From member Huda Alkaff:

Go to (http://www.wicec.org/3rdannualwiinterfaith.htm)

Dear Friend:

The award-winning Wisconsin Interfaith Climate & Energy Campaign and the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin are celebrating the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Interfaith Energy Awareness Month in October 2009.

Want to do your part for the environment while saving energy and money?

Click here to take the ENERGY STAR Pledge now, and join with millions of Americans who are taking small steps that make a big difference in reducing global warming.

Change the World, start with ENERGY STAR. Join us in the fight against global warming by taking the ENERGY STAR Pledge.

When you pledge, you are making a commitment to save energy and money and reduce global warming by taking energy-saving actions in your home, such as changing a light to an ENERGY STAR qualified model, enabling your computer to power down when not in use, installing and using a programmable thermostat correctly with pre-programmed settings, choosing products that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and more. Taking these actions will also save energy and money.

Wisconsin Interfaith Climate & Energy Campaign and the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin together set a goal of reducing at least 350,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2008, WICEC in partnership with the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin received the ENERGY STAR Change the World Pledge Leader for helping to empower an estimated saving of 286,040 kilowatt hours of energy, $41,400, and preventing 539,170 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions!

In 2007, WICEC in partnership with the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin had a successful campaign meeting our goal of obtaining 100 household pledges and helped to empower a saving of 84,600 kWh of energy and prevented 122,700 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions! We received the "2007 ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge Leader" recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

To date, nearly two million people across the nation have pledged to take small, energy-saving steps that can change the world. If every American household took part in the ENERGY STAR Pledge, we would save more than $18 billion in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 18 million cars.

Click here to help us reach our goal for this year!

Thank you for your support!

For more information or to e-mail your pledge, please contact Huda Alkaff, Coordinator of the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Interfaith Energy Awareness Month at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We want you to become aware of a marvelous opportunity to raise awareness in your congregation and neighborhood about an important ecology issue... and to join a world-wide effort focused on climate change.

October 24, 2009 is International Day of Climate Action.

Around the globe, congregations are finding ways to get the word out about our need to lower our global carbon parts per million (ppm) count. This reduction is necessary to insure human survival on our planet - to maintain a habitat where people can continue to live and thrive here along with the plants and animals that are a critical part of the interdependent web of all life. Our current carbon count is approximately 387 ppm, and we need to get it to 350, in order to function at a healthy level. This campaign to get involved and educate others is in preparation for the next round of global climate talks, which will be taking place this December in Copenhagen.

We are challenging the Milwaukee area congregations to help us meet a local goal of 350 congregations participating in some action for "350 Faith" on or before October 24.

The very next day, at the Urban Ecology Center, we will report how many congregations took what action. That reporting will be part of our conference called, "Faith Encounters the Energy Crisis: Transitioning to Reduced Energy Consumption." For more information on the conference, visit www.interfaithearthnetwork.org or contact Lisa at 414-545-6006 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Will your congregation commit to some type of action on or before October 24, 2009?

Here are some ideas:

1. If you have bells, ring them 350 times as people gather for a prayer service highlighting our need to protect the planet followed by a workshop on strategies for families and households to reduce our carbon level.

2. During a worship service, hold 350 seconds of silent prayer for our planet, followed by a workshop on strategies for families and households to reduce our carbon level.

3. Dedicate a leadership meeting to generate ideas for how your congregation can reduce its carbon footprint; choose the top ideas and design action plans for implementation. End the meeting with 350 seconds of silent prayer, or 350 seconds of "listening to nature" if you can open windows and hear the sounds of birds or crickets outside. Make the plans public to your congregation and neighborhood.

4. If you have a children's program, hold a meeting for the parents that includes information about how to reduce carbon levels; ask the parents to write down their commitments for their families. Ring a bell 350 times as the parents come forward and drop their written commitments and plans in a basket. Post the results (ideas, not names) in your congregation's newsletter or bulletin.

For more information, visit www.350.org.

We are in the process of identifying people willing to help you plan a workshop for your congregation. Contact Lisa ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to report your congregation, your idea(s), and date(s) of implementation.

Visit www.interfaithearthnetwork.org to see that developing list; we will continue to post names and emails as they become available to us.