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Climate Change and it's Impacts
Jan 21, 2020
Bio of Dr. John Keller Dr. John L Keller’s career in atmospheric science research & development goes back to the early 1970s. As a Senior Research Meteorologist at AIR Worldwide in Boston, Dr. Keller developed and implemented a model for the extreme wind climate of Northwest Europe. This model is part of AIR's "EuroCAT" modeling system, widely used by the property and casualty insurance industry to manage climate risk. Prior to joining AIR Worldwide, Dr. Keller was a staff meteorologist at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA. At Lincoln, he provided scientific support for the CCL is Citizen’s Climate Lobby (CCL) was founded by a Rotarian. Marshall Saunders was working with Rotary on micro-loans, when he decided that climate change was a threat to his work and the world that couldn’t be ignored. That was 11 years ago. Today, CCL is working to pass a bi-partisan bill that will reduce carbon in the atmosphere by creating incentives to pollute less, is fair and socially just, AND will spur economic growth. The link above will take to you Rotary.org’s page about Mr. Saunders and CCL. The speaker will educate the club about climate change and it’s impacts, and explain the bill (aligning with RI’s view that clubs should engage with and be informed about “any public question involving the general welfare of the community, the nation, and the world.”). CCL understands that Rotary does NOT endorse anything .
CCL aligns with Rotary’s ideals and approach to problem solving:
· We work together as volunteers to solve big problems like polio. CCL’s organization is made up of volunteers collaborating to stop climate change (and is organized much like Rotary– with local chapters).
· CCL works with everyone across the political spectrum to create consensus and relationships, just like Rotary. Both organizations are non-partisan.
· Rotary’s Four Way Test demands (among other things) that we treat each other respectfully (‘Will it build goodwill and better friendships?’). CCL trains it’s volunteers extensively to engage, inform and educate in respectful and collaborative ways.
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Learning American History
Jan 28, 2020
I speak on why and how American history - as it is taught in our high schools - presents an on-going threat to our national security. I present a viable solution to motivate students to want to learn American history. My wenbsite: www.gettysburglessons.com |
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Uganda flood relief
Feb 04, 2020
In late November, 2019, a flood destroyed parts of a village in Nasenyi Uganda, which is a primitive town outside of Mbale in the Eastern part of the country. The flood came without warning in the middle of the night, resulting in the destruction not only of homes, but of personal property, crops, and livestock. This is a village which never had running water, plumbing or electricity. They get around by bicycle or motorcycle. They eat the crops they harvest. They are a close knit community where Jews, Muslims and Christians live side by side. I envy their connection with each other and how happy they appear to be. It makes me realize that with all our material goods, our big houses in our fancy neighborhoods, our drivenness to achieve, that we have lost this sense of togetherness which is the real key to a happy lifestyle.
However, they have fallen below the level of basic necessities they need to survive. They had no food. A baby named Mosh (Moses) was left to drown because his mother couldn't take care of him and was rescued by other members of the village. They had no beds or blankets. The swamps they get their water from can cause typhoid and mosquitoes can cause malaria.
I learned of this disaster when I began working on a new episode of my TV show Spiritually Speaking (on Burlington Cable Access and YouTube channel) in which I wanted to highlight the very interesting Jewish community of Uganda. I friended a couple of community members on Facebook, which is when they informed me of this disaster which had just occurred. In December I began a fundraiser with a woman in Texas who had met a member of the community.
We have raised over $4300 to provide them with food for a couple of months, medical care for Mosh, blankets for 67 victims and 44 mattresses. They are in need of more mattresses as well as ongoing water treatment and protection against disease carrying mosquitoes.
Bio
Rabbi Susan Abramson is the longest serving female rabbi in New England, having served Temple Shalom Emeth in Burlington, MA since 1984. She is the chair of Burlington's Interfaith Clergy Association and is a member of the Bedford and Billerica Interfaith Clergy groups. She is the author of the Rabbi Rocketpower series of Jewish children's books as well as Challah: A Chewish Guide to the Torah. Her YouTube channel Spiritually Speaking features a series of 13 videos teaching and highlighting the faiths of the houses of worship in Burlington, Bedford and Billerica, as well as music videos. Recent episodes include an interview with Holocaust survivor Agnes Bales, a program on how Jews are feeling during this period of heightened antisemitism and Barbara Ostfeld, the first-ever female cantor. She was featured on a recent JewishBoston.com podcast and highlighted in a cover story of the Boston Globe magazine after the anti-Semitic incidents in Bedford a number of years ago. She has been a resident of Bedford for 26 years. Her son Aaron is currently a law school student at Northeastern University.
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