TWO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Drive-Thru Styrofoam Recycling, Dec 12, 202

With the continued growth of our styrofoam recycling campaign, we expect a large load, requiring 2 U-Haul trucks on the 12th. As a result, we needed 2 volunteers to work with Travis and myself. The plan is to have 1 volunteer with us at the collection site, and 1 volunteer travel with us to Waxahachie for the unloading. That will mean 3 total volunteers at the Waco collection, and 3 at the Waxahachie unloading. This work is moderately strenuous, and there is a 41% probability of rain, meaning it could also be messy. The Waco volunteer would work from 9am until 1pm, and the Waxahachie volunteer would work from 1pm until approximately 5p. We seriously need these volunteers, if the work load replicates previous dates. Thus please email anorthc@aol.com ASAP if you can fill one of the two slots. The work is satisfying, as we are providing a service previously unknown to the Greater Waco area.

How does this campaign relate to our mission of combating the climate crisis? Although we began this project to fill a need in Waco, there is a serious climate connection. By 2050, 20% of oil consumption will be for plastic production. The extraction and transport of oil and gas for plastic production are carbon intensive. Both the breakdown of microplastic and incineration of plastic release GHGs. Plankton ingests microplastic, decreasing the growth of plankton and decreasing its CO2 removing photosynthesis. Although we must find alternatives to fossil fuel based plastics, recycling is beneficial to our climate in the meantime.

Thus we really need two members to step up and help this project continue to succeed. The Waco collection site is the parking lot at the corner of Waco Drive and Valley Mills Drive, in front of Ocean Buffet.

  

AWARD CEREMONY for the 4th Annual Climate Crisis Art Exhibit, 12/9

We encourage everyone to join us for the virtual award ceremony, Saturday, December 19, starting at 6 pm. Capacity of the Zoom meeting is 100; thus we suggest arriving for admission early, beginning at 5:30 pm. The awards will be presented in the Adult, College, High School, Jr. High, Elementary, and Peoples' Choice categories. This will be accompanied by some recent, vital climate science, videos and music, and door prizes. 

The process is very simple. At about 5:30pm on December 19, use this link to reach the Zoom awards ceremony: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83271487387.

And if you havent had an opportunity to view this amazing community-wide exhibit and vote for the Peoples' Choice Award, simply go to: climatecrisisartexhibit.org.

NEW BILLBOARD DESIGN & SITE

After many years of suboptimal billboard locations, we have an excellent site, on New Road, near Valley Mills Dr.  I am working on a design with Mr. Littrell and we should have it up soon  My hope is to incorporate the Extinction Rebellion symbol  with text like "climate action now" and "there is NO planet B."   Donations to the Waco Friends of the Climate help fund this ongoing billboard, which has been up continuously for many years.   

 

GO RENEWABLE WACO

We continue to press the Waco City Council each session on agenda items that can show progress on decarbonization. Although we have had some progress on City purchase of renewable energy and purchase of a couple of EVs, these are baby steps. After all our education, I feel the Council still does not take the urgency of climate change mitigation seriously. Hopefully, new Council member Kelly Parker will be an exception. Please continue to support our Go Renewable Waco campaign when we send emails with instructions on action.

Extreme weather worsens, with 2020 holding the record for the most named hurricanes in the Atlantic at 30.  And this year is expected to be in the top 3 of warmest global mean temperature.  Thanks for the dedication of our members, who give climate action the priority it deserves.  We know that after the pandemic is resolved, the climate crisis will be with us--there is NO vaccine for this emergency.  

Join us on Facebook: Waco Friends of the Climate

email:  anorthc@aol.com