A powerful extra-tropical storm side-swiped the coast of New Zealand’s South Island bringing gales and flooding to the city of Christchurch and the heaviest rainfall seen in almost 40 years.
This winter’s severe cold over the Great Lakes–Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario–froze a near-record amount of ice this year. Dating back to 1977, only February 1979 (94.7% peak) had greater ice coverage.
When the cold of the eastern U.S. is put into a global perspective, January 2014 was the 4th warmest global average since 1880.
In February, TIPL sprang ahead. The Greater Knoxville TIPL found the only sunny day in February to have its first Climate Vigil of the year in Fountain City. Many thanks to Rev. Susan Sgarlet (Hospice chaplain), Rev. Randy Frye (Fountain City UMC), and Gloria Johnson (25th District State Rep.) for sharing their reflections with the forty-some gathered to witness their concern for climate change.
The TIPL steering committee welcomes its partner faith groups and individual members. We sent to our faith group partners a “Welcome Packet” describing TIPL and its activities. Members and partners were encouraged to join the TIPL steering committee on a call with the national IPL’s staff Andree Duggan who talked about IPL’s Cool Congregation and Preach-In.
The Knoxville Climate 1000 initiative moved forward, adding Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Alliance for Energy as new partners. Climate 1000 wants the City of Knoxville to come out in support of strong EPA carbon rules and to make weatherization affordable for lower income homes. This collaboration of faith, economic justice, and environmental communities will have a climate rally on Market Square in downtown Knoxville on July 12.
