News, Boost, Updates
3rd September sum-up, Climate News and Events, Faiths4Future, Climate Cafe Multifaith
Updates! Three articles to look at as we move into the Season of Creation:
Season of Creation THIS WEEK! I put together a news & resources round up to showcase and celebrate the Season of Creation efforts underway.
Ways to incorporate nature in worship and the life of the faith community, Plovers! Celebrating Nature. Birds, restoration, and opportunities for worship.
Forests, studies, stories, and restoration. Forest Stories: restoring the sacred & addressing climate.
Quick nav links for this week’s weekly(ish):
JustCreation prior weeks of this Weekly and other articles.
Upcoming events, webinars & opportunities (scroll)
Good news/Bad news: (scroll for the latest faith and climate news below, link to the News Archive for prior weeks.)
Reports, resources and actions (scroll for current this week, links to Faiths4Future and Climate Cafe for prior weeks.)
Boost - Events
For UUs - Green Sanctuary 2030: Mobilizing for Climate Justice. This is a monthly orientation opportunity to get to know the Green Sanctuary program and its efforts. September 6, 2023 7:00 ET Register for the Orientation. And just in general, UUs are doing really important things, check out the Side With Love Action Center for more opportunities for acts of justice, as well as specifically Climate Justice.
Green Team Summit. The Green Team Summit returns this year October 8-11 hosted by Faith In Place & Interfaith Power and Light. A great line up of speakers, and it looks like it will be both online and in person.
Black Public Media’s annual Open Call. The 2023 focus is Climate, and they are looking for documentaries and shorts of all types in any phase of development. The open call seeks “traditional media projects that present the voice of the Black community as it relates to our changing environment.” A lot more information here. Applications are being accepted September 1-25, 2023
MIT Climate Storytelling. Connecting with Americans on Climate Change. The MIT Environmental Solutions is hosting an event to get at how journalists can better communicate the story of the reality and urgency around climate change. While this is not a faith-centered event, the presenting speaker will be Dr. Katherine Hayhoe. Wednesday, September 13 · 9:30 - 11am PT
Interfaith Power and Light & Rewiring America. An electrification webinar, IRA Resources to help you electrify your home. As of right now, for example, only 1% of US homes have electric heat pump water heaters. By 2050, the hope is to get to 100%. The webinar will address financial incentives to get us there. September 7th.
NEPA Rulemaking. Okay, policy geeks, this one is for you. For those on the active front lines—concerned with pipeline and fossil fuel installations—NEPA rules are the rules that are in place as part of the permitting process. It matters what these rules are. If you are tuned in to this process, here’s an event from Earth Justice to consider: Briefing on Proposed NEPA Rulemaking September 6th.
AME Church Trainings and Ambassadorships. The AME Church Calls All Congregants into Climate Justice with a creation justice and social justice effort to encourage congregations to get involved. Check out also the AME is a partner in Blessed Tomorrow, an effort of EcoAmerica, which holds an ambassadorship training. If you are interested in the training, learn more and register.
Plum Village Online Course. A seven week course through Plum Village drawing from the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh starts October 15th. Registration now open. More info: Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet.
School for Food Justice, Faith, and Storytelling. Application period is now for a virtual 8 week program for clergy, faith leaders, and non-faith affiliated folks “The School for Food Justice, Faith, and Storytelling will bring together a national group of faith leaders virtually to learn, grow, and sharpen their abilities to offer new and creative solutions to the issue of hunger within their communities. Application period closes September 14th.
March to End Fossil Fuels. People vs Fossil Fuels is organizing a March on September 17th in New York City. GreenFaith has promoted this March…online details are few, check with your local GreenFaith circle and see more information here.
Mennonite - Generation Z Energy and Spirit Challenge. The Mennonite Church has launched a big challenge especially for it’s Gen Z members and those who love them. The challenge started this month and ends April 2024. The goal is to produce and present an energy and spirit project, with cash prizes! Learn more.
Season of Creation
So much going on! A trip through newsletters, articles, and stories lifts my heart. I put together a news & resources round up to showcase and celebrate the Season of Creation efforts underway.
Resources
The Resource archive is on the Reports Page.
Link to resources and a first week news round up to showcase and celebrate the Season of Creation efforts underway.
Climate Impacts - Presentations by state. EcoAmerica continues to offer great resources for information to-hand. Find here list of ready-to-go presentations breaking down climate impacts for every state.
Human Health and Climate. Find also from EcoAmerica resources titled Climate Rx, which offers articles that give information as to the health effects from climate and climate-caused health concerns and issues.
Net-Zero Toolkit for congregations. The Scottish Episcopal Church has released its new updated Net-Zero toolkit. Here is the announcement about the Toolkit, here is a more detailed article with more information about how local churches can use the toolkit, a more direct link to the brass tacks about the toolkit, as well as the Net-Zero Scottish Episcopal Church action plan (PDF).
