to relieve the anxiety.
  • Take a look at your house. Cork the holes in outside walls. Block gaps under outside doors. Only heat the rooms you occupy.
  • Place insulation in your attic or roof. Replace windows with double glazing.
  • Add window screens on the outside to stop the sun shining in the house and reducing air conditioning costs.
  • Swallow a few extra minutes and walk to the store. It’s good for your health and the planet. Make your next car a hybrid.
  • Use public transport one day a week. Ride a bike one day a week. Designate a meatless day every week.
  • Install a compost heap and reduce food waste. Grow your own garden and plant fruit trees.
  • When the time comes to replace your gas water heater, install a heat pump water heater.
  • Then to reduce the fever, monitor your electricity, gas and water usage and set a reduction goal of 20% this year.
  • Install solar panels, drive an electric car and restrict your air travel to one trip per year.
  • Adopt a plant-based diet, eliminate all meat and buy non-packaged items from local farmers markets.
In action you become part of the solution and the anxiety turns to hope.
Photo above was taken on a 10-day vacation riding the 270 mile Katy Trail along the Missouri river. Geoff and Bev drove across the country in a two seater hybrid car with their bikes and luggage in the trunk.
Thank You Shirley!
A woman who has committed herself to making a personal difference
Shirley (in center) and Family.
Since early 2015 Shirley McGrath has dedicated herself to Elders Climate Action Leadership Team and has been the Partnership Liaison. Through her dedication and perseverance ECA now has over 60 partners. Shirley has been an incredible member of the Leadership Team and has helped ECA become what it is today. It is with sadness that we say goodbye and thank her as she leaves the Leadership Team. We are overjoyed that NorCal, the new Northern California ECA Chapter will now have another fantastic and dedicated person as part of its leadership. We say to NorCal “Oh the Places You Will Go”.
All the best, Shirley, and thank you for all you have done and continue to do for all of the grandchildren and future generations.
Get INFORMED
What's Your Carbon Footprint?

One way to observe Earth Day is to consider your own carbon footprint. If you’ve been wondering about personal actions you can take to address climate change, an important place to start is by calculating how much greenhouse gas your household creates.

We’ve compiled a list of what we think are the best carbon footprint calculators available online. There is an in-depth one as well as one that gives a quick estimate. And we’ve included ones to share with your grandkids.

The EPA offers a fairly in-depth Carbon Footprint Calculator that provides tips for how to lower your emissions and save money.  


Conservation International offers a quick way to estimate your carbon footprint and what it would cost to offset it.

Find out more about a fun ways to introduce the concept to your younger grandchildren.
Check out the Get INFORMED section of the ECA Website
We've built up the website to include a variety of ECA related information for meetings, presentations and events, as well as climate resources from our partners and volunteer curators.

Let ECA be your one stop for taking Climate Action!
Get ENGAGED
REGISTER NOW!
Are you ready to get inspired, informed and engaged in climate change and ready to take action for your grandchildren, future generations and all life?

Join us in Washington, D.C for
Elders Climate Action Day: A Gathering of Elders Standing for a Sustainable & Just World

June 25 – 27th

American University Washington College of Law
Monday, June 25
Tuesday, June 26
United States Capitol – Legislative Visits & Congressional Drop
Wednesday, June 27

We will be joining the Poor People's March on Washington on March 23.
Come early and join us at the March!
ECA MONTHLY
NATIONAL CALL


Join us for the Elders Climate Action National Call

April 24, 2018
7:00 PM (EST) / 4:00 PM (PST)


Members of Elders Climate Action are taking to the streets to ask candidates for office to join us by signing a commitment to climate action. We are asking our representatives in 2018 to work with others to adopt legislation that will reduce greenhouse gases to prevent catastrophic climate change. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We've Partnered with the Environmental Voter Project on a new project, Elders Vote for the Climate 2018 . Sign the pledge and commit to being a CLIMATE VOTER in 2018!
DearTomorrow  and Elders Climate Action have partnered together to collect Letters to Loved Ones in 2050. Take a moment and write a letter to your loved one, grandchildren or great grandchildren and let them know what you did when you realized the significance of climate change.  WE HOPE YOU’LL JOIN THE PROJECT!
Elders Climate Action, a project of Conscious Elders Network www.eldersclimateaction.org | info@eldersclimateaction.org
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