Below find out what people of faith are up to this week and upcoming, including a list of links to Lent resources.
Scroll for info and links in this week’s weekly(ish):
JustCreation prior weeks of this Weekly and other articles.
Upcoming events, webinars & opportunities
Faith voices and Good news this week, scroll down.
Reports and Studies
There is Good News, too!
Lent Resources
Lenten Resources for the Creation and Climate. A few to explore:
Texas Interfaith Power and Light Methane Lent Series
A range of great Lent Challenges from Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod ELCA.
Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake Lent Reflection: The Power of Love
A Rocha UK Connect with our Creator and God’s creation during Lent, learn more about their resource from Religion Unplugged, ‘get outside in lent.’
From Fossil Free UMC A Reflection for Divestment as well as a Reflection in Verse.
Episcopal. Lent might be a great time to explore An Episcopal Path to Creation Justice, a pilot program for congregations. More Episcopal Creation Care resources from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
Catholic Climate Covenant, a great ecumenical round up of resources.
Lent resources also from Creation Justice Ministries (requires sign-up to access.)
More resources from Interfaith Power and Light
And liturgy and worship planning for Eastertide: How Shall We Live.
Action
Soot Rule - Accomplished! General rejoicing from the large coalition that came together to urge the EPA to tighten air quality standards and save lives. People of faith were part of that coalition, from Interfaith Power and Light: EPA’s New Soot Pollution Standard Will Save Thousands of Lives.
In acknowledging the importance of voices calling for cleaner air, and keeping in solidarity with the people of West Virginia and many other places around the world, I encourage you to voice your support for the ACHE Act. It has been before congress for number of years. Read about the ACHE Act, and hear from West Virginians as to why it is needed: Climate Justice in West Virginia—“the prettiest place in the world.”
Faithful in the public square. Read a 101 about Public Hearings and Comment Periods and how to speak for just public policy as a person of faith, as well as sign-ons and petitions.
Reports & Studies
Find more reports on the reports page.
Support for Climate Action is overwhelming. As much as 89% of people globally included in a recent study wanted robust action at the political level. Read about the study in Carbon Brief, Interview: Why global support for climate action is ‘systematically underestimated.’ Read the study.
Air Pollution and Climate Effects. In 2018, a published report showed that air pollution had dampening effect, the pollution blocked heat and as a consequence had a cooling effect. That means that as air becomes cleaner—a necessary thing—the full warmth of carbon emissions will be felt. A new study now shows a similar effect is influencing rainfall. As the planet heats up, the atmosphere will hold more water vapor. Air pollution for now has been dampening this effect. Read about the study in Grist, How air pollution delayed a surge in extreme rain. Aerosol pollutants have masked the effects of global warming. Without them, the U.S. is about to get a lot wetter. Read about the study from Phys.org, Research shows how air pollution has offset expected increases in rainfall. Read the study.
AMOC - Climate Tipping Point. The AMOC, or Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current is like a pump circulating air and water around the globe. It has normal cycles, and has been gradually slowing. Very gradually. Left alone, the slow change would allow long term adaptability. But climate change has warmed glaciers and the AMOC pump is moving closer—far too close—to its tipping point. Read more from Inside Climate News, Extreme Climate Impacts From Collapse of a Key Atlantic Ocean Current Could be Worse Than Expected, a New Study Warns. Disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current could freeze Europe, scorch the tropics and increase sea level rise in the North Atlantic. The tipping point may be closer than predicted in the IPCC’s latest assessment.
They knew, they lied. The Fraud of Plastic Recycling. Anyone paying attention has already noticed this, that plastic is absolutely everywhere, and not in a good way. From The Guardian, ‘They lied’: plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals. Companies knew for decades recycling was not viable but promoted it regardless, Center for Climate Integrity study finds. Read the study.
More bad news reports—’Megaswarms,’ Alzheimers, and Smoke. A quick round up of other not-good reports include from the AP, Erratic weather fueled by climate change will worsen locust outbreaks, study finds. A. nd, from Washington Post, Air pollution tied to signs of Alzheimer’s in brain tissue, study finds. And we know that people of color experience ‘first and worst’ impacts, including this study on smoke effects from the AP, Extreme heat, wildfire smoke harm low-income and nonwhite communities the most, study finds.
So good news reports, too—kid’s health, food systems, reforestation. From Axios, Electric cars could boost kids' health, study finds. And from The Guardian, Move to sustainable food systems could bring $10tn benefits a year, study finds. And from Phys.org, A century of reforestation helped keep the eastern US cool, study finds.
Faith Voices in the News This Week
Care for the Refugee. This one is such good news and so inspiring I’m putting it first! A group of faithful in Boston have gained resources through the Welcome Corps to form a network to support refugees in their community. My gosh, what a joy to read this article and feel the hope. From the Boston Herald, Ash: Community sponsors step up to help refugees.