Creation Minute. A video resource from Rev. Dr. Bob and Anita Dygert-Gearheart, who last year authored a creation justice curriculum Wake Up World, available online and at Cokesbury. From Anita: “"A MINUTE FOR MOTHER EARTH"! Each month you will receive four free video clips—just 60–90 seconds long—to help your congregation recognize God’s call in the midst of climate-related issues.” Contact Anita to sign up adygertgearheart@hotmail.com See a sample video here.
Reports & Studies
Find more reports on the reports page.
Air Pollution and Global Health. Many studies on the effects of air pollution and this is an important one again showing that air pollution increases suffering and disease and lowers life expectancy. And the poor as well as people of color are hardest hit (see from Yale News Health burden of air pollution differs across racial groups). From Phys.org Air pollution greatest global threat to human health, says benchmark study.
Action
(Is it okay for people of faith to sign-on to general/secular petitions? I put together a quick page to think about this Sign-ons & Petitions, are they faithful?)
Faith Voices Addressing Climate
Back to nature. I loved this story and this is so very much needed and necessary! Our church grounds are sacred grounds, our worship communities are holy ground. From CNA Ireland’s bishops decide to return 30% of Church grounds to nature by 2030
Hindu Climate Action. A whole movement with information, resources and teachings. Hindu Climate Action.
Muslim Climate Action. Resources, trainings and more for Imams and Muslims through the Bahu Trust, “preserving the environment is an act of worship.”
XR Buddhists. Did you know there was an Extinction Rebellion sibling organization organized by Buddhists? Now you know: XRBuddhists.
Youth Voices
Youth & the Africa Climate Assembly. There are so many young people speaking out. This week I want to amplify the voice of young people gathering together to be seen and heard as the Africa Climate Assembly meets next week. From Nation, Kenya, Youth raise voices for climate justice, demand action
Green Voices Rising. In Forbes but from UNICEF a great article showcasing the energy, passion, and urgency of youth who are facing the crisis. In general, UNICEF is a tremendous contributor for the health and wellbeing for children and youth, especially in times of crisis. The Green Rising: How UNICEF Is Mobilizing Youth To Drive Climate Action
Our Children’s Trust. The court victory for the 16 youth plaintiffs in Held vs Montana raised hope and shouts of joy! The Montana trial is one of three underway through Our Children’s Trust. The original plaintiffs, a group of youth and children from Oregon, are seeking to retry their case. They made it all the way to the Supreme Court—almost. They are asking for signatures to support their call for a new hearing.
Farm Bill
We talked farm bill last week, but it’s important. Food systems are of moral concern, and the systems we have need reforming across the board. From last week, I am adding two articles, both from High Country News, Why you should care about the farm bill and Seattle’s Black Farmers Collective nurtures communities and crops
Civil Eats has a whole section dedicated to addressing food and the farm bill, and the articles are great. Here are a few: From March, The IPCC’s Latest Climate Report Is a Final Alarm for Food Systems, Too. Also, How the Long Shadow of Racism at USDA Impacts Black Farmers in Arkansas—and Beyond. And from this week, Climate Change Is Walloping US Farms. Can This Farm Bill Create Real Solutions? Although it seems like everyone in D.C. is buzzing about a “climate farm bill,” some of the most impactful changes, including crop diversification and shifting diets from meat toward plants, are barely on the negotiating table. This needs tending to.
Your faith community/denomination is likely working to spread awareness and seek a just farm bill. For example, the Presbyterian Mission, they have a great page up with information including the downloadable ‘eaters guide to the farm bill.’ Check your faith-home pages and your state Interfaith Power and Light affiliate.
News
Find more news in the news archive (including good news!) here.
Good News
Forests and Elephants. From Mongabay A forest gave Cambodia’s captive elephants a new life. Now they’re paying it back. This is a sad and sweet story. What started as a place of refuge and sanctuary for older elephants in captivity, has become a story of what happens when animals and humans work together to preserve the precious earth, life, and forests we all share.
Communities, Conversation, and Environmental Justice. This OP-ED in The Hill speaks to the reality that the robust conversations we need—from policy makers to taxi drivers and in every congregation—are indeed happening. How a South Carolina faith leader and a California congressman are fighting for environmental justice.
Species Restoration. Three hopeful stories as we celebrate Puffins, the return of Takahē, and why species rights may help. From the AP, Maine’s puffin colonies recovering in the face of climate change, from The Guardian, Prehistoric bird once thought extinct returns to New Zealand wild, and from Washington Post (gift link), Countries are starting to give wild animals legal rights. Here’s why.
Children and the Right to a Clean Environment. The UN’s Committee on the Rights of the Child published a document nations are legally obligated to safeguard the environment for future generations. The document isn’t legally binding, but an important step all the same. From The New York Times (gift link), Children Have a Right to Sue Nations Over Climate, U.N. Panel Says
People Power - Keep it in the Ground. Ecuador and California in a historic show of the people’s power to vote, vote to keep fossil fuels in the ground. From Amazon Watch, Yasuní Victory Shows Us the Way to End Amazon Crude, and from Clean Technica, In Historic Vote, California Becomes Largest Economy In World To Call For Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
Find the news archive here.
Prayer this week - For the youth of this planet, may we do what God requires of us. Prayers up.
Richenda
Consider subscribing to JustCreation—it’s free!