CT Environmental Legislation Scorecard for 2016

CTLCV is tracking for our 2016 legislative scorecard

For sixteen years, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters has helped elect pro-environment lawmakers and hold them accountable for passing legislation to protect health, communities and the environment. The CTLCV publishes the annual Connecticut Environmental Scorecard which rates the actions of every state legislator on the state’s environmental priorities each year. The 2016 Scorecard is paid for by the CTLCV Political Action Committee. This message was made independent of any candidate or political party. Contributions to the CTLCV PAC of $5,000 or more were made by CTLCV, Inc and David Bingham. Additional information about the CTLCV PAC may be found on the State Elections Enforcement Commission's internet website. ​

​​Find out how your Connecticut General Assembly members voted on the environmental issues that matter to you!

For more info: http://www.ctlcv.org/2016-scorecard.html

For Scorecard:
http://www.ctlcv.org/uploads/6/2/0/1/6201942/2016_scorecard_sept_16c.pdf

Find how you State Senator voted:
http://www.ctlcv.org/uploads/6/2/0/1/6201942/2016_senate_votes_as_of_9.9.2016.pdf

Find out how your State House Representative voted:
http://www.ctlcv.org/uploads/6/2/0/1/6201942/2016_house_votes_as_of_9.9.2016.pdf

CT Environmental Legislation for 2017 - Status

Many bills and funding priorities this session will greatly affect how our state protects the environment. CTLCV has created an "Environmental Watchlist" of bills we are tracking this session at the Connecticut General Assembly. Sign up to receive information as the session progresses by clicking the Get Action Alerts button on this page. Read background informationand CTLCV's testimony on key issues.


http://www.ctlcv.org/2017-legislative-session.html

Sign up to receive environmental action alerts from the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. You’ll receive emails when there is an urgent action you can take on an environmental issue specific to your district, enabling you to call or email your state senator or representative about issues close to home. We’ll also keep you up to date with CTLCV events across the state.

https://act.myngp.com/Forms/2448495840080366336

The EarthJustice 2016 Legal Docket

With the generous investment of our members, Earthjustice is taking on some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. In the new year, we will be pursuing nearly 400 active legal cases.

PRESERVING THE WILD

“The legal issues are challenging, and the opposition is daunting. 

But our track record of winning is remarkable, given the political and 

economic power that we go toe-to-toe against in court every day. 

Everyone connected with Earthjustice should take great pride in that.”

– DREW CAPUTO 

VICE-PRESIDENT OF LITIGATION FOR LANDS, WILDLIFE & OCEANS

PROTECTING OUR HEALTH

“Many communities still live with high levels of pollution and 

excessive toxic risk. We can do a better job. 

We have the technology and innovation—

and we have the wherewithal to reduce those burdens.”

– LISA GARCIA 

VICE-PRESIDENT OF LITIGATION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

ADVANCING CLEAN ENERGY

“What we excel at is forcing action. We’ve stepped into the vacuum of the 

policy debate and forced meaningful action to begin the shift away 

from fossil fuels. At Earthjustice, we have the opportunity to wield 

the law as a powerful force for good.”

– ABIGAIL DILLEN 

VICE-PRESIDENT OF LITIGATION FOR CLIMATE & ENERGY

Click here to read the highlights:

A New Year of Action for the Sound

As you make your New Year's resolutions, you can make a difference for Long Island Sound.

 

In addition to healthier eating or reading more, consider adding a resolution for Clean Water to your 2016 list!

Resolution 1: Reduce Nitrogen Pollution

Resolution 2: Find Solutions to Bacterial Pollution 

Resolution 3: Restore Rivers and Healthy Marshes

Resolution 4: Save Plum Island  

Resolution 5: Become a member 

Become a part of our network of citizens saving the Sound.

Click here to read more about the resolutions...

Repair, Reuse, Reduce at the Connecticut Repair Café

Whether the value is sentimental or practical, most of us have something kept in a corner of the basement, the attic, in the back of a closet, that falls into the “they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore” category.  Unfortunately, “they” also don’t fix those anymore, either.

Well, except at the Connecticut Repair Café.

Organized by the Access Community Action Agency in Willimantic, CT, and with support from the Town of Mansfield, CT, the “café” is a meeting place for repairable items and community members skilled in repairing electrical items, electronics, bicycles and books, sharpening knives and mending clothing to make things useful again. 

Click here to read more...

Teachers changing culture at middle school through Sustainable Living course

Because of Vermont’s Act 250, Mount Anthony Union Middle School has been tied to agriculture even before its doors opened a decade ago.

MAUMS was in desperate need to relocate its 600 students and the only land available for a new school was on a farm. In order to use farmland for the school, MAUMS agreed to include agriculture in the school’s curriculum and recycle and compost 80 percent of its outflow.

And because of two people and the support they have developed throughout the school and the community over the past several years, MAUMS is a leader in building the connection between agriculture and education for children.

Click here to read more...

May 12, 2013 Bulletin Green Team Update

Info table on composting will be held next week during coffee hour in conjunction with Fair Trade sales of coffee, tea, and dark chocolate.  

