What Sisters are doing
- On March 18, Sister Janice Alfoldy (sitting at the end of the table with the pink shirt and black blazer) and Maurice Lange attended a meeting about protecting the Clean Air Act at Senator McCaskill’s office. Also in attendance at the meeting were representatives from a cross-section of our community: Veterans For Peace, two retired educators, a green business owner, a local college student studying ecology and other environmental activists, along with 1Sky, Apollo Alliance and Repower America. During the standing room only meeting, each person spoke to why they were there. The stories for needing to protect the Clean Air Act and support comprehensive climate legislation varied widely. The reasons included ushering in a clean energy economy, being stewards of the planet God gave us to maintain, combating the increasing incidence of chronic health problems for children/adults living near coal plants, and preventing resource wars due to rising sea levels and desertification. It is clear that the health of our planet is indicative to the health of our lives in so many different ways.
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The Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help are working in conjunction with the Franciscan Sisters of Mary on a variety of ecologically-based projects. Currently, these two congregations have partnered to encourage a regional convenience store/gas station to put out recycling bins as a pilot project in their St. Louis area stores. This has involved a letter-writing campaign, as well as inviting others to assist us in this effort by sending in postcards to the corporate CEO. The two groups are also planning this Spring to promote energy conservation by staffing an informational table at a local business.
- Film Series
The Franciscans For Earth Film Series continued on February 9th with a showing of “King Corn” and its sequel
“Big River.” Seventy-six folks attended and enjoyed hot apple cider and popcorn made by volunteer Sisters. These two films document the price that such a vast monocrop as Midwestern corn has upon the health of farmers, consumers and the ecology of soil, water and air.
Over 75 people attended the showing of "Kilowatt Ours" on January 9,
at the Franciscan Sisters offices in Kirkwood, Missouri.
Pictured at right is Sister Janice Alfoldy, OSF, and Maurice Lange.
The film illustrates practical solutions that can help homeowners save approximately $1,000 per year on energy bills, while helping the environment and protecting human health. Click here for Ten Tips to Save a $1,000 per year from KilowattOur.org.