The Wilderness as the Training Ground for Prophets: Part 1

By Josh Gross

Across all ages, creeds, cultures, and regions of Earth there have been those who claimed to feel closer to God (or whatever power they worship) while out in nature. Many people even today say they feel more at peace, more spiritual, in the wilderness. However, there are some individuals who experience the divine so concretely in the outdoors that they come back changed. They return to civilization preaching a message so profound that it shakes the foundations of their societies. These people are called prophets, and an usually large number of them begin their ministries after spending time in the wilderness.

But, why? What is it about the wilderness that makes it such a good training ground for prophets? In this series of blog posts I will attempt to answer that question.

Of course, before trying to figure out why the wilderness is a good training ground for prophets I must first establish that it is. In order to do so properly I'd need to conduct a vast amount of research. I would have to become painstakingly familiar with the lives of as many prophets as possible, so that I could determine just how many of them began preaching after spending an extended amount of time in nature. Since I'm not a full-time academic, there's no way I could perform such an extensive study this year. Fortunately I don't have to, because far greater human beings than myself already have.

One of these individuals is T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. While he was an undergraduate at Oxford he walked across Syria  to examine Crusader castles. He then spent four years excavating the ancient city of Carchemish (on the border of what is today Syria and Turkey) before playing a highly influential role in the Arab Revolt during World War I. What this means is that he spent a great deal of time in the part of the world where all three major monotheistic religions were born. He lived in the same wilderness in which countless prophets heard their calls.

What's more, Lawrence noticed the same pattern as me. Here's what he had to say about it:

The Arabs said there had been forty thousand prophets: we had records of at least some hundreds. None of them had been themselves of the wilderness, but their lives followed a pattern. Their birth set them in crowded places. An unintelligible, passionate yearning drove them out into the desert. There they lived a greater or lesser time in meditation and physical abandonment: and then they returned with their imagined message articulated, and preached it to their elderly, and now doubting associates.

Of course whether these prophets' messages were imagined is something each individual must decide for themselves, but that's another discussion for another time. The point is that a period of wandering preceded their greatest work.

It is important to note that the two most significant religious figures of our time followed this pattern. Jesus Christ spent forty days in the desert before beginning his public ministry. In addition, the Prophet Muhammad began proclaiming the message that became Islam after visiting a cave on the outskirts of Mecca.


It's highly unlikely that this pattern emerged by chance. Therefore I don't believe it's a coincidence that so many spiritual movers spent large amounts of time in nature; alone. I believe there's something about the outdoors that makes it easier to experience God there.

In the next part of this series, I will begin to examine what it is that makes the wilderness such a good training ground for prophets. If this sounds like something you're interested in then check back regularly! I hope I'll be able to post the next part of "The Wilderness as the Training Ground for Prophets" before the holidays, but if not I'll have it up soon after.

Thanksgiving for Mt. Rainier

By Josh Gross

Dear friends,

Sometimes the challenges before us seem overwhelming. The implications of climate change are so dire, and the Earth so close to the tipping point, that it's hard not to give in to despair. This isn't helped by the fact that many Americans are still in denial about the reality in front of them. Given our situation, it's often difficult to find anything to be thankful for. But if we take a moment to pause we'll quickly realize just how much we have to be grateful for. There are so many good, wondrous things in this world worth celebrating! In honor of the recent Thanksgiving holiday, I'd like to take some time to describe one reason I have to be thankful this fall.

I've been in Seattle for three months now, and during that time have had many wonderful experiences. But when I reflect on the ones that meant the most to me, nearly all of them revolve around the earth. The first of these is my trip to Mt. Rainier. In September, Ballard First Lutheran church organized a hike on Mt. Rainier and invited the Lutheran Volunteer Corps members in Seattle to join them. I will be forever grateful to Pastor Erik for giving me that opportunity.

I was impressed with Mt. Rainier as soon as I entered the park. As we drove up the long, winding road to the higher portions of the mountain everything I saw filled me with awe. Never before had I seen a forest like the one covering the lower reaches of Rainier. They were so lush, so green! The massive trees were so densely packed that I wondered how any creature more than a few feet tall could navigate them. And all of them, even the trees that were lying on the ground, had some sort of moss or lichens growing on them. This was my first exposure to the temperate rainforest, and I loved it. But the forests were nothing compared to the mountain itself.

