Ecominds-a Mailing List: A-List June 7: Peak Oil Expert THIS FRIDAY, and more!

[Joe + Madalyn (joemadalyn]

UU EcoMinds-A List for June 7, 2005

UU EcoMinds promotes lifestyles, policies and
technologies that respect and sustain all life 
on earth and is a working group of the 
Metro Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA)

In this posting:

#1  THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 10! Richard Heinberg Peak-Oil event 

#2  LEGISLATION: MN RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD fails; Climate
Stewardship Act reintroduced in DC
 
#3  POLICY EVENT: Minnesota Environmental Initiative to release
report on "Minnesota Research Priorities for Renewable Energy?" 

#4  INDIVIDUAL ACTION: New stores for enviro-friendly shopping

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#1  THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 10! Richard Heinberg Peak-Oil event 

Peak Oil expert and author Richard Heinberg will lecture
and answer questions on Friday, June 10, 7:00-9:00pm
Where: First Universalist, 3400 Dupont Ave.
Admission: Good will donation ($5.00 suggested)
With: Introduction from Rev. Kate Tucker. Moderated Q&A, refreshments
and related information & resources available after the talk.

Petroleum geologists, economists, and the mainstream press
are giving more and more attention to data that we are at or
very near the peak of global oil production. Declining availability
of oil will likely seriously disrupt industrial economies and
change everyday life for most of us. Our response to this fact is
a moral and ethical challenge we as UU's need to tackle.

PLEASE ATTEND AND SPREAD THE WORD 

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#2  MN RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD fails; Climate
Stewardship Act reintroduced in DC

The McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act has
been reintroduced in DC. Calls and faxes to Coleman, Dayton
and your representatives are needed now! 

Re: the Minnesota Renewable Energy Standard, we'll have
to try again next year everyone. If your legislator 
voted no, call and demand an explanation. Find more at www.me3.org

>From the ME3 website:
Despite overwhelming public support for a 20% by
2020 Renewable Energy Standard (RES) for Minnesota,
the measure failed last Thursday in the Minnesota House
of Representatives. After a two-hour debate, the Peterson
Amendment to the Omnibus Energy Bill was defeated by a
54 to 78 vote. 

Citizen support of this legislation made a 
difference?more than one legislator remarked that 
voter input swayed them in support of the bill.

And this from the Star Tribune editorial staff: 

Shortcuts (Published June 6, 2005 ):  High-power lobbying

How many lobbyists does it take to kill a bill at the 
Legislature? Consider the effort the utility/energy 
industry mounted to defeat a proposal to set a 20 
percent renewable energy standard by 2020. When the small 
nonprofit group Minnesotans for an Energy Efficient Economy 
tried to hire additional lobbying help to support the proposal,
it was turned down repeatedly by professionals already employed
by the other side. ME3 then went to registration records, 
to see what size lobbying force they were up against. The count: 117. 
	
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#3	POLICY EVENT: Minnesota Environmental Initiative to release
report on "Minnesota Research Priorities for Renewable Energy?"

For anyone interested in learning more about
Minnesota's future related to renewable energy and policy... 
(one approach to reducing global warming). 

*EVENT DETAILS:*
Thursday, June 23
8:45 am - 11 am
University of Minnesota
Cargill Building, Room 105
Saint Paul

Please join the Minnesota Environmental Initiative
(MEI)and the University of Minnesota's Initiative for
Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) for the public 
release of MEI's "Minnesota Research Priorities 
for Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies" report.

The report, written by representatives from 
energy-technology businesses, university researchers,
environmental organizations, government agencies and
the financial community, outlines recommendations
that will help Minnesota achieve sustainable balance
between energy, the environment and the economy.

The event is intended to involve stakeholders from all
areas an opportunity to discuss Minnesota's long-term
renewable energy research agenda.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

For more information and to register, please visit: 
http://www.mn-ei.org/ea/events.html.

FFI: Todd Reubold, IREE Assistant Director

reub0002 [at] umn.edu
(612) 624-6140
www.iree.umn.edu

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#4  INDIVIDUAL ACTION: New stores for enviro-responsible shopping

If you have to shop and can't find what you need in a resale shop,
check out these new locally-owned stores. 
(Did you know that conventional cotton is one of the most
environmentally destructive crops grown in the US? Buy organic
cotton when you can.)

1) The Linden Hills Co-op has opened LINDEN HILLS NATURAL HOME
directly across the street from the Co-op, on 43rd St. 
near Upton Ave. in southwest Minneapolis. Features
eco-friendly clothing, and organic alternatives for home,
garden and pet care.

2) BIRCH CLOTHING just opened at 50th & Penn Ave. S., Minneapolis.
It is dedicated to providing the Twin Cities metro area with
high quality, fairly traded, environmentally responsible
clothing for men and women. Apparel made from natural 
fibers such as hemp, silk, tencel and organic cotton.  

Located at 2309 West 50th Street (50th and Penn) in South Minneapolis.

HOURS:  M-F 10-8    Sat  10-5     Sun  12-4       

PHONE:   612-436-0776 

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