As a member of the Earthcare Ministry Committee, I followed through with our idea of collecting some information about what Friends were doing who attended NEYM Sessions in 2019. We hoped this idea would engage others in celebrating what they were doing and perhaps provide some ideas and incentives for others to explore.
I provided materials for Friends to share their actions in the building where we met for business sessions. At the end of Sessions, we had three pages of actions! (listed below)
The Carbon Calculator is a tool to help Friends assess their progress in reducing their carbon footprint. There are many more actions listed on this website to choose from. The calculator and numerous other helpful resources for NEYM can be found at climatecalculator.org
Individual actions lead to campaigns, campaigns to movements, movements to societal change.
(Poster query) “What have we done to reduce our use of fossil fuel?”
- Work from home: We have intentionally moved to be close to our work, our worship and all other regular activities. We don’t use our car. Also, we live in the city but grow our own food at community gardens as much as our climate permits! Fresher, healthier and less carbon footprint.
- Permaculture, plant-based diet, low carbon recreation.
- We: have solar panels, grow our own food as much as we can, live communally and share equipment, have repaired and taken care of what we own so we do not need to buy new, work from home.
- Taking train to FCNL meeting in DC instead of flying; cutting meat portions to smaller portions and only once a day meat (mostly grass-fed local chicken).
- Starting new job closer to home in the fall—closer commute!
- I eat a plant-based, whole foods diet.
- My partner and I shower together.
- I am designing my ½ acre for maximum carbon storage and hoping to start a dialogue with my neighbors.
- We use energy-saving bulbs.
- We wrap our hot water pipes in insulation.
- Hang clothes on the line to dry.
- Avoiding plastic or reusing numerous times; buy in bulk.
- Upgrade our electricity supply plan (Boston area) to 100% renewable. (Also, all of Rhode Island has this option.)
- No more flying in North America: only train, bus or car.
- No car since 2015.
- One car household.
- Reducing trash by recycling and gardening and belonging to a CSA; repairing not buying or buying a second house.
- Insulated walls and attic crawl space.
- I made the leap! I am buying an electric car!
- Ditto—You will love it. We charge with green energy option.
- Rooftop solar—paying loan for it instead of electricity bills.
- Adding another solar array in field with our neighbors to share costs and benefits.
- All electricity roof-top solar.
- Ditto—and dry clothes on line, use cloth bags, ride bike, replaced all windows, fight fossil fuel infrastructure via civil disobedience.
- Solar array—did not pay electric bill in 2018-2019 school year; induction stove, insulation and hybrid car.
- To every member/attender: Please talk with legislators, political candidates, family, friends about the climate crisis and help them figure out an action to do ASAP.
With gratitude for all you are doing, Friends, for caring for our common home, Earth.