SOUTHEAST MISSOURI CLIMATE PROTECTION INITIATIVE Facilitators:
	Kathy Conway (573) 651 - 2445 kconway@semo.edu	Alan Journet (573) 651 - 2366 ajournet@semo.edu
	April 14th National Day of Climate Action: Plus What You Can Do Links

Web Source Lists of  Individual Actions:

-     Ten Personal Decisions: Union of Concerned Scientists
        http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/ten-personal-solutions.html

-     U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Page:  Links to ideas for Drivers, Homeowners/Renters, Businesses,  and the Top Ten Things You Can Do. 
        http://www.seattle.gov/climate/getInvolved.htm

-    Suggestions from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
        http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/index.html

-    Natural Resources Defense Council Suggestions:
         http://www.nrdc.org/action/tips.asp

-    Carbon Offsets Demystified: Co-op America Quarterly
        http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/realmoney/articles/carbonoffsets.cfm

-    Offsetting your carbon dioxide production:
        http://www.workingforchange.com/carbonfund/

-   Southeast Missouri Climate Initiative Top Ten List Flyer Landscape or Portrait (set your printer appropriately before printing)

The Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative Top Ten
Press Release Text

In celebration of the National Day of Climate Action (April 14^th, 2007), the Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative has produced a list of ten things individuals in the region can do to reduce their personal contribution to Greenhouse Gas releases.  “Many so-called skeptics would like to portray climate change as a political issue” stated co-facilitator Alan Journet “The reality is, however, that Americans from across the political spectrum are joining to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem and urge action from the grassroots community level to the federal political level.”   The community group has been in existence just a few months, but has already organized a series of local meetings during which residents of the area have formed working groups to explore what individuals can do to reduce their impact on the global problem.  They have also offered a free screening of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, the Academy Award-winning documentary that has been instrumental in raising public consciousness. They also offer educational programs to local community and school groups. 

At their most recent meeting, the Working Groups developed a set of recommendations that they feel residents of the area who would like to reduce their contribution to Greenhouse Gas emissions should consider:

Journet, a biologist at Southeast Missouri State University, said he has been following the evidence and arguments regarding climate change for many years, and has become increasingly convinced of the significance of the problem.  “This could pose the most serious threat to our biodiversity of any human activity” he argued.  “As a scientist I have spent considerable time lately investigating the counter claims of climate change skeptics” added Journet, “Their problem is that the data they use are almost invariably way out of date” he continued “And these data are then combined with half truths and occasionally outright lies to justify false conclusions.”  Co-facilitator Kathy Conway, a faculty member in the College of Education at the university, urged local residents to do what they can: “Individually, we cannot change the world” argued Conway, “but we can each reflect on our own behavior and make a commitment to do what we can.”

Our Top Ten List:

-    Consume locally grown food wherever possible whether from your own garden, a nearby farm, or the store.

-     -    Consider the environmental concerns and sensitivity of political candidates when making ballot decisions.

-    Employ energy efficient travel behaviors: e.g. reduce travel; combine trips; avoid engine idling; maintain a well-tuned engine; walk; bike; car-pool; reduce speed; use public transportation; avoid air travel.
 

-    Review your domestic energy usage: turn off appliance and computers when not in use; replace incandescent light bulbs with low-wattage energy efficient fluorescent bulbs; buy energy efficient (e.g. Energy Star) appliances.
 

-    Develop a low-energy yard: e.g. plant shade trees, plant shrubs around foundations, replace / reduce lawn areas with vegetables, shrubs or trees, use a push-mower.
 

-    Reduce bathroom energy use: install low-flow shower heads; reduce the length of your shower; install timer on water heater to heat only when hot water is needed; reduce hot water temperature to 120⁰F.
 

-    Promote recycling by recycling and composting whenever possible; buy products made from recycled materials; use canvas shopping bags; decline unnecessary store packaging/bagging.
 

-    Reduce winter home thermostat temperature and increase summer temperature; set thermostat on timer adjusted to optimum conditions only when residents are home.
 

-    Consider energy efficiency when buying any domestic appliance.
 

-    Oppose coal/oil powered electrical generation; support alternative (renewable/perpetual) energy sources.

IF NOT US, WHO?                       
                                 IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

When future generations ask: will we be part of the problem, or part of the solution?
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