Climate Education class of June 20: Measuring What Counts ... Beyond GDP

At this meeting we discussed the ideas in the book, Measuring What Counts:  The Global Movement for Well-Being -The Movement for New Metrics, Beyond GDP. (Gross Domestic Product) By Joseph Stiglitz,Jean-Paul Fitouzzi, & Martine Durand

If you missed it but want to delve into the ideas, here are some resources about the new metrics, researched by one of our members.

VIDEOS, PDFs, and WEBSITES for Measuring What Counts.

  If time is short, focus on the highlighted sources. The Climate Team's interest was sparked by a video on Doughnut Economics.  The book offers several different ways of looking at metrics which are more inclusive of measures around climate change or moving away from GDP as an indicator/motivator of growth regardless of impact. 

     The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) hosted a 5 year program (2013-2018) on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress.  This effort was after the global economic crisis of 2008 and recognition of the inadequacy of GDP to represent impacts on climate, inequality and democracy.

 These links cover five different metric models:  Doughnut Economics; Reduced Globalization -Going Local; Happiness; Genuine Progress Indicator; and, Well-being (OECD).

 Doughnut Economics

 Defined:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doughnut_(economic_model)

 Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqJL-cM8gb4 - Kate Raworth (17 minutes)

 Article:    A Brief Digest on Donut Economics

 Going Local - more a movement than a metric

 Videos: 
     -- Short graphic explanation,  here,  associates ‘going local’ with happiness

     -- Economics of Happiness   - 20 mins
     -- Economics of Happiness, long version  - 1 hour+

       --  Website:  https://www.localfutures.org/degrowth-a-call-for-radical-abundance/

Genuine Progress Index

 Website:  http://www.sustainwellbeing.net/gpi.html

        Defining GPI:  http://wikiprogress.org/articles/initiatives/the-genuine-progress-index  

 Measuring Happiness - (different from the ‘local movement happiness)

 Defined:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Happiness_Report

    -- Video:  Happiest Countries in the World, Explained    UN/Gallup Poll related  - 6 mins

   --  World Happiness Report:  https://happiness-report.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/WHR20.pdf

 Well-Being  (OECD)

      -- Defined:  http://www.oecd.org/sdd/OECD-Better-Life-Initiative.pdf

      --   Joseph Stiglitz on  Problems with GDP as an Economic Barometer    8 mins

 Website:  http://www.oecd.org/statistics/measuring-well-being-and-progress.htm

 Report:  http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111

Upcoming events with XRAustin; WCAT meeting on 6/20.

Here are some of the upcoming events that we shared with each other at Wednesday's (June 3) meeting, as well as some recommendations to watch or read.

 Saturday June 20^th, 7:30 pm,  we’ll continue exploring the topic of post-growth economics, focusing on the book Beyond the GDP: Measuring What Counts; and we’ll have a short meeting.  


Thursday, June 4, 7:30-9  [this event has passed--here is a recap.]  XR and some crossover members of  WCAT watched this video together, which presents powerful reasons why racial justice issues are inseparable from climate change.  The video is on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U7PYZCObtk&list=PLtl05oPWV9aztV_PGQSBhxozpTq0462_F&index=2&t=3872s

"Getting it Together before it’s Too Late: Building Solidarity Across Race and Class" A live discussion with Roger Hallam, Adam Elliott-Cooper and Dr. Ian Haney Lopez (14 May 2020) . Ian Haney Lopez is an academic at the forefront of research into a new approach to radical politics. He argues that in order to order to build a mass movement we must recognise that racism is the main weapon in the class war the rich are winning - https://www.ianhaneylopez.com/

Michael Moore's film, Planet of the Humans - pro and con discussion

We had a great discussion this morning (June 3)  of Michael Moore's controversial film, Planet of the Humans.

If you missed it, and want to look into the issues on your own, here are some sources we used for background. Also, further below are two links to the movie.

    - 5-minute critical video from George Monboit, who writes for The Guardian: 
               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__UJ09PZFoI

 - Two PRO and CON videos:
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bop8x24G_o0  - Michael Moore and associates respond to criticism of new bombshell environmental film.
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTYJCAxlOgs   -   Filmmaker Josh Fox responds to Michael Moore on bombshell climate film.

