I just wanted to share with everyone some experiences from last week’s R.I. Interfaith Power and Light’s green conference.

-There were about 15-20 exhibit tables, with groups ranging from National Grid to the Audubon Society. National Grid gave out CFLs and home weather-stripping kits, which many people were happy to receive and other groups, including us, gave out brochures.

- Aside from giving out our brochures (printed on recycled paper), Mary Welsh and I talked to a number of people who were enthused about taking the pledge to turn off their lights from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Many said they hardly use lights during the day as it is. We scored a number of pledges as well as a few other groups to follow-up with so we can spread our message.

- To a certain extent, we were preaching to the religious and environmental choir. We didn’t need to convince anyone of global warming. Most of those in attendance were interested in helping the environment and the conference touched on those themes. During the keynote address, the Rev. Sally Bingham talked about how religious leaders could help the environment by energizing their congregation and connecting all the reverence for God’s creation with a duty to stop global warming. Overall, using the pulpit on Saturday or Sunday to energize the masses (unavoidable pun) to make changes to the environment is a very good idea. It is perhaps one of our best chances to reach the most people on making serious changes to stop global warming.

- During the Rev. Bingham’s speech, I was thinking about something that goes beyond the environment as well. With the conference being inclusive to all religions (Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, etc) I was reminded of how the basic principles of these religions all hold God’s creation in high regard and that perhaps fighting together to help the environment could help soothe some religious tensions that have flared in the world during this last century of intense globalization. It’s optimistic and naive to think it would have much effect on a larger basis, but we can hope there might be few cases. As the Middle East is torn apart through war and fear runs deep throughout the globe, it’d be a shame to halt global warming only to have political, economic and religious differences tear the world to pieces.