Ecumenical Statement on Water Leaders of Faith Communities Support Protection of The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge WATER: THE KEY TO SUSTAINING LIFE: AN OPEN STATEMENT TO GOVERNING BODIES AND CONCERNED CITIZENS Water is a vital ingredient for both the diversity of life on Earth and for human well-being. As people of faith, we are stewards and caretakers of God’s wondrous creation. As we become aware of threats to God’s precious waters, we must respond with action. We must hold accountable those people in positions of power for the decisions they make regarding our health, well-being, and continued opportunity for a quality life. The conservation and protection of clean and safe water is just one of the many critical issues that is constantly confronting us and threatening the quality of life for future generations. Water sustains life not only for humans, but for all of creation. Water is a fundamental component of the world’s eco-systems and ensures a rich diversity of plant and animal life. It is our religious responsibility to preserve fragile ecosystems in wetlands, creeks, and other riparian habitats. Water should be viewed as a gift from God for all people, not a commodity that can be traded for profit. Access to fresh water supplies is becoming an urgent matter of life and death across the planet and especially for the 1.2 billion people who are currently suffering from a lack of adequate water and sanitation. The world is on the verge of a serious water crisis—one that is leading to conflicts among people, communities, regions, and nations. All individuals have the fundamental right to clean water and no one should be denied access to clean water because they cannot afford it. As a world leader, we need to set a standard and example on how to preserve what we have and prepare for the future. We need to protect God’s waters and guide others by responsibly conserving, preserving, and distributing this priceless and necessary part of God’s creation. From the bays, lakes, rivers and streams to the Great Lakes and to the ocean shores, conservation and protection should be a priority. For people of faith, water is an essential element of both our physical and spiritual life. We understand water as a symbol of preservation, cleansing, and renewal. Water is an integral part of the sacrament of Baptism. In Genesis, wells were built near altars to remind those that passed by of God’s provision. Moses repeatedly used water when he performed miracles in God’s name in his effort to free the Hebrews from Pharaoh’s bondage. In John chapter four, Jesus converses with a Samaritan woman at a well as she draws water. He explains to her about “living water,” which if she drinks, “will never thirst again.” Given the profound religious symbolism of water and our responsibility as stewards of God’s creation, we call on all levels of leadership—community leaders, elected officials, business and industry leaders—to partner with us to protect the sacred gift of clean water. Our leaders have the responsibility to continue to create and enforce laws that protect this necessary ingredient for life. Industry leaders and elected officials need to ensure that strict laws and tough regulations are in place to control pollution discharge into waterways from industrial and agricultural facilities. States have the responsibility to protect their local aquifers, watersheds, creeks and lakes from pollutants that can contaminate water, deforestation that destroys eco-systems, and organizations that strive for the privatization of water. Communities have the responsibility to protect the necessary human right to clean water as well as to preserve that right for future generations. People of faith have the responsibility to protect all of God's creation, the gifts that God so abundantly provided. Sincerely, Join us in speaking out by signing our Ecumenical Statement on Water Leaders of Faith Communities Support Protection of The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge March 1, 2005 Dear Members of Congress: Representing communities of faith and as leaders of various religious traditions, we share a common scriptural and theological belief that we have a responsibility to care for God’s creation and to be good neighbors. As people of faith, we support protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge fully. To risk the destruction of an untouched wilderness and an ancient culture violates our theological mandate to be caretakers of creation. Because of these deeply shared values we respectfully ask you to oppose legislation that would facilitate the opening of this sacred space to oil or gas exploration and development in any way. While the ecological and human rights values of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are recognized by many, the cost from exploitation of the potential resources that may exist there does not justify exploration or development. The best estimates tell us that oil from the Refuge as a single source is equal to what the Unites States would consume in several months. Conservation, energy efficiency, and alternative sources of energy can do much more to address our country’s energy needs. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the few ecosystems left on earth in its original condition. It is a national treasure and such natural places are anchors in a changing world. They help hold us in place and tell us where we have been; they often can be sources of inspiration and comfort. As Job counsels, “listen to the earth, and it will teach you.” Job 12:8. The Arctic Refuge is well-known for its Porcupine caribou herd, whose life cycle is dependent on the Refuge as an intact, virtually undisturbed ecosystem. The caribou are a chief link in the subsistence culture for the indigenous Gwich’in people. The Gwich’in call themselves the “Caribou People” and the Arctic Refuge is for them “the Sacred Place where Life Begins.” The caribou are essential for Gwich’in cultural, social, and spiritual needs and it has been that way for over 10,000 years. Disturbances that lead to reduced calving success for the caribou may cause significant, irreversible, negative consequences for all involved in this unspoiled web of life. Pristine places like the Arctic Refuge provide numerous benefits. For humankind, the Arctic is a control environment that helps scientists answer current and future questions in the changing environment. For animal kind, the Arctic is an important habitat and home for many species, including the Arctic peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, golden eagle, snowshoe hare, ptarmigan, polar bear, grizzly bear, musk ox, threatened spectacled eider, wolves, smaller mammals and water fowl. “The psalmist proclaims, ‘O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104. We recognize that our use of fossil fuels and the resulting global warming has its greatest impact on the poor and vulnerable. Controversy over whether to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development requires us to ask ourselves: what kind of world will we leave to future generations? As people of faith, we are committed to working for a world with justice for indigenous peoples and all creation and we support indigenous peoples’ rights as a basic component of a just society. For these reasons and others, we ask you to oppose opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration and development. Thank you for considering our concerns. Sincerely, Simone Campbell, SSS National Coordinator NETWORK The Right Reverend Vicken Aykazian Legate of the Armenian Church The Reverend Dr. Robert Edgar General Secretary National Council of Churches of Christ, USA The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold Presiding Bishop and Primate The Episcopal Church, USA The Reverend Dr. Stan Hastey Executive Director Alliance of Baptists The Reverend William Chris Hobgood General Minister and President The Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada The Reverend Michael Livingston Executive Director International Council of Community Churches Marie Lucey, OSF Associate Director for Social Mission Leadership Conference on Women Religious Rabbi Janet Marder President Central Conference of American Rabbis Stanley J. Noffsinger General Secretary Church of the Brethren General Board The Reverend Dr. Lon Oliver Associate Regional Minister Kentucky Appalachian Ministry Sister Robbie Pentecost, OSF Executive Director Catholic Committee of Appalachia Rosanne Rustemeyer, SSND Executive Director U.S. Catholic Mission Association Rabbi David Saperstein Director Religious Action Center on Reform Judaism Adam C. Stern Executive Director Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life School Sisters of Notre Dame Office of Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation The Reverend John H. Thomas General Minister and President United Church of Christ Reva Price Director Jewish Council of Public Affairs Joe Volk Executive Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation (A Quaker Lobby in the Public Interest) Questions? Contact Cassandra Carmichael at cassandra@nccecojustice.org