News, Boost, Updates, Climate Cafe Multifaith
Yakama & Goldendale on Tuesday. Plus so much more.
June 6th - When your neighbor says no: The Yakama fight to save Goldendale, WA, from the renewable rush In Goldendale, Washington, the Yakama tribe raised a clear ‘no’ when the land they use for first-food gathering, life practice, and ceremony was sited for construction of a hydroelectric pumped-storage energy project. Addressing climate change is a moral imperative. But how should we go about it? Join us to learn more. June 6th, 11:00am Pacific Time / 2:00pm Eastern Time. Register.
June 20th - Visions of Guatemala—People, Ceremony, and Cloud Forests share a conversation about tapirs, cloud forests and volcanic lakes—this is the world of story that Jorge Rodriguez brings to life as a Guatemalan-based photo-journalist and environmentalist. Rodriguez writes in both Spanish and English and now travels internationally to share stories of inspiration, restoration, and indigenous wisdom. June 20th, 11:00am Pacific Time / 2:00pm Eastern Time. Register.
An opportunity for action: Faith leaders make the moral case for a global just transition away from coal, oil and gas. Sign the letter asking governments to implement a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Past Cafes Articles, Videos + More on the Blog.
It's UP! For Faith Communities: IRA Environmental Justice and Funding. A conversation following the Power Up! Climate Reality Leadership Training.
Boost!
#TakeTheVegPledge UK based Young Christians Climate Network is asking people to eat vegetarian and/or plant-based meals for a week, June 5 - 11th.
Wild Church Launch Pad. This course will specifically be for anyone looking to start a wild church our outdoor community. 6 sessions starting mid-August. This course will be led by Rev. Corey Turnpenny, planter of Church in the Wild. Learn more about the course.
Attend COP28! The Christian Climate Observers Program (CCOP) has begun accepting applications, seeking young people interested in attending the UN Climate Conference COP28, November 30 - December 12 2023. More information is available on the website, link to the Application Form. The deadline to apply is July 14. - thank you Samuel for the info!
WCC Eco-School Applications: World Council of Churches is accepting applications for this year's Eco-School. The school is open to applicants under 30 years old and will take place July 24-31 in Crete, Greece, applications are due by June 15. Learn more about the Eco-School. Download the brochure.
Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizenship Award: This award/grant is sponsored by the United Women in Faith to a young woman, ages 21 - 35 with interest in travel and service. Other requirements also, application needs to be in by June 11.
Movement Cafe June 21st. The next Movement Cafe from the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement will speak to the Just and Equitable Interagency Commitment to Net-Zero out of the UMC. Speakers are Rev. Jenny Phillips, Senior Technical Advisor, Environmental Sustainability at General Board of Global Ministries and Jake Barnett, Managing Director, Sustainable Investment Strategies at Wespath. Learn more and register.
Christian Climate Action based in the UK. If you are interested learning more about them, see their pages. Upcoming on June 8th in the opportunity to find groups, and get to know people.
Climate Prayer - a monthly prayer group, Climate Intercessors, formed in the runup to COP 26 and still meeting. Next meeting is June 13, check the website for link and info.
Help Wanted
The Week is seeking a Faith Program Director. Think this might be you? Link to the job description to learn more.
Reports
Find reports on the reports page.
Earth Boundaries Breached. A devastating study published in Nature last week. Read about the report in The Guardian Earth’s health failing in seven out of eight key measures, say scientists; from Euro News ‘Sick’ planet: Earth is past almost all of its safe limits for humans, scientists say. Read the report: Safe and just Earth system boundaries
Plastics May 2023 Report. A few reports in a row as this week as new studies coincide with a first-ever meeting of international diplomats to discuss a ‘plastics treaty.’ Read a report about this study (and others) from the Grist The global plastics treaty can fight climate change — if it reduces plastic production. Also a press release New report calls for at least 75% reduction of plastics by 2050, reveals dire connection between plastic and climate. Read the report: Stemming the Plastic-Climate Crisis
Plastics, UN Report. Like it or not, plastic is everywhere. Ridding ourselves of it will not be easy, and our children’s children’s children will bear this burden. With the reality of that burden in view, the UN has issued a report examining the business and economic solutions. Read an article from The Grist about the report: UN calls on governments to reduce, reuse, recycle — for real this time Read an article from The Guardian about the report: Plastic pollution could be slashed by 80% by 2040, UN says Read the report: Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy
Plastics, Forever Toxic. A new peer-reviewed report from GreenPeace. Read the report explainer from GreenPeace. Read an article about the report from The Guardian: Recycled plastic can be more toxic and is no fix for pollution, Greenpeace warns. Read the report: Forever Toxic: The science on health threats from plastic recycling
Resources
More resources on the reports page.
News this Week.
Find the news archive here.
Deeper Dive - Youth v Gov.
