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.

Christmas is for the birds

by Betsy Cannon

Christmas day is rapidly approaching.  Soon I will visit close friends and family, light the Christ candle on the Advent wreath, and attend my church's candlelight service.  These traditions are central to my celebration of Christmas.

Recently, I learned of St. Francis’s Christmas traditions.  Around 1220, the patron saint of animals was the first to present a living crèche with donkeys, cows, and sheep.  He wanted people experience Christmas as it truly was—in a stable surrounded by a menagerie of farm animals.

Then, on Christmas day, St. Francis believed that all creatures should be included in the celebration. He scattered birdseed, so the larks wouldn’t need to forage but could also join in the feast.

If I could see the Emperor, I would implore him to issue a general decree that all people who are able to do so, shall throw grain and corn upon the streets, so that on this great feast day the birds might have enough to eat, especially our sisters, the larks.

May we, like St. Francis, include the whole of creation in our Christmas festivities this year.

Merry Christmas from Earth Ministry!  Peace and joy to all!

I give thanks

As we enter this Thanksgiving week, we at Earth Ministry are grateful for God's beautiful creation and everything that each of you does to protect and care for creation. Remembering these blessings, we offer this poem, "Awakening" by Harriet Kofalk.

Awakening
in a moment of peace
I give thanks to the source of all peace

as I set forth
into the day
the birds sing
with new voices
and I listen
with new ears and give thanks

nearby
the flower called Angel's Trumpet
blows in the breeze
and I give thanks

my feet touch the grass
still wet with dew
and I give thanks
both to my mother earth
for sustaining my steps
and to the seas
cycling once again
to bring forth new life

the dewdrops
become jewelled
with the morning's sun-fire
and I give thanks

you can see forever
when the vision is clear
in this moment
each moment
I give thanks

May we give thanks each and every morning. A blessed thanksgiving to you this year!

Crossing the Mountains

by Betsy Cannon

This weekend Jessie and I ventured to Yakima to discuss Greening Congregations.  As I had never visited Washington before moving to Seattle two months ago, this was my first time crossing the Cascades.  Although I understand the theory behind rainshadows, I was amazed to see the clouds and rain fade away as we crossed the pass and entered a beautiful, sunny day in Yakima Valley.

Jessie and I had a great discussion with members of Wesley United Methodist's Green Team as well as interested members of other congregations.  Everyone shared inspiring stories.  A Master Gardener spoke about how less than 1% of insects are harmful to gardens.  The rest are either neutral or beneficial, so it is better not to use pesticides.  A couple shared about how they designed their home to take advantage of the sunlight.  Another woman explained how she focuses on changing one behavior at a time.  Once that behavior became a habit, she moved on to another behavior, but if she had tried to adopt several changes at once, she would have failed.

Hearing about the work of each congregation was even more exciting than the individual efforts.  Working our way through the green fields, we discussed worship, education, individual stewardship, buildings and grounds, and community outreach.  One person told about the joy when her church held a Blessing of the Animals.  Wesley members shared about the recycling center that the church runs for Yakima and how they are advocating for county recycling.   Additionally, Wesley maintains an organic garden and shares its produce with members.  At Wesley and over the past two months, I've been astounded by the efforts of Earth Ministry's Greening Congregations.

To learn more about our Greening Congregations and how to get your church involved, visit our website.

As Jessie and I made our way back to the pass, we drove past orchards full of apples and towering walls of basalt.  Gradually, the trees transitioned from golden yellow to deep evergreen and rain began to beat against the windshield.  I found it difficult to believe that such different ecosystems are so close together.

Fresh apples, a stunning landscape, and dedicated people caring for creation made for a wonderful weekend.

Miracles of Restoration

by Betsy Cannon

Last Friday, the Lutheran Volunteer Corps members in the Puget Sound area, including myself, went on a tour of the Lower Duwamish River. This five mile stretch of river in South Seattle is the tribal land of the Duwamish people, an industrial center, and a Superfund site.  

As we boarded the boat, our guide handed each of us a map of the river.  As we unfolded them, we learned that a river once characterized by oxbows follows a nearly straight path today due to channeling.  Several of us identified with the attempt to regulate rivers in our hometowns.  Whether reversing the flow of the Chicago River or diverting the Mississippi away from the Atchafalaya River, we all remembered a time when humans have tried to control nature.

But more than the channelizing of the river, we were devastated to hear of the PCBs in the salmon, the toxins in the sediment, and cranes driven from their home.  An industrial shredder used to rip apart cars and appliances appeared as a monster looming on the bank.  Although the environmental degradation is terrible, it is equally incredible what has been accomplished.  Now, a park sits along a restored riverbank.  Toxic sediments are being removed from the riverbed with pinpoint accuracy.  Industries contain their chemicals, instead of using them in the open.  Cranes and other wildlife are migrating back.

There is still much work to be done.  Toxics in the water are well above health standards.  Pollutants banned decades ago remain in sewers and flow into the river.  The polluted water disproportionally harms minority and low-income communities.  With over 500 outfalls, contamination continues to run directly into the river.  Still, it is important that we claim our successes and remain hopeful.  Dedicated work can lead to recovery. 

On the boat ride back to the dock, I saw two sea lions surface as a kingfisher dove and snatched a couple of fish from the water.  To me, that’s a miracle.

Moving Planet Seattle

On Saturday, September 24th, Washingtonians gathered around Lake Union for a day of education, action and fun at Moving Planet Seattle.