Once we ascended above the main forests and the snow-covered peak came into view, my heart stopped. Everyone in the van gasped, and one of my fellow volunteers was so shocked by Rainier's greatness that she screamed. It wasn't a frightened scream, like the ones given off by children when they awake from nightmares. It was instead an exclamation of wonder: as if her body had suddenly been filled with so much awe that it burst forth in a flood of emotion. As for myself, all I could do was stare at the massive compilation of snow and rock that now towered over me. No words were needed.

Hiking on Mt. Rainier was the most magical experience of my life. The sights, sounds, and smells I took in will always be part of me. But even more significant than Rainier's beauty is the lesson it taught me. When I was first confronted with its enormity, I felt incredibly small. But further reflection showed me that the opposite is true. Yes, according to physical measurement I am tiny compared to even the smallest mountain. But the same God who shaped Rainier shaped me, indeed all of us, as well. What's more, God entrusted us with the care of all creation. It is our job to safeguard such amazing works of nature as Mt. Rainier.

This is a huge vote of confidence in humanity. God wouldn't have appointed us stewards of creation unless we could fulfill that role. The unique gifts of intellect and ambition our Creator endowed us with give us the power to alter the world around us; even mountains. So far our species has used this power to degrade the planet. We horde its resources for the benefit of a privileged few, causing great damage in the process. But humanity's gifts also give us the ability to set things right. If we work together we can change the course of history. We can bandage our planet's wounds and slow the bleeding. Over time we may even be able to stop it entirely, and help the earth heal. We may not see these changes in our lifetimes, but if enough of us join together they will happen.

So this Thanksgiving I am most thankful for two things. The first is the opportunity to hike on Mt. Rainier. That was the trip of a lifetime, and even now I'm in awe of that mountain's greatness. The second is the power our species has been given by our Creator. The intellect we've been given grants us the ability to be truly effective stewards of Earth. We have only to cast off the self-effacing shackles of greed and realize that our gifts are meant to benefit more than just ourselves. They are meant to benefit us, our neighbors, and all creation. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have been given these abilities, and for the opportunity to share them with all of you.   

Becoming Aware of Environmental Justice: Part 3

Dear friends,

We come to it at last, the final part of my Becoming Aware of Environmental Justice series. Today I will post the last part of my talk from the October 13 colleague consultation. It's only two paragraphs, but the information contained in them is vitally important. It gives a very brief overview of the current environmental justice situation in the United States. There's no way anyone could possibly cover that topic in detail in two paragraphs, but that was not my intention when I wrote this talk. What I hoped to do was give attendees of the Fall 2012 colleague consultation a sense of the direction our country is headed in regards to environmental justice. With that in mind, feel free to read the final excerpt from that presentation:

       Despite successes such as Executive Order 12898, our nation continues to be plagued by environmental injustices. In 2007 the UCC conducted a follow-up study to their groundbreaking Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States. They found that in 20 years the situation hadn’t improved. In fact, it may have gotten worse. A community’s racial demographic is still the single most important factor in determining whether or not it hosts a toxic waste site. On average, neighborhoods that host commercial waste sites are 56% people of color. Neighborhoods without toxic waste sites tend to be only 30% people of color. It’s important to note that the state of Washington is the 7th worst in this regard (Bullard, Mohai, Saha, and Wright, 2007). In addition, as recently as the year 2007 African Americans were three times as likely to die from asthma-related diseases as European Americans. This could be because 70% of African Americans live in counties in violation of federal air quality standards. Cosmetic products marketed towards communities of color are also full of harmful chemicals. For example, there’s mercury in skin lighteners, formaldehyde in hair relaxers, and coal tar in hair dyes ("Is There No Balm in Gilead").
       The Environmental Justice movement has had a large impact on the United States. It’s shown Americans that the health of the environment and the health of a society are inseparable. Cultural practices such as racism influence nearly every aspect of our lives, mostly in ways we aren’t aware. Therefore it’s not surprising that when we degrade the environment, people of color suffer the most. It’s imperative that we take this into account as we work to be better stewards of the earth. We must acknowledge that those with less political power are the most harmed by irresponsible environmental practices, and do all we can to ease their burden. If we do this, if we look for solutions that take all people’s needs into account, then we will establish a truly just and sustainable future.