       -Movie review from the blog at Union of Concerned Scientists:
      https://blog.ucsusa.org/john-rogers/movie-review-michael-moores-planet-of-the-humans-traffics-in-myths-errors-and-dangerous-misdirection

    
Here are two links to the full movie:
    (1)      https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=planet+of+the+humans&docid=13819390115178&mid=EE549FD7AEF08C68D723EE549FD7AEF08C68D723&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
     (2)       https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/michael-moore-presents-planet-of-the-humans/

In addition, here are links to two recommendations from Becky Allen during our discussion:

     - a documentary, Endgame 2050, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8YomEOExkc .  For more information, see https://www.endgame2050.com/
     -the website, www.climatehealers.org

Climate Education: "United in Heart and Alternate Currencies"

We are continuing to explore the fascinating nexus of "post-growth economics" and climate change. 

Today we gathered on ZOOM and watched United in Heart and Alternate Currencies in the COVID-19 Era.  (Part of a summit presented by Vegan World.) 

To watch on your own, here’s the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSzhpB-aiHg
         Dr. Sailish Rao interviewed Jean-Francois Noubel  and Arvin & Nandhini Paranjpe who are developing an app to help people moving forward with connecting environmental rewards of planting trees to currency. 

        Jean-François Noubel has worked in the field of collective intelligence, a new research discipline that explores how living systems work and the evolution of our species.
    

Climate Education Class - Planetary Boundaries and Donut Economics

WildEarth Climate Action Team's (WCAT's) Climate Education classes have been exploring the theme of post-growth or degrowth economic theory and climate change—or really, the broader concern of a just and sustainable future.

OUR NEXT CLASS will be online on Wednesday April 29 at 8:30  - 10 a.m.
       "Donut Economics and Planetary Boundaries" 

Here's a link to the 2-minute dramatic video that we will use as an introduction. Jason Hickel, "Our Addiction to Economic Growth is Killing Us."  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HckWP75yk9g&list=PLtl05oPWV9aztV_PGQSBhxozpTq0462_F&index=14&t=0s

Next:  this TEDx talk on planetary boundaries and donut economics.   Kate Raworth, author of Donut Economics, explains how economies should thrive, not grow.

Here's the link to the talk if anyone wants to watch on their own: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhcrbcg8HBw&list=PLtl05oPWV9aztV_PGQSBhxozpTq0462_F&index=2&t=555s
(Class was held as two 40-minute ZOOM meetings with a 5 minute break in between.)

For further reading: 

     Here's a good Jason Hickel article. It looks at capitalism as always seeking to destroy "the commons" and create scarcity.  A degrowth economic theory can create abundance.
https://www.localfutures.org/degrowth-a-call-for-radical-abundance/

    This Kate Raworth article succinctly explains Donut Economics:  "Meet the Donut: The New Economic Model that Could Help End Inequality."

Also, if you missed the April 8 class which was our first one on "degrowth," check the recap on the April 8 post just below. It includes the link to the first Jason Hickle video we watched.

First Climate Education class in Cyberspace

WildEarth Climate Action Team (a.k.a. WCAT) held it's first virtual Climate Education Class this morning.

We shared this video: “The Paris Climate Target and the Post-Growth Imperative,”  (20 mins).
 The speaker, Dr. Jason Hickel, challenged the idea that we have to make climate adaptation fit within the growth-based model of economic theory. He explores the concepts of a post-growth economy and "degrowth".

If you’d like to watch it, here’s the YouTube link:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24a_UIBcXBI&list=WL&index=107&t=366s

Dr. Jason Hickel, who teaches at the University of London, is author of The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions.

Next virtual class: Tuesday, 4/21, 12 -1:30.  There will be a new post with Zoom link info.

Climate Education: Assisted Migration for--Trees?

Sunday, December 15, 9:15-10:45 am, in the Faith Parlor     Class began with Unitarian Universalist Connie Barlow's* video which explores the prospects of human-assisted migration  (“assisted colonization”) of America’s forest trees in this time of rapid climate change.  [located via http://thegreatstory.org/climate-trees-legacy.html ]

     In addition, with handouts we took a brief look at a surprising advantage of prairies vs. forests as carbon sinks.