MISSION 4/1 EARTH: EARTH CARE HOURS -Please keep track of your Earth Care hours and report them via time cards (available in Narthex) or email to greenteam@newingtonucc.org. Some examples are: picking up litter, taking a nature walk, electronics recycling, ride a bike or walk, garden, wash laundry in cold water, begin composting, sign up for clean energy options for electricity, sign up for home energy solutions audit to save energy, dry clothes outdoors on a clothesline, read a book, or watch a documentary on the environment, and more.....An information board with a long list of suggestions is located in South End hallway.  
National UCC totals a/o May 8: Earth Care Hours 179,269 hours; Trees Planted 35,203; Advocacy Letters 17,565

May 5, 2013 Bulletin - Green Team Update

MISSION 4/1 EARTH: Find out more TODAY DURING COFFEE HOUR about how you can be engaged in our congregation's participation in this National UCC initiative (UCC.org/earth). Learn how to keep track of any Earth Care hours you spend, trees you plant, and advocacy letters/petitions you write or sign. Learn what types of activities qualify as Earth Care Hours. Pick up a 20% discount coupon from Stonehedge Landscaping for any trees purchased from them. Thanks to Stephen Woods for the generous support!

TREES FOR CHURCH GROUNDS: During Coffee Hour, the Green Team will continue to collect donations for 2 small flowering trees to be planted on the church grounds and dedicated by the Church School later in the spring.

IN TWO WEEKS: Learn how to start composting. It is the way to recycle your yard and kitchen wastes, and is a critical step in reducing the volume of garbage needlessly sent to landfills for disposal. It's easy to learn how to compost.

April 21, 2013 Bulletin - Earth Day/Green Sunday Celebration

Earth Day/Green Sunday Celebration
When confronted with environmental responsibility, people of faith face a choice: to live in despair or to live with hope. We in the United Church of Christ are called to live with hope. We are called to spiritual and lifestyle transformation based on justice and reverence for all of God’s creatures and creation. We are called by Jesus to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. Today, we celebrate that hope with a special worship service and Green Sunday Exhibits.  

Mission 4/1 Earth Kickoff
Green Up, Power Down, Shout Out Today, our congregation kicks off Mission 4/1 Earth (ucc.org/earth) for the next 50 days, an opportunity to examine and change our patterns of behavior and to deepen our understanding and engagement of earth care and environmental justice in the process. This all-church mission intensive will be a concerted effort, ensuring a greener future for planet earth and a greener faith for us as followers of Jesus Christ.

How can you participate?
Earth Care Hours - take the next step with engaged earth care, including clean up, advocacy, education, and behavioral changes that will impact the environment.
Plant Trees - plant trees or donate to have trees planted on Church grounds, locally, or globally
Advocacy Letters - Collectively write/send ADVOCACY LETTERS on environmental concerns to elected officials and local and national newspapers

Keep track and let the Green Team know as we contribute to the National UCC Goals (1,000,000 Earth Care Hours, 100,000 trees planted, 100,000 advocacy letters).

Green Sunday Exhibits - today during Coffee Hour in Fellowship Hall to inform you and provide opportunities for action.

Fair Trade Sales - support global farmers by cutting out the middle man. Organic coffee, tea, and dark chocolate for sale at wholesale price plus a small donation to ASP. Cash and checks accepted.
 Church Recycling - what can you bring in to recycle at Church in the Coat
room? Where does it go and how is it reused?
Local Recycling - find out more about MDC Hazardous Waste Collection
days, local electronics recycling, local retail recycling.
Donations for Tree Planting on Church Grounds - 2 small Flowering Trees
will be planted on the Church Grounds with a dedication by the Church
School later in the Spring. Please help by making a small donation.
Planting Trees - find out more about the benefits of planting trees from
one of our Green Team Experts. Stonehedge Landscaping generously
will offer a 20% discount on trees to anyone in the Church.
Home Energy Solutions - find out how to sign up for a low-cost home
energy audit to save significantly on your energy costs. Let's get at least
10 people to sign up.
Clean Energy Options - find out how to sign up for clean energy electricity
- Let's get at least 10 people to sign up and GO GREEN!
Composting - find out how to start composting and find answers to your
questions to dispel myths about composting. Let's get 10 people to
commit to composting.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) - find out what a CSA is, how it
works, and local opportunities (Fair Weather Acres Farm in Rocky Hill,
Urban Oaks in New Britain, Eddy Farm in Newington -pork shares only).
Petitions - petitions will be available to sign to support: GMO Labeling,
Tar Sands/Keystone Pipeline environmental impact, Green Building
codes, Save the Whales. Please support based upon your individual
decision.

Upcoming Green Events
Riverfront Earth Day Festival - Today from 1pm-4pm at Riverfront Plaza in
Hartford. This is to be a full festival event, which weaves together the
threads of fun, family, faith, education and awareness of the sober realities
of climate change. Performers, speakers, delicious food for sale, and
there will be exhibits and activities for adults and kids the entire time!
More events will be announced over the coming weeks.

4/14/2013 Bulletin - Green Team Update

On Sunday, April 21, 2013, our Congregation will be kicking off the National UCC Program, Mission 4/1 Earth 50 Great Days. http://ucc.org/earth/.

Our Worship Service that day will be our Earth Day/Green Sunday Celebration. 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out.

The National UCC program goals are 1,000,000 engaged Earth Care hours, 100,000 trees planted, and 100,000 Advocacy Letters. Our congregations' goals will be much more modest but will contribute to the National goals in innovative and creative ways.

Plan to get involved and find out how in Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.