Any familiar-sounding New Year's Resolutions here? "Meet people, learn something new, eat healthy, share what you know . . ."
If you have a hankering to explore plant-rich diets, share your favorite recipes, or make connections in the community, then save the date for this friendly, casual, meatless potluck open to all!
- Tues., Jan. 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
- The Green House, 505 E. Washington St.
This month's featured guest will be Candice Smith from the Iowa City Public Library. Candice has been vegetarian all her adult life and is a 20-year veteran employee of ICPL, where she selects the adult nonfiction books, including cookbooks.
Bring a meatless dish to share, a copy of the recipe, and your own dinnerware to enjoy this fun event! For more information, view the Facebook event or email plantrichpotluck@gmail.com.
Flex your knowledge of nature and win prizes in Eco Trivia with Green Iowa AmeriCorps at Big Grove Brewery.
- Monday Jan. 22, 5 p.m.
- Big Grove Taproom, 1225 S. Gilbert St.
All are welcome to this event!
Looking for a free opportunity to get a broken or worn item to be fixed or mended? IC Repair will be hosting their next repair event this month, and those interested can register online.
- Saturday Jan. 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Blvd SE
Lamps, clothing, toys, chairs, and small appliances were some of the most common items fixed at last year’s events. Volunteer repair experts assess items and fix them for free, provided they have the needed materials on hand. Opting to repair rather than replace goods helps curb emissions related to manufacturing and transportation: an important win for the climate.
Updates regarding specific repair experts and demonstrations will be posted on the IC Repair Facebook page: www.facebook.com/icrepaircafe. Questions can be sent to icrepaircafe@gmail.com.
Lizzy Fitzsimmons
Green Iowa AmeriCorps member
How do you take climate action?
I take several individual actions to help reduce my footprint, like avoiding plastic shopping bags, carrying my own water bottle, walking or taking the bus when I can, and eating several meatless meals per week. The biggest individual action I take is buying as few new things as possible. If I need something, odds are high that I can make something I already have work, borrow from a friend, or find something at a secondhand store! However, I do believe that the most important actions are not individual but on a community level, so my favorite actions are engaging with the community through organizations and the local government to bring action and change in a more impactful way.
What can others do to take climate action?
Climate change and the issues it will bring are deeply connected to so many things in our society. Politics, economics, sociology, and social justice are just as much a part of the climate issue as biology, chemistry, and physics. As a graduate of the environmental science program at the University of Iowa, I have a lot of skin in the game in the scientific sense, but the fact that the most affluent are causing the problem while the least affluent are experiencing the consequences is the part that morally and emotionally drives me to take action.
Why is it important to take climate action?
Individual actions like avoiding plastic packaging or taking the bus to work once a week are easy ways to incorporate climate action into your day-to-day life, but I would encourage others to try some community actions and get involved. Even simply talking with your neighbors can help build a strong community that will be more equipped to handle the impacts of the changing climate. Talk to your friends and family not just about the climate problem but about climate solutions. Encourage them to also try things like limiting Target runs or Amazon orders to only when they need it.
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