Here are class notes which were provided as a handout: 

  
Pt. 1: INTRODUCTION : CLIMATE, TREES, and LEGACY.  (Click here to play video.)
This is a learning and action series for helping trees adapt to climate change — species by species, decade by decade. "Assisted migration" in a time of unprecedented climate shift will be increasingly necessary in the decades ahead. Foresters can create the maps to show us where species will need to move to. But we citizen naturalists will play a complementary role in ensuring that the full diversity of genotypes keeps pace with a warming and drying continent.  43 minutes - published January 4, 2014

[For more on "Assisted Migration," this link is extensive, but there is a good summary about one page down.The full title is "Assisted Migration (Assisted Colonization, Managed Relocation, Translocation) and Rewilding of Plants and Animals in an Era of Rapid Climate Change." ]

These two articles explore the role of prairies as carbon sinks, especially in the West and other arid areas:  

How Texas Prairies Could Help Prevent Climate Change. Texas Observer, 9/6/19.
https://www.texasobserver.org/climate-change-texas-prairie-grass-carbon-sink/  (Includes reference to following article.)

-   While our climate is becoming more hostile to trees, grasslands may emerge as more resilient.

-   Tall grass prairies once covered 90% of Texas

-   Only 1% of native prairies remain.

-   Federal protections are few

-   More reliable carbon sink than forests

o   Trees need more water and milder temps

o   Carbon underground stays there when there is fire.

-   With managed grazing, better return for ranchers: $200 more per cow; half the cost vs reliance on hay.

   Grasslands More Reliable Carbon Sinks Than Forests, study from UC Davis, 7/9/18, https://phys.org/news/2018-07-grasslands-reliable-carbon-trees.html

-   Univ. of California, Davis study evaluates grasslands vs trees for cap-and-trade market

-   Forests consume about ¼ of the CO2 produced by humans

-   In all but most aggressive emissions reductions scenarios, grassland carbon sinks are more resilient.

o   4 scenarios were, 1) Carbon emissions largely stop; temp rises 1.7C by 2100. 
2) Business as usual, 4.8C by 2100   3) periodic drought intervals 4) Megadrought; lasts 100 yrs or more.

o    In most models, grasslands store more carbon than forests because less impacted by wildfires.

-   Semi-arid environments cover about 40% of the planet.

o   Grasslands store most of their carbon underground in roots and soil.

o   Trees store most on woody biomass and leaves.

o   130 million trees have died in California.

o   5 largest fire seasons have occurred since 2006.

*Connie Barlow has created a UU Children’s Religious Education curriculum on evolution (“The Great Story”), and is the wife of UU minister Michael Dowd, creator of the “Pro-Future Faith” ethic and course that Mike Ignatowski has been exploring on fourth Thursdays. She has retired into full-time climate-forestry activism.
LOCATION: Wildflower Unitarian Universalist Church, 1314 E. Oltorf, in the Faith Parlor, across from the sanctuary. 

Climate Change Film Festival at Wildflower Church, 1314 E. Oltorf

The WildEarth Climate Action Team and Extinction Rebellion ATX present three FREE award-winning films on alternate Fridays, October 11 through November 8^th. Doors open at 6:30, movies at 7:00 pm, free popcorn, and lively discussion to follow!

Friday, October 11: Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution.  
            Filmmaker James Redford embarks on a colorful personal journey into the dawn of the clean energy era as it creates jobs, turns profits, and makes communities stronger and healthier across the US. Reaching well beyond a great story of technology and innovation, “Happening” explores issues of human resilience, social justice, embracing the future, and finding hope for our survival.  

Friday, October 25: Ice on Fire, a film by Leonard DiCaprio.

              An eye-opening 2019 documentary which explores the potential extinction level event caused by arctic methane release, and the newly developed technologies that could reverse global warming by sequestering carbon out of the atmosphere. Ice on Fire premiered to a standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2019. The film goes beyond the current climate change narrative and offers hope that we can actually stave off the worst effects of global warming. 

Friday, November 8: Chasing Coral
            Coral reefs are the nursery for all life in the oceans, a remarkable ecosystem that sustains us. Yet with carbon emissions warming the seas, "coral bleaching"-a sign of mass coral death-has been accelerating around the world, and the public has no idea of the scale or implication of the catastrophe silently raging underwater. A team of divers, photographers, and scientists battle daunting obstacles to document the indisputable and tragic transformation below the waves. The film’s breathtaking beauty is superimposed with its sober warning.