As I said earlier, the above paragraphs don't even scratch the surface of the current state of the Environmental Justice movement in the US. Despite this, they illustrate an important and frightening fact: environmental racism and related injustices are just as common as they were in 1987. Depending on how the data is interpreted, one can confidently claim that in the past 20 years the United States has become even more environmentally unjust. There's no excuse for this.

The USA has undergone significant changes since 1987. There's been an unprecedented technological boom, Americans elected the first African-American president, and just a few days ago Washington voters approved same-sex marriage. And yet communities of color and those with lower socioeconomic status are still forced to suffer disproportionately due to unfair environmental practices. As people of faith, we cannot stand for this.

God gave this planet to all people, therefore we all share the responsibility to care for it. Treating the earth in whatever way is convenient for us while leaving others to deal with the aftermath is poor stewardship. Remember, whether we realize it or not we're all God's children. If you knew your sister was being forced to drink poisoned water, would you allow it? If your brother had no choice but to breathe toxic air, would you look the other way? As people of faith, we need to realize that it's our duty to care for our brothers and sisters. Therefore we must make sure no one is disproportionately harmed by environmental degradation.

I hope some aspect of this series on the Environmental Justice movement in the United States has been meaningful to you. Thank you for reading this post, and may God bless you.

Sincerely,
Josh Gross        
  

Becoming Aware of Environmental Justice: Part 2

By Josh Gross, Outreach Coordinator

Well friends, it's time for the second part of my series on environmental justice. For those of you who haven't read "Becoming Aware of Environmental Justice: Introduction", on October 13 Earth Ministry held its fall 2012 colleague consultation at University Lutheran Church. The theme of that event was environmental justice. I believe this to be an incredibly important topic, since far too many Americans are unaware of how disproportionately environmental degradation harms communities of color and those with lower socioeconomic status.

In order to call attention to this dilemma, I'm posting the talk I gave at the October 13 colleague consultation to this blog. Due to the document's length, I'm adding one section per week. Since last week's post was the first one, it only included the introduction paragraph. This section, however, contains the main body of the talk. It gives a brief overview of the historical roots of the Environmental Justice movement in the United States. These paragraphs contain information about the event in 1982 that started it all, and the United Church of Christ's study that showed the nation how dangerous it is to mix racism with irresponsible environmental practices. If that sounds interesting to you, read on:

       Environmental justice has almost certainly been a concern for as long as resources have been unfairly distributed. However, the modern Environmental Justice movement in the US was kick-started in 1982. That was the year authorities decided to build a toxic waste landfill in the predominantly African-American community of Afton (Skelton and Miller, 2006). The citizens were outraged. The people, initially led by members of a Baptist church, took to the streets. They literally laid down in the road to block trucks from reaching the landfill (Chavis, 1993). Civil rights leaders such as Dr. Benjamin Chavis and Dr. Robert Bullard also got involved, drawing national media attention to Warren County (Skelton and Miller, 2006). The resident of Warren County put up an admirable fight, but in the end landfill was completed.
       Six weeks of nonviolent protests and over 500 arrests weren’t enough to prevent toxic wastes from being deposited in Afton, but it was enough to start a movement (Skelton and Miller, 2006). The protests prompted the United Church of Christ’s Commission for Racial Justice (CRJ) to examine the demographics of areas with toxic waste sites in 1987. The results were astounding. The report, titled Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States, found that race was the single most important factor in determining the location of hazardous waste facilities. This was true even when the study controlled for influences such as socio-economic status. For instance, they found that three out of every five Black and Hispanic Americans lived in communities with unregulated toxic waste sites (United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice, 1987).
       Findings such as these prompted Environmental Justice pioneers to convene at the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit in 1991. This meeting resulted in the creation of the Principles of Environmental Justice (Pacific West Community Forestry Center). Guided by the Principles, the Environmental Justice movement continued to gather momentum. President Clinton appointed Reverend Benjamin Chavis and Dr. Robert Bullard to his Natural Resources transition team in 1992. More importantly, in 1994 he signed Executive order 12898. This order instructed federal agencies to make sure their environmental policies didn’t disproportionately harm marginalized populations (Skelton and Miller, 2006). This was an important milestone for the Environmental Justice movement, but it wasn’t the end.

