Become a fan and loose weight (CO2 weight)

Lose Weight Fast! (of C02 that is) Try it now, for free!

NativeEnergy’s carbon diet: Drop 30 pounds every day just by becoming a NativeEnergy fan on Facebook and posting!

Join the 30-pound challenge! For every fan whom we add to our Facebook page between now and September 30, 2009, NativeEnergy will reduce 30 pounds of carbon pollution– that is the same amount of carbon pollution made by the average American driving to and from work in one day.

Tell all your friends! Share this page on your Facebook wall – or anywhere else - so everyone else can neutralize their commute for a day in September as well!

The carbon reductions for the NativeEnergy “weight-loss” program will be generated by the Greensburg Wind Farm in Greensburg, KS, the little town that is rebuilding as the greenest town in America.

As a NativeEnergy Facebook fan, you will get our weekly blog updates and be part of a community of people who are supporting practical ways to fight global warming, just like you!
BONUS-Every week day between now and September 15th a question will be posted to the NativeEnergy page, when you answer that question we will offset an additional 30 pounds for each day that you post.

Get involved, lose some weight! Join our facebook page!

11 Steps to save money and reduce your energy use

1. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Start with your five most frequently used lights. CFLs are now brighter and faster and save about 66% of the electricity used by an incandescent bulb. Every bulb helps!
2. Turn all computers, televisions and electronics entirely off when they are not in use to cut your "phantom" or hidden energy use. You can do this easily by plugging all electronics into a combined surge protector/power strip with a single on-off switch. Unplug phone and electric toothbrush chargers when they finish charging.
3. Home heating is one of your major energy needs. Install an Energy Star programmable thermostat. Setting the thermostat to 70 degrees or lower in winter and 78 degrees in summer will result in dramatic savings. Program it to lower the temperature 10 degrees at night or anytime no one is home during the day.
4. Saving water saves energy. Fix plumbing leaks and install aerators on faucets and low-flow shower-heads. Take shorter showers and turn down the temperature on your water heater from 140 degrees to 120 degrees. If you are gone for a long period of time, set the thermostat at “vacation” or the lowest setting. If you replace your water heater, consider a “tank-less” or “on-demand” system.
5. Increase the energy efficiency of your home. Weather-strip and caulk gaps in windows and doorframes. Insulate attic, walls, floors, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, and plumbing penetrations. Then, increase the efficiency of your heating system, appliances, and fixtures. The next time you replace one of these items, look for the Energy Star seal. Meanwhile, keep coils under the refrigerator free of dust and debris, run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full. Call or visit the website of National Grid for more tips to save electricity and natural gas.
6. Cut the carbon from your car. Your car is a major contributor to your carbon pollution footprint. Carpool to work or ride the train - carpool to station parking lots to save on the parking fee! Drive efficiently: avoid frequent start-stops, keep tires inflated to maximum pressure, and remove unnecessary weight from the vehicle. When you replace your vehicle, choose a more fuel-efficient car.
7. Complete a simple on-line, home-energy audit to find out how much energy and money you can save at home. (You can also set up a free "in person" audit through MassSAVE by calling 1-866-527-7283)
8. Reduce, reuse, recycle, re-buy. Power down your lifestyle and embrace your inner “frugalista”! Craigslist and the local Freecycle are simple networks where you can locally buy, sell, or give away items or services. By limiting your consumption and purchases of goods produced using non-renewable resources, you will use much less and spend less.
9. Use the sun and wind to dry clothes. Whenever possible, use a clothes line instead of an energy hog clothes-dryer.
10. Join the "Clean Energy Choice" campaign to help raise money for Franklin solar projects! National Grid’s "Green Up" program sends more power from renewable sources into our electricity system by pooling small, voluntary tax-deductible contributions added to consumers’ monthly bills. If 150 Franklin households sign up by September 30th, the Town will be eligible for a $25,000 grant to install a demonstration solar electric system on a school or other town building. Sign up at ww.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/home/energychoice/3_renewable.asp
11. Take a bite out of Global Warming. Small changes in the way you select, purchase, and grow your food will reduce your carbon foot print and often save you money, too. You can choose to eat organic, reduce meat consumption, avoid processed foods, buy locally grown foods, and choose foods that have the least packaging – all steps that will cut the energy used to produce and ship the food you eat. Simple measures add up, and there are many more things you can do!
    