Upcoming Extinction Rebellion events

The WildEarth Climate Action Team has quite a few crossover members with Extinction Rebellion's Austin chapter, and we often host their events at Wildflower Church. They are one of our "sponsored organizations." So in that light, here is some information about events in September:

• Sunday 9/15 -noon.  Art Jam  at  Roots Ecovillage, 7103 Circle S Road. 
• Sunday 9/15 4-6 pm Presentation and Discussion: Climate Change Action, Austin History Center.
• Monday 9/16 -Meditation Mob at South Lamar Pedestrian Bridge 7pm to 8pm 
• https://www.facebook.com/events/1117032451825383/
  A meditation mob is similar to a flash mob, where people come together and do an action simultaneously together. Our action will be sitting together at the South Lamar pedestrian bridge and meditating on a better world and future.   . . . 
  We are all connected on this planet. Our actions reverberate across the globe. Our planet is alive and we need to reconnect to this living planet if we are going to survive. In meditating together we hope to embrace our empathy for all living things, to come together in love and peace in a world that is incredibly chaotic. You are not alone.
• 9/20/19  XRaustin supports the Austin Climate Strike, part of the Global Youth Strike.  This event calls for adults to also strike for climate, all over Austin.
         Austin Climate Strike – September 20, noon rally at Texas State Capitol
  Walk out from your school, home, or place of work on 9/20 at 9 AM! Meet up at 12 PM at the Texas Capitol Building for a program of speakers and a networking opportunity to meet more like-minded people and organizations!  https://www.facebook.com/events/473977240085064/
       This day also kicks off the XR Week of Action in the U.S. 
• Sept. 20 also kicks off the XR Week of Action in the U.S.
  See the FB page, www.facebook.com/XRAustin , for details and events under development.
  Mon., Sept. 23 4pm  BANNER DROP.  Location TBD.
  Thurs. Sept. 26 Animal Die-In
  Fri. Sept. 27  Chase Bank, around lunchtime.
  Fri. Sept. 27 6:30 Movie: Age of Consequences, Wildflower Church.
  Sat. Sept. 28 6pm Call out Nancy Pelosi to support the Green New
                        Deal, Paramount Theater.

There will be significant U.S. activities in October, also.

8/18 Climate Education Class and World Futures Class

WildEarthClimate Action Team  presents:

                   Adult  Climate Education Class 
       9:30-10:45 am, SUNDAY Morning 8/18, in the Faith Parlor 

 (across from the Sanctuary),  Wildflower Church, 1314 E. Oltorf

“Permian Peril, Ranchers to the Rescue, and War Stories”

·        Permian Peril – 95% of all species perished in the End-Permian extinction 250 million years ago. What can this teach us about global heating today?  And what does it have to do with the massive carbon reserves of Texas’ Permian Basin?

·        Ranchers to the Rescue – one or two upbeat video clips to lighten up after the above.

·        War Stories  -if we have time, report on Austin’s Extinction Rebellion rebels’ disruption of ALEC’s national conference (a.k.a. organized corporate corruption and environmental attack). If we run out of time, we can go chat at Starbucks, as we usually do anyway, until services begin at 11:30.

ALSO ON SUNDAY:   Mike Ignatowski’s World Futures We Need class tonight in the Community Room, 6:30-8:30.  Topic: All you wanted to know about nuclear war but were too afraid to ask. 
General Description:  This is the most interesting and important time to be alive in the history of the human race!  Mike Ignatowski works in the hi-tech industry and has given many lectures on emerging technology and social trends. Starting this fall, he will host an educational  and provocative series of monthly meetings at Wildflower exploring many interesting issues related to the future of our society.  Sample topics will include: "Big History and Big Future", technology and unemployment, the evolution of increased cooperation, growth and sustainability, our moral instincts, and the implications of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. The meeting format will include a presentation followed by a group discussion.   The meetings are intended to be very educational, so there is no need for prior knowledge or preparation for any of these meetings  (Whenever Mike’s class gets postponed a week from it’s 2^nd-Sunday pattern, we get a two-fer: Climate Education and World Futures on the same day!)

Actions against ALEC this week

This week provides opportunies to learn about, and then act on, the fact that one of the most harmful organizations on the planet meets in Austin on August 14, 15, and 16th. 