In solidarity with over 2,000 events in 175 countries for 350.org's annual day of action on climate change,  Earth Ministry, Climate Solutions, the Sierra Club, 350 Washington, Washington Environmental Council, Transportation For Washington and many other community organizations came together to host Moving Planet Seattle.  In the theme of moving beyond fossil fuels, the day focused on the need to end our reliance on coal and oil and to take action on urgent issues facing Washington state and the Northwest, including halting coal exports and supporting a wider array of transportation choices.

Earth Ministry table.  Photo by Paul Anderson

Moving Planet Seattle kicked off with almost a hundred people taking action in workshops on coal and oil and continued into the afternoon with over a thousand people converging on Lake Union Park via bus, bike, on foot, on skate boards, roller skates, paddle-boards, sail boats, canoes, electric vehicles and more!  At the park, attendees attempted stand-up paddleboard yoga, rode a conference bike, registered for Undriving licenses, and learned how they could be involved at the many information tables.

LeeAnne at the rally.

Earth Ministry's very own LeeAnne Beres emceed the rally.  Each of the featured speakers spoke proudly of Washingtonians working to move our state beyond fossil fuels - including Mayor of Seattle Mike McGinn who rode his bike to the event and spoke out against coal export terminals. Washingtonians have also worked hard to end our state's reliance on coal, protecting our communities' health and God's creation.

The day ended at Plymouth United Church of Christ.  The young adult recipients of the David Brower Youth Award spoke about the environmental justice issues in their home communities.  The event also marked the launch of the new national United Church of Christ Environmental Justice Center in the Seattle area.

The iconic 350 photo.  Photo by Paul Anderson

Earth Ministry thanks the many organizations who made Moving Planet Seattle possible.  We  are blessed to have such wonderful partners!

Moving Planet Seattle Hosts:

• 350 Washington State
• Climate Solutions 
• Earth Ministry 
• Pacific Northwest Conference, UCC
• Sierra Club
• Transportation for Washington
• Washington Environmental Council

Gold Sponsors:

• Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment
• Seattle Parks & Recreation
• Seattle Department of Transportation

Silver Sponsors:

• Bishop's Committee for the Environment, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
• Home Performance Collaborative
• Plymouth United Church of Christ
• UnDriving
• ZipCar

Bronze Sponsors:

• BikeWorks
• Cascade Bicycle Club 
• Center for Wooden Boats
• Seattle Dutch Bike Company
• Sellen
• Surf Ballard/WASUP Yoga
• Urban Surf

Community Sponsors:

•  aLIVe, CoolMom, Family Bike Expo, FeetFirst, FUSE, Maryhill Ratz, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, NW E-Bike, NW EcoBuilding Guild, Salish Sea Trading, SCALLOPS , Skate Like a Girl, Spokespeople, Transit Riders Union, YES! Magazine, Yoga for Bikers, and many more!

Announcing our 2011 Finalists!

This year heralds Earth Ministry's 4th annual Celebration of St. Francis Creation Care Sermon Contest. Join us this year at Keystone United Church of Christ in Seattle on Saturday, October 1st at 4pm for four short and thought-provoking sermons by our finalists from around the nation.

Our finalists offer their inspired call to care for God's creation because they believe in the work of Earth Ministry. The sermon contest is a fundraiser to support the religious environmental work of Earth Ministry. Admission is free, but we need you to show up and vote with your dollars to select the winners of this year's sermon contest.

Our 2011 finalists are:

Paul Graves, Sandpoint, ID
Did Francis Have a Weed-Whacker?

Rev. Stephanie Johnson, New Haven, CT
Abundance

Bill Scarvie, Bainbridge Island, WA
Changing Forms of Light

and

Gil Waldkoenig, Gettysburg, PA
Margins and Hope

Two awards will be presented: The People's Choice Award will go to the contestant with the highest number of votes as indicated on the donation ballot. The Franciscan Philanthropist Award will go to the contestant whose votes raise the most money in support of Earth Ministry's work and mission.

In addition to these great sermons, members of Earth Ministry's forty-four Greening Congregations will be honored for their greening work. The sermon contest will be followed by a heavy hors d'oeuvres reception.

Please join us as we celebrate God's gift of creation!

Continuing the work of Environmental Justice

Each August Earth Ministry transitions to a new Outreach Coordinator. As the team bids farewell to Dana, I am settling into Seattle and beginning to work with Greening Congregations. Although each Outreach Coordinator has different skills and background, each of us is passionate about environmental stewardship. Like Dana, Clare, Chris and others, I am spending a year of service to work towards social justice and to live simply and sustainably through Lutheran Volunteer Corps. As part of my commitment to social justice, I will be working with Earth Ministry on environmental stewardship.

On Monday, I hiked to Annette Lake with four other Lutheran Volunteers. The lush forest of the Pacific Northwest captivated me. At home in South Carolina, I recognize birds and can name each tree, and by the time I finished college in Minnesota, I was well acquainted with the prairie ecosystems. Now west of the Rockies, I hear new bird calls and discover new plants. As the scenery changes, I also meet new people and ideas. Along the trail, conversations with the other volunteers ranged from the musings of Aldo Leopold to the costs and benefits of eco-tourism, from current documentaries to amazement at God's creation around us. Listening to my fellow volunteers, I became increasingly excited to begin my work at Earth Ministry and to encourage the Christian voice in environmentalism.

In June I graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota with a degree in physics. Although I was a physics major, I spent a term focusing on conservation biology research and studying environmental anthropology. Over the course of the semester, I became increasingly aware of the connections between the people and the land and how each impacted the other. Instead of focusing simply on numbers and genetics, I had to incorporate the fairness to the people who used the land. Each of us are connected to and part of the environment. Through environmental stewardship, we honor these connections and praise God for this wonderful creation. I look forward to continuing to explore our obligations to environmental stewardship with the Earth Ministry community over the next year.