Monday, April 23, 2007

Step It Up!


Newport Daily News Clergy Corner:
"Step It Up!"

Grab a jacket, invite your neighbors, and head to Easton’s Beach boardwalk! On Saturday, April 14th at noon, residents of Aquidneck Island are gathering to express how much we value our beautiful home and the urgent need to protect it. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a nationwide movement. In all fifty states, thousands will gather with the message, “Step It Up Congress! Cut carbon 80% by 2050”.

Sheldon Whitehouse, US Senator for Rhode Island is a strong supporter of this initiative and will be one of the speakers on Easton’s Beach. “From Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay to ecosystems and communities all over the world, global warming is a serious threat that demands immediate and urgent action”, said Whitehouse. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Whitehouse supports legislation to reduce carbon emissions nationally.

LeRoy White who is well-known in this area for his inspirational music and message, will offer songs and lead us in praise of our ocean home. “Step It Up!” will also include speeches by local leaders and business people as well as information about personal steps you can take to help reduce climate change.

This local event is being organized by Kelly Kittel and Beth Milham as a part of a joint effort of Portsmouth United Methodist Church and Channing Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist. Both congregations have begun efforts to become “green sanctuaries”, that it is to preach, teach, and take actions that honor the earth and the web of life. We feel it is our moral and spiritual responsibility to do all that we can to protect and preserve our planet home. This is an issue that affects all people and living beings.

Scientists agree that climate change is real. Due to human emissions of greenhouse gases and deforestation, carbon dioxide is becoming trapped in our thickening atmosphere. We have already begun to see the negative impact with temperatures reaching record levels, melting of glaciers, sea levels rising, and the increasing ocean temperature causing more severe storms. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita should serve as wake-up calls to the devastating impact these trends could have locally and globally.

Rhode Island is only 37 miles wide by 48 miles long but our small state has 400 miles of coastline. Many of us live here because of the awesome beauty of that coastline. However, as anyone who is lucky enough to live on oceanfront property can tell you, our beaches are undergoing significant erosion. Without question, rising sea levels along our shores would disrupt every aspect of our lives including coastal communities, drinking water, energy supply, economy, and public health.

On April 14th, people across the nation will send a message to Congress that American citizens are concerned about the environment and want the leadership in Washington to take action. Reducing carbon emissions 80% by the middle of the century is an ambitious goal. Unfortunately, it may be too late to prevent global warming but it is possible to stave off the most catastrophic effects. There is a growing commitment to switch from fossil fuels to new sources of energy. It will take strong legislation to reduce emissions at least 2% a year in order to slow the potentially disastrous effects of higher temperatures across the world.

Spring is the perfect season to step up your commitment to the earth. If you cannot make the rally, I encourage you to call members of congress, urging them to “Step It Up!”, and to visit the “Step It Up!” website: http://www.stepitup2007.org/

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