Showing posts with label Climate change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Climate change. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, March 21, 2024

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, March 21, 7:00-9:00 pm.  Please add it to your calendar. 

We will send more details about the meeting on Wednesday/Thursday. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node


The meeting will be on Zoom:  

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923


You may be interested in an online program, this Wednesday, March 20, 7-8:30 pm. Presentation on Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change: Communities and individuals must develop strategies to deal with the effects of climate change as they happen. Join Emily Norton, Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association, for a presentation and Q&A and learn how you can make your community safer and more secure in the face of our changing climate. Sign up here. Wed, Mar 20, 7-8:30 pm.


Please sign up for the Climate Weekly email if you are not yet receiving it. 

Check out upcoming events on our website

 

Please try to join us for Thursday's meeting. We will maintain our schedule of meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. 


Thank you.


Thank you.

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   


Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Jalapeño enhances flavors and starts our Making Sense of Climate episode this time (audio)

FM #1159 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1159 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. The topic list:


  • Pickled jalapeño, blueberry, strawberry, raisins, & flax seed added to steel cut oats
  • State of the Union, Inflation Reduction Act

  • Conservation land, rewilding to restore carbon balance

  • Gulf Stream, and implications of climate change

  • Boston Globe article on smart electrical panels

  • Stranded asset, reuse with geothermal possible

  • Total eclipse, April 8


This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 47 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link -> 
https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1159-making-sense-of-climate-40-03-12-24


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Boston Globe article on monitoring devices for electricity in the home

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/07/nation/want-to-electrify-your-home-it-might-need-this-upgrade-first/ 


Ministry of the Future” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future 


** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 


--------------


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.


How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


Jalapeño enhances flavors and starts our Making Sense of Climate episode this time (audio)
Jalapeño enhances flavors and starts our Making Sense of Climate episode this time (audio)

Thursday, March 14, 2024

How did Norway become the electric car superpower? Oil money, civil disobedience – and Morten from a-ha | Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars | The Guardian

"More than 90% of new cars sold in Norway are electric. And it all started with some pop stars driving around in a jerry-built Fiat Panda

I’m kneeling on the snow outside the king’s house, impersonating a 1980s heart-throb, with a man named Harald and an electric car. It’s a situation that probably needs some explanation.

Harald isn’t the king, although the king of Norway is also called Harald; we just happen to be outside the monarch’s residence, a handsome red manor. I’m in Stavanger to find out how, in a world where transport contributes about 20% of CO2 emissions, Norway came to lead the world in electric car take-up. In 2023, 82.4% of private vehicles sold in the country were electric. In January, the figure was 92.1%. The goal is to hit 100% by next year."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) ->   https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/12/how-did-norway-become-the-electric-car-superpower-oil-money-civil-disobedience-and-morten-from-a-ha

Although Norway leads the world in EV uptake, its wealth is built on petroleum, which still accounts for 52% of exports. Photograph: Ryhor Bruyeu/Alamy
Although Norway leads the world in EV uptake, its wealth is built on petroleum, which still accounts for 52% of exports. Photograph: Ryhor Bruyeu/Alamy

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7 PM

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, March 7, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm. 

 

This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.  

Those of us who have been meeting in Franklin have enjoyed the chance to come together. We hope others will do the same. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

 

·  Location of the in-person meetingFirst Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin

 

·   OPTION:     

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09             

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274

Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

 

This week, March 7, we'll continue our discussion about working to have our cities and towns adopt the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Stretch Code. Franklin, Sharon, and other towns in our node are taking steps to adopt the bylaw, and spring town meeting agendas are being set now. Here's some background: 

One of the recommended local actions of the 350 Mass Emissions Free Buildings campaign is adoption of the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Stretch Code. This new level of building code pushes new construction towards our Massachusetts state-mandated goals through deep energy efficiency, reduced heating loads, and efficient electrification. Here is one of many online resources that provides helpful information: Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) and Sierra Club: Fighting for Better Buildings, and Specialized Opt-In Code Toolkit


We will also catch up on legislative action as bills make their way through Committees, the House and the Senate.  

 

For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on our website. 350 Mass will hold its annual summit, "Organizing in a Time of Upheaval" on March 16; learn more here.

 

We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.

 

Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, March 21. 

 

Thank you. 

 

Node Co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern


Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   


Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Ted & I have our climate discussion around my visit to the "pearl of Africa" (audio)

FM #1151 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1151 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the output of The Climate Minute podcast episode hosted by Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.  