Lent Vigil in London. Christian Climate Action organized a 240 hour lent vigil that brought together lay, clergy, and episcopal offices in witness to the need for action on climate. No Faith In Fossil Fuels! See the photo that heads this page. Read the highlights from Christian Climate Action. From Christian News, Prayer is 'greatest weapon' against climate crisis say Christians after 10 day Parliament vigil. And from The Tablet, Thousands sign up to fight poverty and climate change during Lent.
A Call for Faith Leadership. As congregations build solar and green teams, the call continues on church leadership in every denomination, as well as in temples, synagogues and mosques, to engage the administrative and sacred leadership task of achieving netzero in every parish, district, region. This call is for bishops, from Earthbeat, Every bishop should decarbonize his diocese — and other Catholics can help.
Partnerships to address climate suffering. The growing harm to people and ecosystems will require also a growing response. Prayers of gratitude for those stepping up, from Keep the Faith, Christian Aid & the Anglican Alliance to Harness Church Networks to Tackle Climate Change, Conflict & Humanitarian Disasters.
Showing up for Oak Flat and Environment Day. Shout out to New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light for their tremendous witness for just policy and action this last week. They promoted action for Oak Flat, and shared goodwill and witness as people of faith, participating in Environment Day at the New Mexico State Legislature. Learn more about The Apache Fight for Oak Flat.
Amplifying Justice. A great profile of Jacqui Patterson in Time’s Women of the Year series, Jacqui Patterson’s Revolutionary Approach to Climate Justice.
Food Justice and the Black Church. We need to think a lot more about the connections between food sovereignty an creation justice. The land, the people, and the sustaining food we eat are inseparable and intertwined. Food is a joy, but too often a joy denied. There is a huge movement to ensure that joy. From Capital B, Freddie Gray’s Life Ignited a Movement for Black Food Sovereignty. A national network of Black churches are connecting the dots between food equity and environmental injustice. And, adding to the joy, an article from Black Girl Nerds, An Unofficial History of Southern Soul Food.
HUGE
This is so big it needs its own section. Native communities rights in consultation and approval of energy projects just took a big step forward. You may not have heard of FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that is tasked with approving or not proposed energy projects. But even so, you may still have gotten a sense of just how difficult it is to stop energy projects sited for anywhere in the US. Especially, these battles involve low income communities, historically black neighborhoods, and Indigenous lands where these projects are threatened and built.
There has been pushback against FERC's power to green-light unwanted projects for decades from every corner of the US. So the win this week can only be described as HUGE. I mean, wow. And finally. And maybe we are really on a path to do better after all.
Read about it:
From ABC News, Native American tribes gain new authority to stop unwanted hydropower projects
In other Indigenous news, there was celebrating in my neck-of-the-woods with another Indigenous win this week, from ICT News, Chinook Indian Nation land claim settlement awarded, nation could be closer to federal recognition. The Chinook Indian Nation has been seeking recognition for two centuries. They are seeking a return of their land and traditional territory.
Good News
Lots of good news this week!! Find more news in the news archive here.
Preservation of Nature. A huge win for the preservation of nature and wild lands in Oregon. From OPB, 400,000 acres of public lands in Eastern Oregon get environmental protections. These new protections are part of a much larger area already under conservation which includes 4.6 million acres of canyons and rivers.
Celebration of Ocean Life. I love these natural world photo contests! This latest one celebrates the life of the ocean, in pictures. From New Scientist, Underwater photo competition showcases stunning images of marine life.
Animal Rights. This is a bit of a sad story in that the abuses of Asian elephants have been allowed to continue for so long. But that changes now. The High Court in Bangladesh has ruled to protect these animals. From BBC, Bangladesh's critically endangered Asian elephants get court protection.
Rewilding. Over the last decades people on the front lines of environment, nature and community have been living the solutions we need. One of those people is Isabella Tree who has written books to share what she has learned. From the Guardian, ‘Does rewilding sort climate change? Yes!’: UK expert says nature can save planet and not harm farming.
Life-ways, Forests, and Honeybees. Beekeeping and the honey harvest are a way of life in the biodiversity rich Ngel Nyaki Forest, which means “forest of bees” in Nigeria. Climate change means traditional means of harvesting cause real damage to the forest. In a cooperative exchange of knowledge researchers have been working with the local people to improve sustainability of their honey production. From Mongabay, Bees bring honey and hope to a forest reserve in Nigeria.
Find the news archive here.
Prayers up.
Richenda
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Just to say… my updates are not endorsements, and links are usually third party. Please make your own determinations. My goal here is to amplify the conversation and encourage engagement, learning, and resilience. And of course, to bless your efforts!