Ideas and resources for club members to help us learn more about climate change and inequality and what we can do about it in our corner of the world
Coming soon
Ideas and resources that show club members how we can share our experience, tips, and links on how to reduce our carbon footprint.
Group Leader: Regina Caines, Zonta Club of Medford
Participants:
Christine DePrizio, Zonta Club of Chelsea Bonnie Fisherman, Zonta Club od Chelsea
Dana Fraser, Zonta Club of Amherst Kathryn Patterson, Zonta Club of Halifax
Luci Rexroad, Zonta Club of Medford Ellis Robbins, Zonta Club of Concord
Governor Beatrice Schori, Zonta Club of Halifax Janice Severance, Zonta Club of Concord
What can we do as individuals (households), communities and political changes:
Issues – Individals/households:
- Excess plastic in all areas
- Carbon Footprint – food products
- Excess carbon dioxide
Actions:
- Shop carefully to avoid purchasing products that are over packaged, especially with plastic; reuse plastic bags; carry your own shopping bags;
- Reduce purchases of beef and other food products that have a larger carbon footprint;
- Plant lots of trees to absorb carbon dioxide and increase oxygen; greatly reduce clear-cutting;
- Vote for Municipal government candidates who have strong policies on greening the community
- Use non-plastic product where possible, e.g., use beeswax wrap in lieu of plastic wrap
Comments: Bonnie noted plastic particles have been found in human bloodstreams.
Issues:
- Old energy-hungry appliances
Action:
- Purchase energy-efficient appliances
- Recycle your old appliances
Issues: How to make changes in your community
Action:
- If you see something that violates climate change, speak to the manager(s) of the business in which you are shopping and make them aware of related issues and ask them to make changes;
- Seek changes in building products; example; recommend white roof tiles in very warm climates
- Reduce, Reuse, Repair Recycle – don’t automatically throw products in the garbage
- Vote for candidates whose platform have strong climate control & accountable action plans
Issues:
- Large polluters
Actions:
- Purchase an electric or hybrid vehicle
- Buy a smaller vehicle
- Take public transport
- Cycle
- Walk
Issues:
- Petro-chemical fuel production
Actions:
- Reduce petro-chemical production
- Encourage renewable energy production
Comments: Ellis noted that more than 70% of Americans approved of supporting Ukraine by eliminating purchase and import of Russian petro-chemical products
Zonta Club Action:
- Have Zonta labelled folding bags made that can be rolled up to carry in handbags as a fund raiser or as a gift to new Zonta members.
Ideas and resources on how we can share the facts and our experience of reducing emissions with our friends, families, co-workers, supporters and our communities
Share facts / information
- Create a Facebook page header or other social media image with Zonta Says Now logo
- Have members share their own recycling, reusing and ideas for making a different to the club page.
- Make sure members know their efforts, even apart from Zonta events, on climate change and resiliency can and should be shared with our network.
- Write letters to the editor about women’s issues and impact
- Invite press to our events educating members/public and service events.
Educate on how climate disproportionately impacts women…. But go beyond the Club meeting, take this education to the members and public (youth) at the same time:
- Open educational session on climate changes and resiliency
- Consider inviting youth as speakers / educators
- Consider having a panel of different aspects of climate change (Panel ideas: Socially responsible investment options (see Terry), net zero building or renovation (architect or builder), purchasing wisely (environmental activist), youth for change (Z Club member), etc…)
- Educate and information on disproportionate impact.
Participate in public events
- Trash pickup day with Zonta Says Now shirts and information
- Use a QR Code that links to ZI Climate information (instead of printing lots of information) so people can take a photo of it with the phone and get a link directly to the information
- Go to where people are already gathering.. Farmers Markets for example, to have a booth/table with recycling bags and our message
- Have a park cleanup/meetup hoping to get tons of people for 1 hour to accomplish a lot!
- Be more active in civic events that are making a difference, and share that involvement (example given was a Zontian who participated in a library rebuild that was net zero emissions.)
Use our voice in making sure Massachusetts efforts of achieving the zero net omission by 2050 considers impact to women and funds appropriately.
- Create talking points to address women’s issues.