    For more information on more simple ways to save money and help the Earth, contact the non-profit Franklin Area Climate Team, which will be starting “Low Carbon Diet” groups this spring. Email FranklinAreaClimateTeam@yahoogroups.com

Cutting through the hype (video)

Greg Craven helps to cut through all the hype:

You know that whole shouting match about global warming? I know it seems like such a noisy mess that it's easy to tune out. But here's a thought for you: while we debate whether humans can really change the climate or not, we are at the same time running the experiment. The kicker is, no matter what the outcome of the experiment, we're in the test tube! So it seems clear that we'd better get to the bottom of the controversy as quick as possible. But how do you know which side to believe?

How does that logic work for you?

350 is the number!

The following is the text of email just received from Bill McKibben at 350.org.

Dear friends,

For once, this email isn't asking you to do anything at all. It's merely sharing the news--the amazing news--that arrived about 45 minutes ago at 350 headquarters.

Rajendra Pachauri is the U.N.'s top climate scientist. He leads the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which every five years produces the authoritative assessment of climate science. Their last report, in 2007, helped set the target of 450 ppm (parts per million of CO2) that many environmental groups and national governments have adopted as their goal for Copenhagen.

As you all know, that number is out of date. When Jim Hansen and other scientists looked at phenomenon like the Arctic ice melt of the last two summers, they produced new data demonstrating that 350 is the bottom line for the planet.

But it's been hard to get that news out to the powers that be.

So today it comes as enormous and welcome news that Dr. Pachauri, from his New Delhi office, said that 350 was the number.

"As chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) I cannot take a position because we do not make recommendations," said Rajendra Pachauri when asked if he supported calls to keep atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations below 350 parts per million (ppm).

"But as a human being I am fully supportive of that goal. What is happening, and what is likely to happen, convinces me that the world must be really ambitious and very determined at moving toward a 350 target," he told Agence France Presse in an interview.

It's your work that has made this breakthrough possible. In fact, Pachauri specifically cited the last big piece of news for 350: the decision of 80+ small island nations and less developed countries to endorse the 350 target.

"I think this is a good development," said Pachauri. "Now people -- including some scientists -- see the seriousness of the impacts of climate change, and the fact that things are going to get substantially worse than what we had anticipated."

This news makes it much easier for all of us to push hard leading up to the International Day of Climate Action on the 24th of October (signup to start or attend an event at www.350.org) , and the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December.

It's clear now that science is powerfully on the side of the 350 target. Now we need the political world to follow suit. You will make that happen in the next two months. Oct. 24 is officially 60 days away, and we're building just the momentum we need to make it count.

Thanks for all you do,

Bill McKibben

3/19/09 FACT meeting

* MARCH 19, 2009, 7 - 9 P.M., First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin, MA, 02038: Franklin Area Climate Team meeting.

3/28/09 Earth Hour, 8:30-9:30 P.M.

Earth Hour 2009 takes place on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm–local time, wherever you are on Earth.

The main point of Earth Hour is to unite people, companies and governments around the world through the symbolic flip of a switch. Flipping the switch (turning off all non-essential lighting) for Earth Hour is an easy way for everyone to participate and demand action wherever they are.
To learn more, visit http://www.earthhour.org/. To read about Boston's role in Earth Hour, visit
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2009/03/boston_landmarks_to_go_dark_fo.html

4/5/09 Forum at Stony Brook

APRIL 5, 2009, 7:00 - 8:30 P.M., Stony Brook Nature Sanctuary, 108 North Street, Norfolk, MA 02056:

The community forum to be held at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary on April 5th 2009 is part of Amy Hart's Masters degree program at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. As part of this forum, you will be expected to participate in active discussion and partake in activities to be presented in the 1.5 hour session.

Amy will be providing light refreshments as a thank you for participating and would like feedback from you in regards to the content and delivery of the session.The discussion will focus on the "Future of Overseas Aid and International Development as a response to communities displaced by climate change". We will look at case studies from south east asia and will also discuss the role that western society plays in the politics and on ground action which form the basis of International Aid. Amy will ask participants to think critically and analytically about the role that the USA plays in this issue.

