F e b r u a ry
F e at u r e d C l i m at e A c t i o n s
Climate Action Group
Do you believe that Climate Change threatens our future? Then empower yourself and act on your
convictions! We urgently need to act on many levels at once: personal, community, state/national/
global, and keeping ourselves informed and inspired. Consider these monthly suggestions or do an
action of your choice every month. These featured actions are brought to you by the Climate Action
Group of the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. To learn more contact Molly Hale at
[email protected] or 585-0791.
1. Personal: Downsize the space you heat in the winter. This winter’s bitter cold has certainly spiked
your heating bill. Consider a change in lifestyle where winter is a time of contraction and pulling in to a
smaller, cozier area in your home. Are there areas you don’t need to heat, such as bedrooms, and
under-used living spaces that you could close off with doors or curtains? As a longer term fix, consider
building in a permanent way to seal off un-needed areas in the winter.
2. Community: Host a games night, music night, or movie night with your nearby neighbors. Building
connections with neighbors breaks down isolation and lays the groundwork for future projects involving
neighborhood cooperation.
3. State/National/Global: On February 8, join a rally in Salem, MA to stand in solidarity with
community leaders there who do not want a new natural gas plant to replace the retiring coal plant that
has plagued the Salem community with pollution and disease for six decades. More info here (scroll
down to “Only the Best for Salem.”)
4. Inform yourself: If you are still unconvinced that climate change is real, human-caused, and urgent,
this site of the Natural Resources Defense Council (click here) provides a comprehensive overview. If
you question whether your actions can make a difference, click here to read the New York Times
editorial by Michael Pollan titled, “Why Bother?”
The Pioneer 12