Be Informed
PLASTICS - IT'S COMPLICATED
While plastics have been found to be a health hazard to both humans and animals, they also can be used in ways that cut greenhouse gasses. To read the Green Group's recommendation CLICK HERE
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LEARN MORE ABOUT PLASTICS:
Envision Charlotte – Learn how to recycle plastics
https://www.envisioncharlotte.com/plastics/
Precious Plastic - Start a company using recycled plastic
https://www.preciousplastic.com
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Plastics Free July – Join the movement!
https://www.plasticfreejuly.org
NY Times, So Much Produce Comes in Plastic. Is There a Better Way?
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/02/dining/plastic-food-packaging.html
Health risks of tiny plastics
Micro-plastics: An invisible danger to human health
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Plastics Art Projects:
https://becauseturtleseatplasticbags.com/resources/plastic-art-projects/
Plastics Jesus:
https://www.creationjustice.org/plasticjesus.htm
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GAS POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT
Gas powered garden and lawn equipment is detrimental to our health and environment. Gas powered garden and lawn equipment emit volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide. Here are some facts about use of gas powered equipment to think about as lawn mowing season approaches.
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Operating a gas mower for an hour can create as much smog-forming pollution as driving a Toyota Camry for 1,100 miles.
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A consumer-grade leaf blower emits more pollutants than a 6,200-pound 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor.
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Particulate pollution is already a large problem in Mecklenburg County because of the large number of cars and trucks traveling on our extensive highway network. We encourage you to use battery powered lawn equipment or tool options such as rakes.
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LEARN MORE
Here are some good books for information on sustainability for cold winter reading:
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A Christian’s Guide to Planet Earth: Why it Matters and How to Care for It by Betsy Painter
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Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in A Divided World by Katherine Hayhoe
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Diet for A Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe
Watch Katherine Hayhoe’s TED talk on talking about climate change HERE
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Get Involved
Plant a tree, clean up a stream, or go for a wildflower walk. Check out the activities at Davidson Lands Conservancy. Click here for Davidson Lands Conservancy info.
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Would you enjoy being involved in Citizen Science? Here’s one opportunity. The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up in February.
Here's a link to the Great Backyard Bird Count site.
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Take a walk on one of the county Greenways. Here’s a link to a page with a
map of the 62 miles of Greenways
The Town of Davidson offers Composting to all residents. Here is a link to the information about how to participate in composting in Davidson.
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Davidson's Climate Action Plan
Advocate
Vote for candidates at local, state, and national levels who support sustainability and care for the earth. Our vote is probably the best way we can advocate for the environment.
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Join or donate to an organization that advocates for the environment. Here are some suggestions:
Davidson Lands Conservancy https://davidsonlands.org
Third Act (for those over 60 years old) https://thirdact.org
National Wildlife Federation https://www.nwf.org
Sierra Club https://sierraclub.org
The Nature Conservancy https://nature.org
Upcoming Events
Care for Creation in 2025
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DCPC’s Green Group would like to invite you to consider a variety of creative ways to help care for creation during 2025. With the help of our partner at Creation Justice (creationjustice.org) we will each month provide a list of new ways to live into this creation care commitment. Just click this link and try them on. Remember, creation care is both our calling as stewards of all that God has made and a way to practice justice and neighbor love. Thank you for helping us live into our Earth Care Congregation Commitment.
Upcoming Opportunities for Local Creation Care
Creek Clean Ups: Many dates including the Big Spring Clean on March 29. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4cadac2ba2fc1-volunthursdays#/
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Beaty Park Work Day: Feb. 15
Arbor Day Tree Planting March 22.
https://davidsonlands.org/event/nc-arbor-day-tree-planting-2/
