Take Action

February 2010 Action Item:
Each month, Shanahan Neighbors for Climate Action provides neighbors with an opportunity to take action. This month the group's members are calling our U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet express their opposition to Sen. Murkowski's proposal to take away EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions through the Clean Air Act and to urge the Senators to prioritize passing climate legislation this spring.

Background
On April 2, 2007, in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007), the Supreme Court found that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act. This important finding would allow the Obama Administration to take the lead on curbing greenhouse gases if Congress fails to act this year. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has proposed offering an amendment this week to an unrelated bill which would bar the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. Washington Post and other news sources have confirmed that two Washington lobbyists helped craft the original amendment Murkowski planned to offer on the floor last fall.

To Take Action:
Making a call to U.S. Senators Udall and Bennet. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) proposed amendment would bar the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. To urge our Senators to protect the EPA's authority and prioritize strong climate legislation this spring, call these numbers:

1. Senator Michael Bennet -- (202) 224-5852
2. Senator Mark Udall -- (202) 224-5941

Leave a comment with your name and zip code.

Building the Community
SNCA is all about interacting with neighbors as we seek and share solutions to cultivate a sustainable way of being for our planet.

If you have a few minutes to call a neighbor, knock on a door, or coordinate our efforts with local government and nonprofit organizations, check out our simple online form. You can choose from tasks and activities that take 30 minutes, an hour, or a few hours each month. We happily welcome however much you can pitch in!

If you are ready for ongoing involvement and you would like to help with planning and putting on events, ongoing community activities, and educational programs, consider joining a committee. We welcome your help on any of the committee activities described below.

Events Committee
Plans and schedules events such as speakers, presentations, movie nights, and potluck socials. We also plan the annual Energy Efficiency and Solar Walking Tour and Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale. Agenda selection and scheduling is coordinated with the Steering Committee. Participant recruiting, advertising, and outreach is coordinated with the Outreach Committee.

Marketing Committee
Designs and creates flyers, posters, and website. We coordinate communications via listserv, Facebook, phone tree and neighborhood canvassing. We are particularly excited about developing a presence on social networking sites and identifying online tools that we can use to promote more neighborhood interaction. We are also developing connections with other groups and organizations in the community, such as the city's Climate Smart team, Center for Resource Conservation, Boulder Green Building Guild, and Ecocycle.

Community Building
Creates and implements ongoing opportunities for interaction and sharing of solutions. We envision weekly hikes and bike rides starting from the Shanahan ridge area, and perhaps a winter book club. Future activities can include helping neighbors join a CSA service (community supported agriculture, group purchase of locally produced organic food) and even creating a community garden. We are open to ideas, like bulk purchase of insulation or PV panels, working with local schools to set up "walking buses," and coordinating recycling of hard-to-recycle materials

To join a committee, sign up on our easy online form or call Gwen at 303-809-5422.