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October
2005
Hopi
to Mexico Water Run
In March 2006, fifteen Hopis will carry sacred messages, teachings,
and waters, gifted to us from many parts of the world and from our
homeland on Black Mesa (Northern Arizona) to the 4th World Water Forum
in Mexico City, some 2,000 miles away. They will carry the message
in behalf of all indigenous peoples.
Virtual
March to Stop Global Warming - a virtual march is stretching across
the nation, gathering members daily in an effort to urge our nation's
leaders to address the issue of global warming. Over 100,00 people
have joined in the march. View the website to join, see who else has
joined, see where the march moves next, and get updated news on global
warming.
Restoration
event in Cedar River Watershed (Seattle) - Earth Ministry will
join with other groups to help revegetate an area in the Cedar River
Watershed. For more information, contact Mike Schut at mschut@earthministry.org
Preserving
Our Sacred Earth (New York) - The Ministry for Education of the
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine will hold a public forum on
caring for creation on Sunday, November 6, at 3pm. For more information,
contact mrubenstein@stjohndivine.org
Religion
Enters Its Ecological Phase (New Jersey) - A symposium was held
on October 1 at St. Paul's Abbey in Newton, NJ, and honored Sister
Miriam MacGillis, founder of Genesis Farm, with the Thomas Berry award.
“Rooted
in God's Word and Lands” is an ecumenical resource for churches
and people of faith interested in protecting and redeeming God's land.
Click
here to download the resource.
NCC
Environmental Justice Resource is a resource for congregations
wishing to address environmental justice issues. For more information,
contact cassandra@toad.net.
Eco-Justice
Working Group
Church
of the Brethren
Environmental
Justice Office of Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian
Washington Office
Episcopal
Ecological Network
Greek
Orthodox Church in America
Luthern
Earthkeeping Network of the Synods
Reformed
Church in America
United
Church of Christ
United
Methodist Board of Church and Society
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Gulf Coast Prayers Extended
Prayers go out to the families affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita.
The National Council of Churches, in cooperation with Church World
Service, is helping with relief efforts in the Gulf Region. The Council
is also looking at ways that we as a Christian community can be involved
in a just and sustainable rebuilding of those areas effected by the
storms. For more information, contact Cassandra Carmichael (cassandra@toad.net).
Join
Us: Tending the Garden Conference
Join us November 4th and
5th in Denver, CO for "Tending the Garden, Cultivating the Commons,"
an exciting conference sponsored by the National Council of Churches
Eco-Justice Program and Eco-Justice Ministries. National and global
leaders of the religious environmental movement will convene in the
Rocky Mountain region for a weekend of education, inspiration, and
training. Participants will learn strategies for congregational programming
and political advocacy that will be useful in addressing a range of
issues and fulfilling our call to be good stewards of shared resources.
To learn more or to register, click
here.
The
Real Cost of Gas
In
the tragic wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our national dependence
on fossil fuels has hit many of us close to home. With gasoline
prices spiking and the Department of Energy predicting a jump in
natural gas prices by up to 71 percent, we are feeling our energy
dependence - and our vulnerability - in a concrete way. That pinching
of our pocketbooks is causing a lot of stir and serious financial
hardship for many. But how many of us have paused to consider how
much we are really shelling out for our dependence on fossil fuels?
Read More . . .
New
Land Stewardship Resource Available
Developed by the National
Council of Churches' Public Land Stewardship Initiative, "Rooted
in God's Word and Lands" is an ecumenical resource for churches
and people of faith interested in protecting and redeeming God's
land. The resource includes information on land issues, sermon starters,
a bulletin insert for a themed worship service, suggestions for
adult and youth study activities, and ideas for personal and congregational
action. Click here to download the
resoure.
Sign
On!
Water, Climate, and
Theology. The NCC-Eco Justice has put together three statements
regarding water, climate stewardship, and a theological statement
on the environment. View these letters and
add your name!
Protecting
God's Lands. Faith leaders, raise your voice by affirming a
new statement from NCC's Public Lands Stewardship Initiative called
"Renewing the Ground: A Call for Faithful Stewardship of Energy
Resources on God's Lands." Click here
to read the statement and add your name!
Legislative
Update
Endangered
Species Act
On September 29th the U.S. House of Representatives passed a
bill that overhauled and weakened the Endangered Species Act. Prior
to the vote, NCC joined with eight other Christian organizations,
including several of its member denominations, to ask U.S. Represenatives
to reject the proposed changes and continue full protection of endangered
and threatened species. For more information, click
here.
Appropriations
Although House and Senate leaders had vowed to complete the budget
reconciliation process soon after Congress returned from its August
recess, the legislative calendar has been delayed by Hurricane Katrina.
House and Senate committees are expected to vote on budget language
that would open the Arctic Refuge to oil drilling. A third emergency
spending bill is expected by mid-October. Environmentalists fear that
this third bill, which could run as high as $100 billion, could include
waivers to environmental laws and regulations, such as those proposed
in a bill (S. 1711) drafted by Sen. Inhofe (R-OK), chair of the Environment
and Public Works Committee, that would allow the EPA to temporarily
suspend environmental laws when responding to damage from Hurricane
Katrina. Other lawmakers have discussed legislative proposals to exempt
the construction or repair of oil refineries from Clean Air Act provisions
and to limit public review of plans to clean up hurricane-affected
areas. Some of these dangerous exemptions could find their way into
unfinished appropriations bills or the new Katrina-relief supplemental
spending bill.
Energy
On 9/14, the
House passed a bill (H.R. 889) authorizing additional personnel and
equipment for the Coast Guard to cope with Hurricane Katrina relief.
The bill contains language included by Rep. Young (R-AK), chair of
the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, that would
insert an additional hurdle into the process of approving offshore
wind energy projects by requiring the head of the Coast Guard to submit
a written opinion as to whether offshore wind projects would affect
ship traffic and navigation.
Public Health
On 9/13, the Senate
narrowly rejected, 47-51, a resolution (S.J. Res. 20) offered by Sen.
Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Collins (R-ME), that would have overturned an
EPA rule announced earlier this year that will allow power plants
to emit significantly more mercury than would be allowed if the Clean
Air Act were adequately enforced.
From the Desk of . . .
by: Cassandra
Carmichael, NCC eco-justice program director
In early August, amid the
heat and humidity, I arrived in New Orleans, my old hometown, to plan
the logistics for the Eco-Justice Biennial Conference in June 2006.
After several day of gracious hospitality, good food, and successful
meetings, I returned home with plans for the conference well underway.
Three weeks later Hurricane Katrina devasted the City of New Orleans
and changed the lay of the land not just geographically but politically.
Stories of both hurricanes and their aftermath have been swarming
the news outlets. What has struck me the most have not been the stories
of devastation, but of the heartfelt acts of kindness and compassion.
Stories of individuals using their own boats, on their own initiative,
to pull stranded people from the roofs. The story of the couple who
chartered a commerical airplane to rescue dogs from the area. In eco-justice
work we learn that all things are connected--environmental degradation
to human social conditions; clean air and water to healthy communities;
and a healthy, vibrant eco-system with a healthy economy. As I ready
myself for a trip back to my hometown of New Orleans next week, I
take with me the lessons of connection. So, that with every hand I
shake, every breath I take, I recognize our call as God's people to
live in community not just with each other, but with all of God's
creation.
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility
regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not
to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
-- Philippians 2:3-4
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