There you have it folks, the entire history of the Environmental Justice movement condensed to three paragraphs. Obviously there's far more to environmental justice than that, but due to time constraints the best I could do was highlight some of the most important milestones.

Don't forget to tune in next week, when I'll be posting the last two paragraphs of my talk! They'll focus on the current picture of environmental justice in the US. I'll also include a list of all the references I used in case you're interested in learning more. Until then, may God bless you.
 

Becoming Aware of Environmental Justice: Introduction

By Josh Gross, Outreach Coordinator

In late August, less than one week after I started working at Earth Ministry, I accompanied Jessie Dye to an adult education class with a group of Episcopalian youth. This group consisted of about 25 young adults from across the United States, including two from my hometown of Cleveland. At the beginning of the discussion Jessie asked all the attendees to go around the room and say why environmental stewardship is important to them. Almost every single one of the Episcopalian young adults mentioned environmental justice. That was the first time I was consciously aware that how we treat the environment can have serious social justice implications.

I became so curious about environmental justice that I decided to make it the theme of the fall colleague consultation that took place on October 13th. By doing so, I forced myself to learn more about the Environmental Justice movement in the United States. What I uncovered during my research shocked me. As it turns out, racism and other prejudices influence our nation's environmental practices more than I ever imagined.

I believe all Americans should have a basic knowledge of the Environmental Justice movement. We need to be aware of the human impact of poor stewardship, especially when it's mixed with social injustices like racism. This is especially true for privileged Americans such as myself who don't have to live next to toxic waste dumps or coal mines. Therefore I'll be sharing the talk I gave about the Environmental Justice movement at the colleague consultation in Earth Ministry's blog.

The talk gives a very brief overview of the history of the Environmental Justice movement in the US. It doesn't go into much detail (I had to keep it between 10-15 minutes), but even so it's far too long for one blog post. Therefore I'll be breaking it up into several segments, posting one each week. Since I've already written quite a bit, this first segment will only contain the opening paragraph of my talk. It's short, but it provides a workable definition of environmental justice. So without further ado, here it is: 

       First of all what is Environmental Justice? According to the EPA, Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, educational level, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws. But in reality it’s much more than that. Environmental Justice redefines the concept of the environment. According to Dr. Robert Bullard, “It basically says that the environment is everything: where we live, work, play, go to school, as well as the physical and natural world.” Under this definition, the physical and cultural environments are inseparable. And so, as Dr. Bullard tells us, “What the environmental justice movement is about is trying to address all of the inequalities that result from human settlement, industrial facility siting, and industrial development. (Schweizer, 1999)”

For those of you who don't know, Dr. Robert Bullard is one of the founders of the Environmental Justice movement. He was there at the very beginning, back when residents of Afton, North Carolina learned that their town was about to become the home of a toxic waste dump. My next post will contain more information about that event, as well as some of the other historical roots of the Environmental Justice movement. There's more to come next week! 

Good To Be Back!

by Chris Olson, Operations Manager


Hello, hello! Many of you may remember me (if you don't, you can click on "Chris" under "Lables" to get a nice snapshot!) as the Lutheran Volunteer Corps volunteer with Earth Ministry in 2008-2009. As the Outreach Coordinator, I was involved with the Greening Congregations program and with advocacy efforts around the state during the legislative session. My LVC year ended but, now, after three years of adventuring, volunteering, and working with some other awesome organizations around Seattle, I'm back at Earth Ministry as the new Operations Manager! Woo hoo!

You may be wondering, "But, Chris, wherever did you go and whatever did you do for THREE WHOLE YEARS?" To give you a quick update, I've made a three-picture photographic exposition of my adventures!

After the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, I joined the Washington Conservation Corps where I worked on environmental restoration projects around Washington State. My crew (6 of us) focused on restoring urban green spaces in Seattle and along the Cedar River in Maple Valley. It was a fantastic (and very muddy) year where I gained a solid knowledge of Washington's native plant species and did my part to knock back many of the invasive plants wreaking havoc in our local ecosystems.

I then spent a year combining my love for sustainable agriculture with my passion for living local by working at Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Pike Place Market. SO MUCH DELICIOUSNESS! Their mac 'n cheese is heavenly.

