April 1, 2007 Archive

A Very Green Tea
By Laurie Nienhaus

My fear is not that people will stop talking about climate change. My fear is that they will talk us to kingdom come. "                                                                                            - George Monboit

  
   Teacher and single mom Jude McCullough had a brainstorm during the last holiday season.  What might happen if she blended her love of teatime with her desire to give back to our world? What could come of such a marriage? It was suddenly so clear to her…The Green Tea.

   The Green Tea is now more than the beverage we tea lovers are so enamored of. Now it's also a grass roots movement beginning in Calgary, Alberta that will hopefully create a ripple effect felt around the globe.

   Jude McCullough's idea is both profoundly brilliant and simple. Ladies, gentlemen and even children gather for a simple teatime. Rather than donating money, each guest is encouraged to pledge a personal or corporate environmental action. The pledges can be as simple as deciding to drive one day less a week or purchase more efficient light bulbs. One to three guests are then further encouraged to host their own Green Tea with a different group of guests. And so it grows.

   The first Green Tea will be held in Calgary on April 21st with 25 people in attendance.   Pledges made will be posted on www.thegreentea.org. Also on this well-done web site, you'll find links to climate crisis information and suggestions for actions that make an environmental difference as well as ideas for hosting your own Green Tea. In the future, the environmental actions of participants around the world will also be posted on the web site.

   It is well for us to remember that we can make a difference and that action does indeed change the world. Thank you Jude for reminding us.

   Are you ready to hostess a Green Tea? If so, you're invited to visit www.thegreentea.org.

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