York Town News
Local activists step up the fight against global warming
By Melissa Wood
Presidential hopeful Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, gives a big hug to the polar bear sponsored by the Alaska Coalition. The bear was actually Gary Epler of Portsmouth who agreed to portray the bear for the coalition at the last minute when the person who was supposed to do it didn't fit the costume.
Photo by Melissa Wood.
STEPPING IT UP. Events to raise awareness about global warming were held across the country on Saturday, April 14, including one at the York-Ogunquit Methodist Church and another in nearby Portsmouth, N.H., which featured many York residents as participants and organizers. Here, two young activists are shown among those holding up signs during the Step It Up block party in Portsmouth's Market Square.
Photo by Melissa Wood
Caren Vigneault of White Pine Programs in Cape Neddick shows Silas Witham, 4, Zachary Witham, 7, and Alden Forbes, 6, of Portsmouth, N.H., how to identify animals using a field guide as part of the Step It Up rally in Portsmouth.
Photo by Melissa Wood
The event was part of a national movement called Step It Up 2007 with rallies on climate change held simultaneously in communities around the country on April 14. Step It Up is part of the Climate Crisis Coalition, which includes such organizations as the Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the National Council of Christian Churches.
The Portsmouth block party featured activists at various booths, including York's Energy Efficiency Committee, which demonstrated what participants could do to meet the rally's main goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent by 2050.
At the booth for York's Energy Efficiency Committee, members spread the word that Maine residents can choose to switch their electricity source to hydropower, meaning that it is 100 percent emissions free. The committee members collected e-mails from people interested in hearing about how they can take part of the program.
"We're practicing what we're preaching," said member Jean Lincoln who recently switched to the hydropower option and said so far the cost has been about $7 to $11 per month for a three-bedroom house in York.
Other York volunteers offered free tire checks during a rally at the same time at the York-Ogunquit United Methodist Church on Route 1.
"The rallies will provide a connection among Americans who are deeply troubled by the increasing effects of global warming and the scientific predictions of a catastrophic future," Jeremy Foss, a Cape Neddick resident and one of the organizers of the York-Ogunquit rally, explained prior to Saturday's event. "This awareness will be directed to members of Congress with the demand for new, strong Federal policies to slow down carbon emissions that are causing increasing climate change."
The York rally featured printed material on climate change and the chance for participants to receive free tire pressure checks for their vehicles. Foss explained that higher inflation of tires can improve fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions by as much as 20 pounds per gallon.
The rally in Portsmouth drew hundreds of locals who enjoyed live music and speeches, including ones by presidential hopeful Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Rev. Rob Stevens of St. John's Episcopal Church, whose Stewardship of the Earth Committee came up with the idea for the block party.
"You can buy local, you can think about what you do to your trash. The key is you have to do it at every level," Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand told the crowd who waved signs and cheered in response. "It's a moral issue… It's not just a public policy issue."
The non-fossil fuel option of hydropower described by the York Energy Efficiency Committee costs 3 cents more per kilowatt hour - about 5 to 10 percent more per month - and is available to all Maine residents who can make the switch by simply asking Central Maine Power or entering an account number at www.energymaine.com. It takes about a month for the power company to make the switch once the request is made.
Heather Henriksen of York's Energy Efficiency Committee said the organizers' goal was to send out a positive message to the community that the option exists and is easy to do.
"I think it's just great to tell them they have a choice," said Henriksen.
"We got a lot of emails," added committee member Leah Evans. "A lot of Maine residents were here today."
She said that was the point of the group attending the rally.
"That's why we're here today helping get the word out," she said.
Don Clark of Kittery, who has been choosing the hydropower option for two years, said he has made simple adjustments such as paying attention to leaving lights and appliances on to make up for the added cost, which he called marginal.
"As soon as I realized it was a marginal difference I just ignored it," he said.
Gavin Barbour, husband of event organizer Sarah Brown of the St. John's Stewardship of the Earth Committee, who also lives in Kittery, said his family has been choosing CMP's non-emissions power for four or five years "so even if you're burning electricity you can feel a little bit better it's not coming from a smokestack," he said, adding, "Just a few bucks more a month seems like it's all worth it."
M.L. Geffert and Anna Nutall of Seacoast Local Seacoast Campaign said their organization's goal was to promote a sustainable community here in the Seacoast by encouraging consumers to first buy less, then buy local, or if something is not available locally, buy regionally or from an independent business in another community.
"Economists have shown that a dollar spent locally adds greater worth in the community because it recirculates," said Geffert.
That message of the alignment of economic and environment interests was echoed in a speech by Kucinich, who said that saving the planet and creating jobs were not two conflicting goals.
"The two are entirely consistent," he told the cheering crowd.
Kucinich shook hands with many in the crowd and even gave a hug to the walking polar bear sponsored by the Alaska Coalition to remind people of the melting of ice caps caused by increased global warming.
Despite warnings for the impending Nor'easter to begin Sunday, Saturday's clear skies and moderate temperatures brought many families to the event with children dancing in the street while local bands played live music.
At the booth for White Pine Programs of Cape Neddick, children identified moose prints, deer antlers and other animal markings with the help of field guides and educator Caren Vigneault.
Vigneault said the event was a natural fit for the environmental and wilderness education center based in Cape Neddick, which was contacted by Brown.
"It's been fabulous" said Vigneault, who added that the center works with both children and adults on immersion in the natural world. "This is the kind of place we should be."
For more about the national effort, visit www.stepitup2007.org.
