Cool Island Day - Unveiling the Thermometer

Pictures:
www.sustainmayne.org/ThermometerUnveilingPix.zip

Mayne Island stepped up to the plate on climate change again on Sunday, June 3, 2007 with an invitation to its Cool Community Initiative.   With the unveiling of its Cool Island Thermometer, Islanders can now track the progress of their efforts to reduce the green house gas emissions they produce at home, in local businesses and on the road.  An afternoon festival in Miner's Bay Park opened with local musicians' and writers' performances of compositions dealing with the climate change and appreciation of the Islands' beauty. 

Briony Penn, federal Liberal candidate and long time ecological crusader, congratulated Mayne Islanders on their leadership in recycling and carbon awareness efforts.  She also outlined the energy & carbon initiatives she will take to Ottawa and conveyed read a letter from Stephane Dion sending his best wishes for the project.  Gary Rowe, Islands Trustee, described the Trust's green initiatives and Peter Judd, local small farmer, outlined the basics of Food Security.  Mayne's Cobworks members, builders of Canada's first fully permitted two story cob dwelling, created the thermometer and hosted a display, Louis Vallee's electric car and bicycles were on present along with Deacon Vale Farm produce, and Good Connections Electric's van was used to fill up a 100 foot plastic bag with exhaust gas to show how much we pollute just driving to work.

The thermometer was unveiled with the appropriate fun and appreciation, a 100 kilometer lunch feast was enjoyed at the historic Agricultural Hall and headline climate change speaker Guy Dauncey, president of the BC Sustainable Energy Association, dazzled us with the storm of pictures and information for which he is famous.  His presentation was tuned to what Islanders can do to take on this global threat and opportunity with understanding, energy and heart.

The Cool Island thermometer starts at the top at 15 tonnes per person in Canada and descends to the present target of 6 tonnes as participants sign up to make changes in their lifestyles.  The fastest, cheapest, most durable response we can make to climate change due to fossil fuel usage is through efficiency - using less energy to live a cleaner, healthier more satisfying lifestyle.

A spreadsheet has been developed to show how much gas is produced on average from several aspects of daily life, like house heating and appliances, transportation and food.  A second column gives a place to enter a lesser output suited to personal circumstances.  The resulting difference lowers the reading on the thermometer thereby indicating the intention of the participants.  Participants receive the coveted Cool Community logo to display on their cars, homes and businesses thus piquing neighbours' interest.

The next phase of the project will be an annual 'Carbon Reckoning Day' when people will add up their output to test the changes they chose.  A few receipts like odometer readings from vehicles and air travel, electric bill, fuel charges like oil & wood, etc will be used in the calculation.  Building improvement items like weatherstripping, compact fluorescent bulbs, window and insulation upgrades will change the energy bills considerably.  Bicycles, ride sharing and public transit likewise.  Choosing food produced within 100 Kilometers from home addresses the astonishing 2- to 3,000 kilometers our food now travels with all the attendant fuel, air & water pollution, and short sighted industrial farming practices involved.  These choices and more will be easily captured on a form designed to help the reckoning.

Carbon calculation spreadsheets are available for downloading at www.sustainmayne.org to do all the calculations;  just fill in the blanks and find out how you are doing and what more is possible for your family or business.

The details of a Cool Community Challenge to surrounding communities will be forthcoming in the next month.  It will center on percentage of population enlisted in greenhouse gas reduction or renewable energy production projects. 
Are you Cool yet?
Will you be able to do as well or better in your home town? 
Do you have better ways of reducing all kinds of waste and pollution thus increasing the health of our selves and our environment?
Are you teaching your kids the principles of a clean, perpetual future instead of the one that we have so far provided for them?
Do you consider your grandchildren each time you purchase something?
Watch the www.sustainmayne.org for details.

In a phrase - Let's Bring Back our Future!