signed by 50 attendees of CAAV’s February 19 forum, “Can Ethics and Faith Guide Our Responses to Climate Change?”
JMU Climate Action Report
JMU Climate Action Report Update 1, December 2012
This document discusses progress and revisions since the 2010 report. Noteworthy environmental achievements include diverting more waste to a composting program, transforming campus transportation, implementing environmental policies, adopting student environmental literacy learning outcomes and an assessment, fostering student-led environment programs, integrating environmental stewardship across the curriculum, creating an employee conservation program, and greening operations. Integration into the planning process, cross-divisional collaboration, and stakeholder support at all levels are key to success. …
Forward on Climate Rally, Feb. 17
CAAV members joined tens of thousands of other concerned people from all over the country to rally for action on climate change on the grounds of the Washington Monument and in a parade around the White House on Sunday, February 17.
We heard rousing talk and impassioned pleas from our climate heros. “The speakers up on stage today represented the full diversity of our movement, from indigenous leaders across the United States and Canada, to clean energy investors like Tom Steyer, to environmental leaders like Mike Brune and Bill McKibben, to civil and voting rights activists like Rosario Dawson and Rev. Lennox Yearwood.” – 350.org organizer Jamie Henn
Calls for action were also delivered by:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, “I speak out on climate change each week because the cost of Congress’ inaction is too high for our communities, our kids, and our futures.” and
Van Jones, former White House advisor, green-energy economy leader, author
350.org’s Bill McKibben tells us:
“We are making plans to put the momentum of this historic day to use, and you’ll hear about them very soon …
You are the movement, and the movement is our best chance at making a difference on climate change.”
See Michael Grunwald’s “I’m with the Tree Huggers: The activists fighting the Keystone XL pipeline are radical-and right” – Time Magazine, February 28, 2013
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anXE46utpo8?rel=0]
Conservation Lobby Day 2013
CAAV members, Laura and Bishop Dansby, paid visits to Representative Tony Wilt and Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr. in Richmond on Lobby Day, January 28, 2013. They asked for a NO vote on the lifting of the ban on uranium in Virginia and stressed the urgency of dealing with climate change and energy issues on both the state and national level. Senator Hanger invited CAAV to make follow up appointments to further discuss these issues after the close of the session.
Lobby Day is a yearly event sponsored by the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN). “Representing 150 environmental, preservation and community organizations active throughout the commonwealth, …VCN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan voice of conservation in Virginia.” VCN publishes a yearly Conservation Briefing Book distributed at their General Assembly Preview Workshop in December.
“Can Ethics and Faith Guide Our Responses to Climate Change?”
A Panel Discussion on Tuesday, February 19th, 6:00 to 7:30 PM, at the Massanutten Regional Library
With guests speakers:
Ehsan Ahmed, secretary general of the Islamic Association of the Shenandoah Valley
Ross Erb, associate pastor of Parkview Mennonite Church
Ann Held, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church
Mark Piper, assistant professor in the JMU Department of Philosophy and Religion.
During 2012 alone the world saw floods in Japan, Fiji, Venice, the UK, Nigeria, Pakistan and more, drought in Russia, China, and North Korea. Sea levels are rising around the world, affecting the most heavily populated regions on earth. In the United States we have had not only the hottest year ever but our own terrible share of drought and floods and extremely strong storms. Millions of people have been impacted, losing their jobs, their homes, their food sources and even their lives. While our beautiful valley has not suffered that much so far, more severe climate change effects will arrive. And, with increasing globalization, any disaster is felt around the world.
In the past, the Climate Action Alliance of the Valley has addressed the economic incentives of moving to alternative energy sources and building or retrofitting homes that are energy efficient. On February 19th we will look beyond the dollars and cents and ask a panel to address the moral, ethical, and religious values that might also guide our choices in responding to climate change.
Please join us for this insightful presentation!