Our next meeting is Saturday, December 5, 12:45 – 2:45 pm, First Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Starting in January, meetings will be on the second Saturday of the month.
Recent op-eds and columns we discussed today:
Upcoming events of interest:
- Sunday, November 8, 1:00 – 2:00pm, First Unitarian. Food Waste Forum. Co-sponsored by First UU’s Climate Action Group and Mindful Eating Coalition, and Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Will focus on why food waste is a climate problem and how we can help solve the problem.
- Tuesday, November 10, 4:00 – 5:30pm, Weill Hall. A conversation with former Republican Congressmen Mike Rogers and David Camp. Hosted by Former Republican Congressman and UM Visiting Lecturer, Joe Schwarz.
- Wednesday, November 11, 5:00 – 7:00pm, Rackham Auditorium. Gasland: a multimedia presentation on fracking by Josh Fox
- Thursday, November 19, 6:30pm, Dana Natural Resources Building, room 1028. Environment Michigan panel on the EPA Clean Water Rule. Speakers: Bivouac owner, farmer Richard Andre from Tantre Farms, elected official (TBD)
- Monday, November 23, 11:30am – 1:00pm, Weill Hall. Cheap and Clean: How Americans Think about Energy in the Age of Global Warming
- Thursday, December 3, 7:30pm, St. Mary’s Student Parish. Sister Simone Campbell: “Creating an Economy of Inclusion: Pope Francis’ Call to Common Good”. More information and register here. This is a fundraiser for RESULTS and open to the public. (flyer attached).
- Wednesday, December 9, 5:00 – 7:00pm, Dana Natural Resources Building, room 1040. Free screening of Merchants of Doubt. Sponsored by SNRE, Citizens Climate Lobby, Divest & Invest
- Saturday, December 12, 2:00 – 4:00pm, Downtown Ann Arbor. Michigan Climate March.
Reminders on how to get more information about Ann Arbor CCL:
- Ann Arbor CCL Website
- Ann Arbor CCL Google Group. To exchange information with other members and find out about letter-to-the-editor opportunities. To join, visit the web site and then click on the link to subscribe, or send me an email.
Meeting Summary
National Call
- If you would like to listen to a recording of the call, access it here.
- More details on the monthly actions here, including suggestions for writing to Senators and writing letters to the editor.
- Guest speaker Rob Williams from Resources For the Future first addressed why economists favor a carbon tax over a carbon cap, then summarized the results of two studies examining 3 different methods of recycling the revenue from a carbon tax: 1) Tax cut on capital income; 2) Tax cut on labor income; 3) Lump sum dividend. Option 1 is more efficient over all, but the lowest 3 quintiles fare best under option 3.
- Highlights of CCL successes last month:
- Ontario, Canada held 18 lobby meetings last month
- Canada got a CCL public service announcement during the final world series game
- Fresno, CA had 11 LTE published last month
- Ithaca, NY succeeded in getting their congressman to be the 12th co-sponsor of the Gibson Resolution
- Texas Energy Freedom Tour. Read about this amazing outreach project here.
- CCL supporters in all but one US Congressional district (Mississippi 01)
- 246 Letters to the editor published last month, 2186 year-to-date
- 339 op-eds published year-to-date
- Fall Fundraising appeal. Please consider donating and asking for friends and family to donate on Giving Tuesday, December 1, when there will be a 1-day, $25,000 matching grant. Make your donation using this link.
Local Discussion
- LM described efforts to get editorial board meeting with Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. No meeting scheduled yet, but still working on it.
- KH talked about planning for the Michigan Climate March on December 12, starting at 2pm in front of the Federal Building. Please help spread the word for this big event. RSVP here and invite your friends to the Facebook event
- Made plans to have a CCL table in the First UU social hall after the climate change-focused service on Nov 22. Service being planned by members of the Climate Action Group, including KH (lead) and JS.
- Talked about hosting Green Drinks event on first Thursday in January. GR will reserve room at Arbor Brewing.
- Personal goals:
- GR: write LTE, write to senators, planning for climate march, planning for Merchants of Doubt
- DB: working on how to get information in bulletin for church
- LM: editorial board meeting, publicity for march
- BB: write to senators, write to Walberg suggesting R’s come up with alternative to new keep-it-in-the-ground bill
- DG: speakers for march, meeting with Dingell
- MK: continue with endorsements, write to senators
- WL: research websites with big audiences for climate change
- BB: get involved in march planning
- JS: prepare for presentation, write to Obama to thank for Keystone decision, bring one friend to march
- LJ: revise climate change sermon and send out, continue research on health impacts of climate change