Please RSVP to Amy at least 1 week before and let her know if you will or will not be able to make it to this event. 30360321@student.murdoch.edu.au

2009 EVENTS

FEBRUARY

*Sun 1 Feb, 7 P.M., Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA, 02703: Escape from Suburbia -- The Green Reel - Films for Sustainable Living. For more info: 508-695-2389

*Thu 5 Feb, 7 - 9 P.M., First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin, MA, 02039: Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions

*Sun 8 Feb, 7 P.M., Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA, 02703: Everything’s Cool - The Geen Reel - Films for Sustainable Living. For more info: 508-695-2389

*Sun 22 Feb, 7 P.M., Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA, 02703: The Next Industrial Revolution - The Green Reel - Films for Sustainable Living. For more info: 508-695-2389

MARCH

*Sun 1 Mar, 7 P.M., Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA, 02703: Renewal - The Green Reel - Films for Sustainable Living. For more info: 508-695-2389

*Sun 8 Mar, 1:30 - 4:00 P.M., Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 108 North St., Norfolk, MA, 02056: Global Warming Cafe

*Thur 19 Mar, 7 - 9 P.M., First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin, MA, 02039:FACT Meeting

*Sat 28 Mar, 8:30 - 9:30 P.M., Wherever you are on Earth: Earth Hour 2009.

OCTOBER

*Sat, 24 Oct: International Day of Climate Action (Stay tuned for more info.)

*Event is Free and Open to the Public

3/8/09 Global Warming Cafe

MARCH 8, 2009, 1:30 - 4:00 P.M., Stony Brook Nature Sanctuary, 108 North Street, Norfolk, MA 02056

Concerned about skyrocketing energy bills? Worried about the effects of climate change on our planet? You can take action, and it's easier when we do it together.

Massachusetts Audubon Society, in conjunction with the Franklin Area Climate Team and Massachusetts Climate Action Network, will be hosting a Global Warming Cafe at Stony Brook Nature Sanctuary in Norfolk.

You can learn how to save money and protect the planet by making smarter choices about your energy use and reducing your carbon footprint. The Global
Warming Cafe is an opportunity for participants to exchange views, feelings and ideas so that we can begin personal and collective action to stop global warming.

The afternoon will start with a tour of Stony Brook's solar array with Sanctuary Director Doug Williams, and a chance to discuss solar installation with Alteris, Inc. Stony Brook's solar array was installed in December 2006, and generates a cost
savings of between $30-160 per month, depending on the season.

Refreshments and light snacks will be available.

For more information contact FranklinAreaClimateTeam@yahoogroups.com

-----

At the Global Warming Café last weekend, we promised to post some tips about reducing junk mail.

You can try to reduce the amount of unwanted catalogs you receive with Catalog Choice and request to stop receiving credit offers, magazine offers, and other mail offers at Direct Marketing Association.

The following was copied from the Federal Trade Commission website:
The credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables you to “opt-out” of having pre-approved credit offers sent to you for five years. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit http://www.optoutprescreen.com/ for more information. When you call, you’ll be asked for personal information, including your home telephone number, your name, and your Social Security number. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out of receiving pre-screened offers of credit.

In addition, you can notify the three major credit bureaus that you do not want personal information about you shared for promotional purposes—an important step toward eliminating unsolicited mail. Write your own letter or use the sample letter on the back of this Alert to limit the amount of information the credit bureaus will share about you. Send your letter to each of the three major credit bureaus:

Experian 901 West Bond Lincoln, NE 68521 Attn: Consumer Services Department

TransUnionName Removal Option P.O. Box 505 Woodlyn, PA 19094

Equifax, Inc.OptionsP.O. Box 740123Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

ForestEthics provides a do not mail form. While you’re there, you may be interested in signing the petition to support a Do Not Mail Registry.

Low Carbon Diet Teams

This is a fun, accessible, easy to use program that shows how to dramatically reduce your CO2 output. With simple changes to actions you take every day, you’ll learn how to reduce your annual household CO2 output by at least 15%.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Americans – only 5% of the world's population – consume 33% of the planet's resources and waste up to 75%, due to inefficiency and lack of awareness. Households directly consume one third of these resources, and indirectly use much of the rest through the purchase of products and services. How we live is a big part of the problem. It can also be a big part of the solution, if we adopt more environmentally sustainable lifestyles. That means exercising more care in our use of the Earth's finite resources (trees, water, energy, minerals, land) to ensure that there will be enough left for our children and their children.

HOW TO JOIN THE PROGRAM

The team can be made up of your household family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or members of your faith community or civic organization. If you have a group of interested individuals, you can start a team whenever you wish. For more information, or if you would like to join a Low Carbon Diet team, contact the Franklin Area Climate Team at FranklinAreaClimateTeam-owner@yahoogroups.com

Visit www.EmpowermentInstitute.net/lcd for more details on the Low Carbon Diet Program.