And, finally, I am currently the Camp Erin Coordinator at Providence Hospice of Seattle. Camp Erin is a grief camp for kids age 6-18 who have lost a loved one. It has been a wonderful experience working for Camp Erin and I will split my time between camp and Earth Ministry.

It feels great to be reconnecting with the Earth Ministry community and spreading the word about the creation care work being done by people of faith. There are so many exciting and important issues we're working on here, such as stopping coal from being exported from Northwest ports, banning toxic chemicals from kid's toys, and promoting a clean energy future. I'm excited to be a part of this amazing organization once again!

Study Finds Dangerous Chemicals in School Supplies

A recent study conducted by the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice found dangerous levels of toxic chemicals in vinyl school supplies. They purchased 20 popular school supplies intended for use by children and sent them tested by Paradigm Environmental Services in Rochester, New York. The results were shocking.

Nearly all of the supplies tested contained dangerous levels of phthalates, which are chemicals used to soften plastic. Phthalates are already illegal in toys and other children's products such as baby bottles, and for good reason. Even at low levels, phthalates disrupt hormones in our bodies. They contribute to problems such as obesity, asthma, allergies, early puberty, birth defects, ADHD, diabetes, and cancer.

Even more alarming are the levels of pthalates present in the school supplies that were tested. For example, four children's backpacks among the school supplies. One of these backpacks, a Dora the Explorer one, contained over 69,000 parts per million (ppm) of a pthalate that is known to be dangerous. That's over 69 times the level legally allowed in toys. It's worth noting that every single backpack tested contained many times the amounts of phthalates considered illegal

What makes this such a problem is that children are much more easily affected by hazardous chemicals than adults. Their bodies are still developing, so being exposed to toxics like pthalates can have far-reaching consequences. In addition, children are much more likely to put objects containing dangerous chemicals into their mouths. The saddest part is that many children have been harmed by pthalates since before they were born. These chemicals have been linked to birth defects in male reproductive systems, and early puberty in girls (which increases the risk of breast cancer).

What can be done about this? First of all, parents would do well to avoid buying vinyl school supplies. Since phthalates are used to soften plastic, they're often found in vinyl products. A list of phthalate-free school supplies can be found at the Center for Health, Environment and Justice's website. You can also contact your representatives in Congress and let them know that you support the Safe Chemicals Act (S. 847). This bill would dramatically reduce the amount of toxic found in everyday products, such as school supplies.
                                                    

For more information about this problem, and what you can do about it, read the original study at http://chej.org/2012/08/backtoschool2012/.

Environmental Unity in Earth Letter

By Josh Gross, Outreach Coordinator

Friends,

As you may recall, my last blog was about how every human being is united by their dependence on the Earth. I did not know this at the time, but the fall 2012 edition of Earth Letter is focused on that very topic.

Whether we realize it or not, what we do to the environment has profound effects on our neighbors all over the globe. This is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it means that the damage we cause to the environment hurts everyone. As Sr. JoAnn Showalter points out in her article titled “Our Call: Peace, Reconciliation, and the Earth,” the excessive burning of fossil fuels by Americans means people living in low-lying areas around the world must go to greater lengths to keep their homes from being washed away. However, our shared reliance on the Earth can also bring people together.

One of the most profound examples of how environmental stewardship can lead to unity is Fred Bahnson’s article in the latest edition of Earth Letter. It’s titled “A Garden Becomes a Protest,” and it’s one of the most moving pieces I’ve ever read. It tells the story of Cedar Grove, a town in North Carolina divided by racial tension. When one of their beloved citizens was murdered, the people of Cedar Grove decided to establish a community garden.

I don’t want to spoil the ending, but the creation of this garden had impacted the inhabitants of Cedar Grove in ways they couldn’t have anticipated. It united the community and helped heal its many wounds. Fred Bahnson’s article truly is an inspirational story.

If you want to read the rest of “A Garden Becomes a Protest,” as well as the many other well-written articles in the fall 2012 edition of Earth Letter, consider becoming an Earth Ministry member. Individual membership costs $35, and you can join here:

Earth Ministry Join Page

Environmental Stewardship as the Great Unifier

By Josh Gross

It is no secret that humans are a divided people. We separate ourselves based on religion, geographic location, skin color, gender, and many other factors. This is not healthy. These separations lead to inequality, conflicts of all shapes and sizes (including genocide), and misunderstanding. However, environmental stewardship is one of the few topics that transcends all of our artificial divisions. As such, it can be referred to as the Great Unifier.