Learn: 

Tuesday, August 13, 6:30-8:30, Wildflower Community Room, 1314 E. Oltorf
Community Against ALEC:  Workshop on ALEC with Know-your-rights training on the Critical Infrastructure law and strategies to push back on ALEC.

This workshop will focus on the harmful activities of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which is dedicated to the corporate take-over of state governments and has a 46-year legacy of contributing to violations of human rights and the environment, particularly affecting People of Color. Included will be a Know-Your-Rights training on the "critical infrastructure" law which has been enacted in Texas to criminalize protest at fossil fuel infrastructure sites and more. Hosted by the Climate Action Team and presented by the Society of Nations, Center for Constitutional Rights, and Extinction Rebellion. Food and light refreshments will be included. 

The event is co-organized by Society of Native Nations, the Center for Constitutional Rights and Extinction Rebellion Austin. For more, see the Facebook event.   

Act:  

Wednesday, August 14, 4:30-8:30,
Unwelcome Reception: Rally against  "bad-bill-mill" ALEC
 Press conference and rally to expose ALEC, promulgator of model legislation inimicable to just about all of our principles.
Location: We meet at the Southeast corner of 2^nd and Congress, facing the JW Marriot which is on the north side of 2^nd street.  Parking available at City Hall. (Or take a wonderful city bus!)

Many Wildflowers have worked hard for more-enlightened or less-benighted bills from our state legislature. Our efforts are countered by monied, powerful right-wing influencers. One of the most powerful is ALEC: The American Legislative Exchange Council which promulgates terrible model bills in state legislatures nationwide. Next Wednesday, a coalition of groups and people including Wildflower Climate Action Team members and Extinction Rebellion gather to rally against ALEC at their national convention here in Austin at the J.W. Marriott at 2nd and Congress. We gather across the street to noisily expose ALEC for what it is. For more information, see the Facebook event.  Here is some information from the Facebook event:

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is convening in Austin from Aug. 14-16 at the J.W. Marriott for their 46th annual meeting.

We must show them THEY ARE NOT WELCOME! We must TAKE BACK OUR STATE!

ALEC is just another way for corporate interests to control our government.
❌ They take power away from everyday Texans and put it into the hands of the wealthy few.
❌ They’re behind bad legislation like “Stand Your Ground” gun legislation and Voter ID.
❌ They use corporate contributions to sell prepackaged conservative bills that hurt our communities.
❌ They are responsible for getting the "critical infrastructure bill" that makes peaceful protests at pipelines a felony passed in Texas and many other states.

Let’s take back our power! Let's take back our state! Join us for our Unwelcome Reception and Rally! 💪

If you agree that ALEC has no place in Texas, sign our petition:
bit.ly/BlockALECPetition

STOP the Permian Highway Pipeline!

WHAT YOU CAN DO on May 28th to support the fight against the Permian Highway Pipeline through the Hill Country: Landowners represented by TREAD ask for folks to fill the Courtroom tomorrow, (TUESDAY), 9 a.m., 10th & Guadalupe, as they ask for an injunction against Kinder Morgan and the Railroad Commission to stop taking land for the pipeline until their lawsuit about eminent domain process is heard. This is Texas, and property owners rights get short shrift when a giant like Kinder Morgan wants your land for a giant pipeline.

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

(from TREAD Coalition:)   The first hearing for our lawsuit against Kinder Morgan and the Texas Railroad Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28. The hearing will be open to the public, so please feel free to attend if you are able. Please review the rules of decorum and be prepared to act accordingly.

Judge Livingston will be reviewing and deciding on three things:

1) Ordering Kinder Morgan to temporarily stop any further takings
TREAD is asking the court for a temporary injunction to order Kinder Morgan to cease eminent domain proceedings along the PHP route until the trial is over.

2) Kinder Morgan's attempt to end the lawsuit
Kinder Morgan has filed a motion for summary judgment asking the Court to dismiss the lawsuit claiming that the constitution does not require the Texas Railroad Commission to implement a routing approval process. Our attorneys filed our official response to KM’s motion on May 21.

3) Railroad Commission Motion To Dismiss
The RRC has filed a plea to the jurisdiction arguing the district court should dismiss the lawsuit because it does not have jurisdiction, which is a standard procedure by the State in response to lawsuits of this nature.