The topic thread we talked of as we continued this making sense of climate discussion was the most extemporaneous that we have had. Ted turned the tables around and interviewed me to find out about my trip to Uganda and we discussed the climate implications of some of the lessons or highlights I shared. 


This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 58 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.


--------------


Links to references made during this episode


African fragile states are at great risk for climate change

https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2023/08/30/africas-fragile-states-are-greatest-climate-change-casualties 


Loss and damage

https://www.unep.org/regions/africa/regional-initiatives/responding-climate-change 


And https://eacop.com/ 


Uganda pipeline mentioned

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/07/10/uganda-oil-pipeline-project-impoverishes-thousands 


Climate colonialism

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/what-is-climate-colonialism-explain-climate-change/ 


** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 


--------------


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.


How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


Ted & I have our climate discussion around my visit to the "pearl of Africa" (audio)
Ted & I have our climate discussion around my visit to the "pearl of Africa" (audio) 

Friday, February 2, 2024

Climate Change: A Spiritual and Moral Lens 10:00 AM Sunday, February 4, 2024

Please join Carolyn and Rand Barthel, lay members of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, on February 4, 2024, as they explore the spiritual and moral aspects of climate change and activism. Climate change will affect all of us, while further exacerbating current inequities and disproportionately adversely affecting the poorest among us. 

Carolyn and Rand are climate change activists who are recognized leaders in this work through their leadership in 350 Mass, a statewide climate organization (350mass.betterfutureproject.org); local and state testimony in support of legislative change; and establishment of Energize Franklin. Afterwards, they will be available for conversation about their service or discussion of "nuts and bolts" approaches to reducing individual greenhouse gas emissions (your carbon footprint).

The First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) is located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin MA. For more information about FUSF please visit us at our website: FUSF.org. Our Interim Minister is Rev. Beverly Waring and she can be reached by emailing minister@fusf.org or calling 508-528-5348. FUSF is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, February 1, 2024; and Legislative Action

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, February 1, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm. 

 

This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.  

Those of us who have been meeting in Franklin have enjoyed the chance to come together. We hope others will do the same. 

 

·       Location of the in-person meetingFirst Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin

 

·       OPTION:  Join on Zoom   

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09             

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274

Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

 

This week, Feb. 1, during the first part of the meeting, 7:00-7:45 pm, we'll have a Weston volunteer present how his town organized a campaign to successfully adopt the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Stretch Code, with Q&A following. Why is this important? Because Franklin and other towns in our node are working to adopt the bylaw, and spring town meeting agendas are being set now! Come hear his presentation!

 

BACKGROUND: One of the recommended local actions of the 350 Mass Emissions Free Buildings campaign is adoption of the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Stretch Code. This new level of building code pushes new construction towards our Massachusetts state-mandated goals through deep energy efficiency, reduced heating loads, and efficient electrification. We will also share resources that all of us can use in our own communities.

 

Here is another important matter: We ask everyone to contact your state Representative and Senator this week! All the information you need is here in this Action Alert

 

BACKGROUND: We want our Legislature to pass climate and energy bills that are priorities for 350 Mass and the larger Mass Power Forward coalition. Now is the time to push legislators to have our key climate bills reported favorably out of committee. If not reported out favorably soon (February 6 is the current deadline, although it could be extended), bills will be effectively dead for this legislative session. 

 

For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on our website

 

We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.

 

Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, February 15. 

 

Thank you. 

 

Node Co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern


Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   

Sunday, January 21, 2024

We talk path dependence, critical juncture, and behavioral changes in this Making Sense of Climate episode (audio)

FM #1138 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1138 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the output of The Climate Minute podcast episode hosted by Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.  

The topic thread we talked of as we continued this "making sense of climate" discussion went something like this:


  • Climate Leader Community

  • State pilot to allow gas bans in 10 communities 

  • Path dependence 

  • Critical juncture

  • Behavioral changes underlying energy revolution/overshoot/planetary management

  • Need for new behavior now

  • End of world? Viewpoints matter.


This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 54 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link ->  
https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1138-making-sense-of-climate-38-01-16-24


--------------


Links to references made during this episode

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yCyhz-ZVVJImfYvJXnbaOmMhXE9RRX1E/view?usp=drive_link 


Link to the MA page on Climate Leader Communities -> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/climate-leader-communities 


Links to other places you can find The Climate Minute


** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 


--------------


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.


How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


We talk path dependence, critical juncture, and behavioral changes in this Making Sense of Climate episode (audio)
We talk path dependence, critical juncture, and behavioral changes in this Making Sense of Climate episode (audio)