The reason concern for the environment has the potential to unify humanity is that we all live on Earth. It doesn't matter what cultural practices we follow, what our skin color is, or whether we're male or female: we all live on the same planet. That means when our greed or ignorance causes us to harm God's creation, it impacts everyone. No one is immune to the effects of environmental degradation. It doesn't matter if you speak English or Spanish, Chinese or Japanese, God gave this planet to all of us. That means we all depend on the Earth for our survival. However, our dependence on the Earth isn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it is a blessing.

Just like the damage we cause to the environment hurts everyone on the planet, our efforts to be good stewards of God's Earth benefit all of humanity. You may not think you're doing much by switching to fluorescent light bulbs or composting as much waste as possible, but by caring for the Earth you're making life a little bit easier for people around the globe. This makes environmental stewardship a cause we can all get behind.

It is in every single human being's best interest to protect the home God gave us. If enough of us come to realize this then environmental concerns will be able to unite people from all walks of life. Republican and Democrat, Christian and Muslim, people from all backgrounds will have reason to work for a common purpose. Therefore, the next time someone asks you, "Why do you care about the environment," consider responding, "Because by doing so I am benefiting all of humanity and helping to create a more unified future." Because that's exactly what you're doing.

As you may know, every year Earth Ministry acquires a new Outreach Coordinator in partnership with Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Every summer the previous volunteer returns home, and a new one takes their place. It is my great honor to announce that I will be Earth Ministry's Outreach Coordinator for the 2012 - 2013 Lutheran Volunteer year.

While I didn't arrive in Seattle until this past Friday, my journey to Earth Ministry began in the Fall of 2007. At the time I was attending Northland College: a small, environmentally - oriented liberal arts college in Ashland, WI. During my time at Northland I'd often take solitary walks in the wooded gorge on campus. These walks gave me a chance to center myself and sort through the myriad of thoughts that often plague recent high school graduates. They also served as a welcome break from the academic and social demands of college life.

But on one walk I decided to try something different. I sat down on a clear, sunny hilltop that rose above the woodlands and gave me a good view of the gorge. I tried my best to empty my mind of all obligations, anxieties, and distractions: focusing all conscious thought on my senses. I picked up a blade of grass and ran it between my fingers, feeling all the tiny grooves of its surface. I felt the sun warming my skin, heard every note of a sparrow's song, saw every detail of the bark on a nearby tree. After several minutes of this intense concentration, everything around me seemed to change. The colors became more vibrant, the sounds more clear, and I was aware of an incredible energy I'd never felt before. It was as if every aspect of my surroundings had suddenly come to life. In addition, I felt as if I was alive with them; that I was part of nature. It was the most incredible feeling of my life.

I returned to my room in a half daze, both amazed and confused at what had just happened. "What had I just experienced?" As I reflected on this question I realized it wasn't my surroundings that had changed, but myself. Nature did not come to life, it had always been alive. In quieting my thoughts and focusing intently on my senses I was finally able to realize this. More importantly, I became aware of the fact that I didn't exist above the natural world, but with it. It was at that point that I realized how truly awesome it felt to live in harmony with nature.

While I've never had another experience like the one on that Wisconsin hilltop, the memory of that event has left me with a vision. Not a vision of what is, but of what could be if we all made a concerted effort to live harmoniously with nature. All the world's problems would not disappear if we made that commitment. People would still die, there would still be inequality (though markedly less), and we'd still have to put up with annoying infomercials. But we'd all feel so much more alive! We would all be far more aware of the inseparable bonds that tie us to our planet, our neighbors, and our Maker. In short, it'd be a world in which human beings were keenly aware of the spirit of God permeating all Creation. I intend to dedicate my year at Earth Ministry to making that vision a reality, and I hope all of you will join me.



 

Reject plan for coal export terminals - it's the neighborly thing to do

Americans have decided that we don't want coal-fired power plants here at home. Community groups have blocked construction of new coal plants for the last decade. Many states-including Washington!-are phasing out existing plants.