We appreciate your ongoing support and hope that you can join us for this important date.

- Sean
TREAD Coalition

Date, Time, & Location
Date/Time:
Tuesday, May 28 @ 9 a.m. with possibility of returning the following day, May 29 @ 9 a.m. if more time is needed.

Address:
The Honorable Lora Livingston

261st Civil District Court

Travis County Courthouse, 3rd Floor

1000 Guadalupe St.

Austin, TX 78701

Courtroom Rules of Decorum

We ask that people dress in a way that is respectful of the gravity of the proceedings – jackets and ties for men are not necessary, but don’t hurt.

Everyone must remain quiet during the proceedings and should refrain from outbursts, applause, jeers, chewing gum, eating, drinking, using cell phones, etc.

TREAD Coalition
100 Commons Rd. STE 7-310 | Dripping Springs, Texas 78620
(512)523-5565 | info@treadcoalition.org

Climate Education Class for Sunday, 5/19/19 -- Resources, Links, & Notes

Topic: The landmark U.N. report on biodiversity.

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment. Chair, Sir Robert Watson.  Full report to be released later this year.

IPBES global report: Species extinction rate is accelerating  --  According to a United Nations report, up to 1 million animal and plant species are on the verge of extinction. Nature’s current rate of decline is unparalleled, the report says, and the accelerating rate of extinctions “means grave impacts on people around the world are now likely.”   Washington Post , 5-6-19

12-page Media Release: (Excellent and readable.) 
https://www.ipbes.net/news/Media-Release-Global-Assessment

Overview, Washington Post:  “One Million Species Face Extinction, U.N. Report Says. And Humans Will Suffer as a Result.”
 https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/05/06/one-million-species-face-extinction-un-panel-says-humans-will-suffer-result/?utm_term=.6afe102ef871

  “What Losing One Million Species Means for the Planet—And Humanity”  https://therevelator.org/one-million-extinctions/

Summary for Policymakers of the Global Assessment Report (39 pages), released Monday, 5-6-19, is available along with media resources at  http://bit.ly/IPBESReport

Some points from the above sources:

·        Of an estimated 8 million plant and animal species (including 5.5 million insect species), 1 million are threatened with extinction, many within the coming decades.

·        The rate of loss is accelerating.

·        The main drivers are:  1) changes in land and sea use   2) direct exploitation of organisms; (3) climate change (4) pollution  (5) invasive and alien species

·        Transformative changes will  be needed to restore and protect nature.

·        Expect opposition from vested interests.

·        Every species has a function in the ecosystem and are key to all the other species in the system.

·        This can lead to a cascade effect in the food web.

·        The loss of ecosystem services that nature provides is absolutely necessary for our own survival: not just food, but also oxygen.

Videos:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8iNhxxPzkg&list=WL&index=82&t=0s
             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg1Nt7VSSw8&list=WL&index=83&t=34s

Planning the 3/24 service takes over our schedule

Our team, the WildEarth Climate Action Team of Wildflower Church, has two schedule changes this week, because we are busy creating an Earth-centered service for Sunday, March 24th.
       So, our regular 2nd-Thursday (March 14th) meeting will NOT be held.  Instead (in addition to last Sunday morning's meeting) we will meet again Sunday March 17th, 9:30 to 10:45 am, to continue this planning, in the Faith Parlor at 1314 E. Oltorf (across from the Sanctuary).
      That means this meeting will take over the time and place where we usually hold the Climate Education class.  Look for Climate Education classes to pick up on Third Sundays again in April--April 21, 9:30-10:45 a.m. 
        The themes of the Sunday March 24th service will be Water, Climate Change, and Youth. Quite a few of our younger Unitarian Universalists will be contributing to this service; four poems are already written!

WildEarth Climate Action Team Meeting

6:30 pm January 10, 2019:  Join the  Climate team  at Wildflower Church, at 1314 E. Oltorf, for this semi-informal meeting to kick off the new year and consider our team's priorities for 2019.  We'll start in the Community Room, and by 7:00 pm, we'll head over to Opal Divine's for food, snacks, and/or drinks, just behind the Church, to continue our discussion of the book, Climate Church, Climate World: How People of Faith Must Work For Change. It is not necessary to have the book. For a good bit of background, see the December 13th and December 18th posts below.