A HUGE and important win for the 21 American youth who in August 2015 filed a lawsuit in US District Court stating that “through the government's affirmative actions that cause climate change, it has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, as well as failed to protect essential public trust resources.”
Their challenge went all the way to Ninth District and SCOTUS, but was denied a hearing at the last moment by Justice Roberts in 2018. Since then, the group has been working to amend their complaint. On June 1st they won their right to amend and proceed to trial. What are they doing right now? The 21 youth plaintiffs are now preparing for trial!
Read a profile of one of the young plaintiffs, then 10 year old Levi Draheim, in UUWorld: The Youth are at the Gates.
You can watch their story on Netflix:
The legal challenge has enjoyed tremendous support from young people, climate activists and people of faith—especially the UCC and Unitarian Universalists. While Juliana vs the United States was first group of young people to go mainstream with a legal challenge to destruction-by-climate-change, there are many others.
Continued Spotlight:
Mini-Grants for Mining Activists The Western Mining Action Network (WMAN) and the Indigenous Environmental Network are offering “financial grant assistance to communities threatened or adversely affected by mining in the U.S. and Canada.” Next deadline is October 1st. Learn more.
Plastics Treaty: We went into more depth with this last time, see the reports above (or the reports page) as well. This week diplomats met to begin work on a global plastics treaty. The Hill has the basic information of an initial agreement—a first draft by November: International negotiators agree to craft treaty to end plastic pollution. Read also the press release INC Chair to prepare zero draft of international agreement on plastic pollution as Paris negotiations end
Good News:
Ramping up Action in Canada. The recent study of Christian young people by Tearfund and A Rocha Canada showed 90% were concerned about climate change and loss of nature. They have launched a venture called Creation Collective with opportunities to take action. Read the story in Christianity Today: Canadian Christians Launch Collective for Climate Action
Caretaking of Creation. A story to inspire set in the midst of the real life challenges of civil strife and environmental threat. Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian offers her story in a new book: A Ugandan vet's amazing story of her work to save mountain gorillas
Nature in the Backyard. I loved this local news, woodsy story of the restoration of a suburban backyard into nature’s garden. From the Hamilton Spectator, Rose Janson transformed her downtown Hamilton backyard into a walk in the woods
Birding. Not sure why (is it Chicken Math?) but birding seems to be on the wing at the moment. Despite some hard truths written here, it is overall a hopeful article from Inside Climate News: Not Winging It: Birders Hope Hard Data Will Help Save the Species They Love—and the Ecosystems Birds Depend On
Ordaining Trees: This is a throw-back article from 2018, but it is such a beautiful story it needs refreshing. To Protect the Environment, Buddhist Monks are Ordaining Trees, from Sojourners.
Bad News:
Mountain Valley Pipeline. Heartbreak for those who have spent years fighting to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline as fast tracking of the pipeline was part of the negotiated outcome of the debt ceiling deal. Of the many posts and articles I saw, I want to amplify Appalachian Voices, the June 2 rally to stop the pipeline, and this song. Also, from the Charleston Direct Mail 'I expect to see severe damage': Safety risk concerns mount as Congress fast-tracks Mountain Valley Pipeline
Oil and Africa. Even as the President of the United States enters into an agreement to fast track the Mountain Valley Pipeline, internationally pipelines are also causing risk to ecosystems and humanity. The Guardian months ago called the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and its vast carbon emissions ‘monstrous.’ Members of the Laudato Si Movement have raised vocal opposition to the project: Catholic climate activists criticize Tanzania bishops for backing oil pipeline Also addressing pipelines and oil spills on the African Continent, new reporting from Mongabay Spotlighting oil majors’ ‘ecocide’ of Niger Delta: Q&A with Michael J. Watts. Attribution studies make the destruction clear: Deadly drought in Horn of Africa ‘would not have happened’ without climate change.
Forests. The United Church of Canada released a Statement on the wildfires burning across Canada last week. The wind and heat fueled fires continue to burn, about 200 across the country according to Washington Post half still uncontained ‘Unprecedented’ Canadian fires intensified by record heat, climate change. Meanwhile to the south of that border in Indiana, the US grapples with the need to protect mature an old growth forest Log and Burn, or Leave Alone? Indiana Residents Fight US Forest Service Over the Future of Hoosier National Forest. Moving south again, a recent study of Indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon showed Indigenous land rights key to curbing deforestation and restoring lands. For those in the US, there is currently an important land-use comment period addressing the protection of mature and old growth forests. The comment period closes June 20th. You can submit your comment directly through the Federal Register, or though the organizing group Climate Forests.
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Prayers this week. Prayers this week in solidarity with the Indigenous People of Brazil whose land is once again under threat. From Mongabay “The Brazilian Congress approved a series of actions to dismantle the president’s ambitious environmental agenda, including attacks on Indigenous people’s rights and stripping powers of ministers.” Read more about the situation. Prayers Up.
Richenda