time-running-out-for-earthThe Environmental Justice Task Force believes there are many ways we can act  both as individuals and as a community to address climate change:

  • Lower our personal carbon footprint by 20%
  • Become political advocates, especially on the state level, for legislation to tax carbon, the banning of new fossil fuel infrastructure, and for sustainable energy initiatives
  • Consider divesting personal, institutional, state and municipal funds and endowments from fossil fuels

Here are some resources to inform you and help get you started on on being a climate activist.  For questions or suggestions email Follen-ejtf@googlegroups.com. If you’d like to be informed on local environmental issues and actions request to be added to our info list by sending email to follen-environmental-justice@googlegroups.com

Climate Change

Commentary
Science
Coping with the Enormity

Lowering Our Personal Carbon Footprint

Renewable Energy

The Fossil Fuel Divestment Debate

Divestment in the News
UU Divestment/Religious Divestment
Investing for a Sustainable Future – Fossil Free or Sustainable Funds
Fiduciary Responsibility and Financial Aspects of Divestment
Stranded Assets and the Carbon Bubble
Big Oil vs. Sustainable Energy Initiatives

Get Involved – Climate Action and Email Info and Discussion Groups

  • 350MA.org – Independent grassroots project of the Better Future Project, working to address climate change at the local and state levels with legislation and actions. There are nodes across the state, including Cambridge and Concord.
  • 350.org
  • Follen’s Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) –  for information contact follen-ejat@googlegroups.com
  • Follen’s Environmental Justice interest group – for information about environmental and climate change events, activities, news and discussion. Send email to follen-environmental-justice@googlegroups.com.
  • Citizen’s Climate Lobby – Working to create the political will for a stable climate and to empower individuals to exercise their personal and political power. A local Lexington Chapter has just been formed. For more information contact  bmw@citizensclimatelobby.org
  • Lexington InterFaith Environmental (LIFE) Action group – Contact the curator, Mark Sandeen <marksandeen@gmail.com>
  • Mothers Out Front – Mothers, grandmothers, and other caregivers who can no longer be silent and still about the very real danger that climate change poses to our children’s and grandchildren’s future. (Lexington chapter starting up)

Films and Books

  • Carbon Nation (2010) – An optimistic (and witty) discovery of what people are already doing, what we as a nation could be doing and what the world needs to do to prevent (or at least slow down) the impending climate crisis.
  • Chasing Ice – Follow National Geographic photographer James Balog across the Arctic as he deploys time-lapse cameras designed for one purpose: to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers. (EJTF has a copy of this film for loan to the community)
  • Climate of Change (2010) – A documentary focused on the efforts of everyday people all over the world who are making a difference in the fight against global warming.
  • Bidder 70 – A film about young UU environmentalist Tim DeChrisopher who derailed an illegal BLM oil and gas auction in a courageous act of civil disobedience.
  • Climate Changed by Phillipe Squarzoni – Graphic novel on climate change
  • Cooler Smarter: Practical Steps for Low-Carbon Living – Book containing expert advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists (EJTF has 2 copies for loan to the community)
  • Oil and Honey – Bill McKibben