advocacy networking

Sign up for the ELCA e-Advocacy Network! E-Advocacy empowers ELCA members to advocate for peace, justice, and care of creation. You'll receive timely updates from the ELCA on a wide variety of issues, including hunger, poverty, and the environment.
http://ga6.org/elca_advocacy/join.html?r=Jp3LhqSqHw9jE

Takin' Out the Trash

A good way to motivate yourself to reduce the amount of trash you generate is to do a "Trash Audit". Here is a link to an article about someone who did one and wrote about how to do one yourself: http://earth911.com/news/2010/02/15/true-life-trash-audit/

Valentine's Gifts

If you are still looking for a gift for Valentine's Day, stop by Open Door Books (Pacific Beach in San Diego) to get some fair trade chocolate or coffee. You can also find Marcy Sweets (a local, organic, fair trade chocolate company) at Whole Foods or Jimbo's Naturally stores.

Outdoor Water Use

During the "rainy" season in San Diego it is a good time to consider all the different ways that we use (or overuse) water in our landscaping.

To optimize some of your outdoor water use try using the City of San Diego's Landscape Watering Calculator found here: http://apps.sandiego.gov/landcalc/

Saving Water

Two ways we can save water in San Diego. One is to report a water leak, meter leak or pressure problem. The number to call is (619) 515-3525 (good to have in your cell phone). The second way is to turn off your sprinklers when it rains.

March 24 - April 5 Getting From Here to There

Transportation seems to often be one of the biggest culprits in creating global warming. We want to be able to move freely about our cities and country, automobiles are maybe the biggest symbol of that freedom. But this comes with a price. As Americans we are wasteful with the fossil fuels we use – and this translates into wasteful spending and wasting time.

There are ways to turn this around. To improve quality of life – and maybe even take time to smell the roses.

Here are things that Gershon suggests in his book.

1 – Walk or Bike to where you need to go
2 – Use Public Transit
3 – Combine your trip
4 – Carpool
5 – Negotiate alternate work schedules/telecommute
6 – develop fuel-efficient driving habits (SLOW DOWN)
7 – Find and plug oil leaks
8 – keep you car well maintained
9 – buy a fuel-efficient vehicle
10 – re-consider vacations
11 – take a hike in the woods

March 22 - 28 Energy Efficiency

Would you believe that there are ways that we can use energy efficiency to get MORE comfort and MORE benefit from our energy use while using considerably less energy. How is that possible??? Americans waste as much as 75% of the energy we use through inefficiency and lack of awareness? By making small changes we CAN be better stewards of energy resources.

Here are some things you can do to help out. (As suggested in the Green Living Handbook)

1 – turn off the lights when you leave the room
2 – unplug appliances that you are not using (like the toaster and coffee maker and TV)
3 – turn off your computer when you are not using it for 2 or more hours
4 – install energy efficient light bulbs
5 – keep wearing your clothes until they are ACTUALLY dirty
6 – keep your water heater at 120 degrees F
7 – make sure your refrigerator is well sealed
8 – keep your thermostat between 65 and 68 – wear a sweater
9 – make sure you get an annual tune-up for your furnace
10 – get your air conditioner tuned up every 3 years
11 – insulate windows and doors
12 - use fans to cool your house
13 – fuel up in the evenings (or early morning) when the air is cool – this reduces gasoline vapors that contribute to smog

14 – Start your day by watching the sunrise.