- Be a part of the program from the beginning, instead of after laws are implemented.
Engage others with our Voice
- Solicit from other organizations (schools, municipality, other) “what’s on your wish list” and have clubs allocate $1,000 for socially responsible investment that would help women. Could even have an event where organizations share what they are working on and let the attendees vote for funding. “Zonta Fairy Godmothers for Climate change”
- Consider a contest where an influencer who understands our mission could take over our social media account for a day, posting about their engagement in our event.
- Engage the Z and Golden Clubs, asking them to participate, share on social, be part of our voice.
- Mark sure you create and use many hashtags for any event Zonta is hosting or participating.
Note: Clubs that speak out on climate change will attract youth and younger activists. Social and environmental justice are relevant and important issues for many.
Note: If District could coordinate printing Zonta Says Now foldable reusable bags, local Clubs could all commit to purchase a certain amount in bulk, all would collectively save money.
Ideas and resources on how we might identify and act on specific issues where we can make a difference to women and girls.
-overall impressions of the video – a real eye opener. Encourage all club members to read ZI’s climate statement! Commit to having climate advocacy on club’s meeting agendas. Donna gave a great report on findings based on her involvement. I took notes on this and can share if needed, but…thinking the Advocacy ideas are what we are focused on.
Ideas that our breakout group came up with included:
-look for opportunities to get the word out by doing more community activities. Examples would include:
Attend wellness fairs
Look for speakers (preferably women and young people) from climate action committee like the one in western MA and host forums
Partner with local colleges (example BCC has a STEM program) to gain traction
Look for other community partnership opportunities as a way to also gain new Zontians while raising awareness. Look to help take a leadership role.
Create a club scholarship and send applications out to local high school students, encouraging essay competition or other ideas.
Bird-dog local candidates running for elected offices. Send someone to ask them climate-related questions.
Keep climate change advocacy on every club’s monthly agenda.
Ideas and resources on how we can magnify our voice by collaborating with like-minded organizations.
Our breakout group was tasked to find identify potential like mind partners to collaborate with.
We agreed to discuss and target like mind organizations that encourage education and involved youths to join, volunteer and participate.
Brainstorming notes:
- Potential partners (or projects):
- Girls Scouts and Girl Guides
- Connect through local high schools (secondary education)
- National Honor Society
- Feminist Club
- Work with guidance or principal’s office to make initial connection
- Collaborate to expand our reach and connect with other Zonta clubs and active ZClub across US and Canada
- D1 does have a few ZClub (Malden and Western MA) and we can connect if they active (Due to COVID there has a been a period of inactivity?)
- Business Professionals of America -Ute mentioned this group but will have to research if we any local groups in the US or Canada https://bpa.org/
- Boys and Girls Club/YMCA or YMCA
- City Year – Boston AM
- Generate activity from scholarship recipients, keep contact information, create contact lists
In Massachusetts, we have two potential organizations to research:
- Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN)
https://www.massclimateaction.org/
The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN), a 501(c)3 non-profit, fights the climate crisis one town at a time, with the help of local MCAN chapters
MCAN’s role as a facilitator of municipal-level action is unique among Massachusetts environmental groups. We empower our local chapters by enhancing communication, promoting town-level projects that improve communities, decreasing climate change-causing pollution, and reducing development time for those projects. MCAN speaks on behalf of all chapters to improve Massachusetts energy and climate policies and programs.
- Climate Action Now – Western Massachusetts
http://climateactionnowma.org/
Climate Action Now Western MA is grassroots, all-volunteer group, dedicated to building a powerful climate justice movement through organizing, action and public education.
- Join us!! Here are some first steps. Click on any of the links below:
- Look at our latest newsletter– the best way to know about upcoming events, actions, webinars, etc.
- Sign up to receive our newsletterregularly by email – stay up to date on new events and opportunities
- Come to our monthly general gatherings – 4thMonday of the month on Zoom at 7PM. See the newsletter to get the Zoom registration link.
- Get involved with one of our Working Groups– see a list of groups and contact people
- Learn more about:
- Stop the Money Pipeline
Next steps: Continue research and bring back information to local clubs