But to keep their profits high, greedy coal companies want to move strip-mined coal from Montana and Wyoming 1,500 miles by open rail car, through Washington and Oregon communities to be burned in Asia. In an op-ed last week for The News Tribune, Earth Ministry board member and Christian ethics professor, Kevin O'Brien, explained why coal export is not compatible with his faith.

O'Brien begins with Jesus' commandment to "love our neighbors as ourselves" and points out that this golden rule is a universal ethical principle, not unique to Christianity. In fact, people from all faith traditions and even those without a faith background strive to treat others as we would like to be treated.

Beginning with our neighbors at home, O'Brien argues that coal export does not follow this golden rule. The coal dust blown off the coal trains traveling through Washington and the Northwest contains heavy metals which rob our children and communities of their health. Additionally, the mile-long coal trains stall traffic and split cities, potentially blocking ambulances from hospitals they need to reach.

However, allowing coal export is not only being a bad neighbor within the Pacific Northwest but also abroad.

Refusing to export coal is, finally, the right thing to do for our world. If coal is too dirty for us to burn here in Washington, then we should not send it across the ocean where it will poison others. In the face of a changing climate, we all have a vested interest in keeping fossil fuels in the ground rather than allowing them to pollute our atmosphere.

It is true that developing economies in Asia need energy sources, but we should offer tools for clean and renewable power rather than dirty fossil fuels. If we truly care for our neighbors around the world, we must say no to coal export terminals.

As people of faith, we must make the moral choice in caring for our neighbors and the Earth. Join with Kevin O'Brien, Earth Ministry, and numerous faith leaders in being good neighbors by rejecting coal export!

Read O'Brien's full op-ed online at The News Tribune.

Sacred Acts by Mallory McDuff

From evangelicals to Episcopalians, people of faith are mobilizing to confront climate change. Now on sale, Sacred Acts, is a new, unique anthology by Mallory McDuff. The book brings together stories from across North America of contemporary church leaders, parishioners, and religious activists who are working to define a new environmental movement, where honoring the Creator means protecting the planet.

Sacred Acts documents the diverse actions taken by churches to address climate change through stewardship, advocacy, spirituality, and justice. The book features a chapter written by Earth Ministry's Executive Director, LeeAnne Beres, and Program and Outreach Director, Jessie Dye. Their chapter is entitled "From Church Sanctuaries to the Steps of the Capitol: Faithful Advocacy for a Coal-Free Washington" and details the faith community's leadership in successfully passing a bill in 2011 to phase out Washington's only coal-fired power plant.

LeeAnne and Jessie describe how faithful advocacy builds upon individual faith formation and congregational work to live out Jesus' call to discipleship. They recall Earth Ministry's own development and the need for all three of these branches. Together, committed individuals, greening congregations, and faithful advocates have the power and strength to make a real difference in the sustaining the Earth. Earth Ministry's success in leading a Coal-Free Washington is proof of just that.

Order your own copy of Sacred Acts here! A percentage of the proceeds of sales through this link benefits Earth Ministry.

Other chapters focus upon food and faith, mountaintop removal in Applalachia, environmental justice. Sacred Acts is an orientation to the environmental stewardship of churches across the United States. The book's case studies show the impact that faith communities are having upon climate change.

Have you already read Sacred Acts? Let us know your thoughts and insights in the comments section below.

Sabbath from Technology

Like many twenty somethings, much of my life revolves around technology. Some days, I go straight from my computer at work to my laptop at home. Facebook, texts, blogs allow me to remain connected to loved ones around the globe.

Although computers and the internet are central to my life, I also need a break from them, to take a sabbath away from them. I become too involved in my online life and disconnected from the world around me.

In this TED talk, psychologist Sherry Turkle discusses how our expectations of technology change our ability to interact with others, and most importantly our ability to communicate with ourselves and experience emotions.

Our diminished ability to communicate effectively with ourselves and others also damages our ability to communicate with God. When we no longer have the patience to be still and listen or expect immediate responses to our requests, we break our connection to God. It's harder to experience the presence of our Creator with our fingers tapping away on a keyboard. I find a deeper connection when I break away from the screen and go for a walk in a park. The space to reflect and interact with nature opens me to prayer and God's presence.

Although there are many wonders of technology, we also need time and space to interact with other humans around us, to experience nature, and to feel God's presence. Give yourself a sabbath from technology. Go ahead--step away from the computer and go for a walk through your neighborhood.

