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                     Manifesto                    

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The world decided in 2015 that there is an urgent need for action on global warming, acknowledging that, if we continue with business as usual, human civilization is doomed.  Every country in the world has signed on to the COP21 agreement, known as the Paris Accord. One country - the United States - pulled out.  That makes it imperative for each and every American to do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint, with or without government help.  

 

To this end, a coalition of US economic, education, and local government leaders formed the We Are Still In movement.  The coalition represents 120 million Americans, 125 cities, 9 states, 902 businesses and investors, and 183 colleges and universities and $6.2 trillion of the US economy.   Organizations, such as The Climate Mobilization, Mothers Out Front, and many others are working to persuade all levels of government to enact legislation to make the transition away from a fossil fuel economy as speedily as possible.

 

My newly-formed non-profit organization, A Better Way, is taking a different approach, working from the grassroots up.  We are asking the people everywhere to commit to reducing their environmental impact 20% by the end of 2020, and to call on local government to do the same.  This is not hard to do - just think like a miser.  Look for ways to reduce waste, use less water, produce less garbage, change your light bulbs, “Seal the Cracks”, (a Mother’s Out Front project), get a programmable thermostat.

 

All of these actions will save you money while helping to heal the poor, battered planet.

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1. Reduce water consumption

2. Reduce energy consumption

3. Reduce food waste

4. Reduce garbage

5. Reduce packaging

6. Reduce the population

7. Reduce use of chemicals

8. Refuse what you don’t need

9. Re-use

10. Repair

11. Recycle

12. Regenerate

13. Share

14. Shop locally

15. Grow more

16. Compost

17. Increase use of renewable energy

18. Increase pressure on decision makers

19. Increase participation

     and…..

20. BE NICE - to each other, to animals and the planet