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Taking Action
Hearing God's Call
Where do you turn to seek a vision of God’s plan for the earth and your offering to fulfill it? How does your vision of God’s plan influence your actions? How do you share your vision with others—in your family, your religious community, or your neighborhood? How might you initiate or support activities in your religious community, neighborhood, or workplace to live more in harmony with God’s creation?
Ways to Reduce Your Greenhouse Gas Emissions
1. Use a car less and a bike, bus, train, or the
sidewalk more; when you do need to drive, carpool; If you consider buying
a new car, select the most fuel-efficient vehicle possible (for more info visit
the US Dept of Energy and US Environmental Protection Agency’s webpage
on fuel-efficiency vehicles at www.fueleconomy.gov)
2. Buy from local farmers and producers (according
to US Department of Defense on average food travels 1300 miles), and buy your
food in bulk, which comes with less packaging. Find out if there’s a farmers
market in your community.
3. Discover new ways, and rediscover old ways,
to have fun and enjoy God’s creation without using electricity or fuel.
4. Buy energy efficient technology—look for
the "Energy Star" label—the EPA’s energy efficient stamp
of approval (for more info visit www.energystar.gov).
A great first step is to replace incandescent light bulbs (particularly as they
burnout) with fluorescent light bulbs. Fluorescent light bulbs last ten times
as long and use one fourth of the energy.
5. Research, advocate for, and buy RENEWABLE ENERGY!
Turn that wind into warmth—several utilities, particularly in Iowa, get
a (small!) percentage of their energy from wind. There’s also solar energy,
biofuels, and geothermal energy. To learn more about renewable energy in Iowa
visit the Iowa Renewable Energy Association webpage at www.irenew.org.
6. Use your consumer power!—tell industry
and government what you believe through letters, phone calls, and visits.
7. Advocate for strong international agreements
and domestic public policies to reduce greenhouse gases.
8. Plant trees and restore prairies (trees provide
shade in the summer and warmth in the winter and both trees and prairies absorb
carbon dioxide).
9. Create a Caring for Creation Committee at your
church, and as your first project become an Energy Stewardship Congregation—a
program created by the NCCC to help congregations make their building/s more
energy efficient. To learn more about the Energy Stewardship Congregation program
call 1-800-288-1346 or visit www.webofcreation.org.
10. Challenge your concept of need and base decisions
on your morals not your financial budget! Want more ideas or more information
on the ones listed above?
Call EMI’s Global Warming Project at 319-395-6703.
Make a Commitment!
1. In my own personal life and in my own home my
FIRST STEP towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be…
2. In my congregational life and at my place of worship our FIRST STEP towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be…
Resources Taking Action Legislators Links Home
For
More Information contact:
EMI’s Global Warming Project
3816 36th Street, Suite 202
Des Moines, IA 50310-4722
(319) 395-6703
emiglobalclimate@aol.com