Practice Resurrection

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

As we celebrate this glorious miracle, this excerpt of Wendell Berry's poem "Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front" reminds us to practice resurrection in all aspects of our lives.

So, friends, every day do something
that won't compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.

Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.

Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.
Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.

Listen to carrion -- put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.

Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.

As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn't go.

Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

Happy Easter from Earth Ministry!

She Answers Abraham: Journeys

She Answers Abraham is a blog which features weekly scriptural reflections by three women: a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim. Today, Earth Ministry/WAIPL Executive Director LeeAnne Beres guest authored a post with Yaira Robinson of Texas IPL and Amanda Quraishi. Each reflects upon Numbers 15:41 and her journey to faith as an adult. Check out their reflections!

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God." (Numbers 15:41)

Carbon Fast this Lent

Tomorrow, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. During this time of year, we reflect upon that which separates us from our Creator and seek to renew our relationship with God by fasting from the actions and objects with separate us. Our failure to steward creation is one sin which erodes our relationship with God. This Lent, Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light invites you to join us in a fast from carbon.  By prayerfully reducing our carbon footprints, we can care for creation while reconnecting with the Creator.

As we journey through Lent, we offer you these carbon fast resources:

2012 Daily Carbon Fast Calendar--Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light once again is offering our popular Carbon Fast calendar. Each day offers a new daily action to reduce your carbon footprint this Lent.

Lenten Prayer and Action Guide--This Lent, Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light has partnered with the City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment to produce a new carbon fast prayer and action guide. Designed for small groups within a congregation, the curriculum focuses on taking action in three areas of our life with a large impact on carbon emissions: diet, transportation, and energy efficiency.

Blessings to you this Lenten season!

Time for Action!

Next week on Wednesday January 25th, Earth Ministry staff, people of faith, and friends of the environment throughout Washington State are gathering in Olympia to meet their legislators and support bills that will protect the environment and children's health. It's time for Environmental Lobby Day 2012!

Environmental Lobby Day is a great opportunity to become involved in the legislative process. Attendees will:

• Learn about the issues. Get briefed by experts on all three environmental priorities!
• Attend lobbying trainings. Learn the tricks of the trade from top environmental lobbyists.
• Meet face-to-face with their legislators. Practice the power of persuasion.

Does this excite you? There's still time to register! Be one of the Washingtonians to stand up for God's creation.

This year the priorities are a clean energy future, preventing rollbacks of our state's environmental programs, and children's health.  Learn more about children's health and the Toxic-Free Kids Act in our previous post.

Register today!

Can't make it? Your voice is still important. Call 1-800-562-6000 to tell your legislators that as a person of faith, these issues matter to you!

We hope to see you Wednesday!

Hidden Hazard in the Nursery

Toxins in children's products?  It sounds too ridiculous to be true.  Who would want to poison kids?  Yet a new study by the Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States found 17 popular baby products contained toxic flame retardants.

The study tested 20 products, including nursing pillows, changing pads, car seats, and bassinet pads.  Chlorinated Tris, a known carcinogen that has been linked to neurotoxicity and hormone disruption, was the most prevalent toxic flame retardant in the study.  Out of the 20 products, researchers found chlorinated Tris in 16 of the baby products.  In the 1970s, chlorinated Tris was removed from children's pajamas due to adverse health effects, yet it persists in surrounding our children in our homes, cars, and nurseries.  View the executive summary of the report here.

In the face of this dismal report, there is hope for the children of Washington! The Toxic-Free Kids Act was introduced to the Washington State legislature on Monday (SB 6120 and HB 2266).  Earth Ministry and fellow members of the Environmental Priorities Coalition support this bill.  The Toxic-Free Kids Act will ban chlorinated Tris and other toxins in children's products, while moving towards comprehensive reform by requiring companies to conduct thorough health and safety assessments of potential alternatives.

As people of faith, we recognize that each newborn is a child of God, a blessed creation. We must care for them and allow them to develop. Unfortunately, with Tris and other toxins in children's products, children's risk of cancer and development disabilities is on the rise.

Tell your legislators that caring for the next generation is the responsibility of everyone.  Help parents raise healthy children and care for our future by taking toxins out of baby products.