The Resources from Above
The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham recently wrote an opinion piece for a new website from the University of North Carolina: Powering a Nation. The article contrasts the resources from hell (below), represented by coal and fossil fuels, with resources from heaven (above), wind and sun.
Here is an excerpt:
I am an advocate for reducing our climate-change pollution so that we may fulfill our responsibility to steward creation. Thousands of congregations that my organization works with around the United States are doing this, and they are saving money on their energy bills while reducing their carbon footprint. To make the point, I would describe those fossil fuels such as oil and coal as the fuels from hell—from the dark places of the earth. Besides providing those sources of energy, God provided energy from heaven—wind and sun. We have overused the resources from hell and we have barely explored the ones from heaven, which are clean, renewable and infinite.
Check out the rest of the article.
National: ACES American Clean Energy and Security Act H.R. 2454 Henry Waxman Waxman-Markey
by Susan Stephenson
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Another Big Step Toward Climate Protection
The American Climate and Energy Security Act
H.R. 2454
This bill, introduced May 15 by Congressmen Waxman and Markey, builds upon the discussion draft circulated in March. Though the bill’s major components are the same, Waxman and Markey made important additions and changes, which are outlined below. The bill is currently being “marked up” in the Energy and Commerce Committee. Chairman Waxman has pledged to pass this landmark legislation through his committee by more »
DC National: Catholic EPA greenhouse gases Jewish Muslim Protestant Sierra Club Unitarian Universalist
by Chad Crawford
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Faith Leaders at Monday’s EPA Hearing on Global Warming
About 100 speakers attended the EPA’s public hearing on global warming Monday. These speakers included clergy members representing Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, UU, and Muslim traditions. Allison Fisher, from GWIPL, tells us that the EPA really appreciated receiving input from the faith community – since they spend so much of their time on the science. Sierra Club’s Heather Moyer, reflecting on the hearing, was particularly impressed by the words of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center’s Imam Johari Abdul-Malik. more »
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by Sally Bingham
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Waiting and Praying for Climate Legislation
May 12 in Washington DC-waiting and praying for climate legislation.
The Russell Building Caucus Room with Environmental Defense Fund
After listening to Lisa Jackson, the new head of the EPA, Senator John McCain, Carol Browner (Climate Advisor to the President), and numerous introductions to celebrities in the audience, the moment arrived. House Representative from California, Henry Waxman walked into the room, which was full and buzzing with excitement. Waxman and Ed Markey from MA have proposed regulating greenhouse gases in the US for the first time in US history.
May 6: Interfaith Power and Light and some background…
National: IPL National Conference Rabbi Fred Scherlinger Dobb Richard Cizik sally bingham
by Chad Crawford
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IPL National Conference, Day 1
Leaders from all of IPL’s state affiliates are gathering in Washington D.C. this week for our 6th annual national conference.
Katy Hinman (Georgia IPL) giving a presentation on their Gippy Awards ceremony. Gippy Awards are given to green congregations.
Details on our first full day after the jump (click more to read all about it!) more »
National: Al Gore American Clean Energy and Security Act Markey Waxman
by Chad Crawford
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When the U.S. Finds the Moral Courage to Lead
Al Gore, at today’s Climate and Energy Subcommittee hearing on the Waxman-Markey bill (American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009):
Let me highlight a few items in the bill that I believe to be of particular importance:
It promotes the rapid introduction of the clean and renewable technologies that will create new jobs and reduce our reliance on carbon-based fuels.
It is time to close the carbon loophole and begin the steep reductions we need to make in the pollution that causes global warming.
It helps us use energy more efficiently and transmit it over a secure, modernized, digital smart grid system.
Moreover, the best way to secure a global agreement that guarantees that other nations will also reduce their global warming pollution is for the U.S. to lead the world in meeting this historic challenge. The United States is the world’s leader. We are the only nation in the world that can. Once we find the moral courage to take on this issue, the rest of the world will come along. Now is the time to act before the world gathers in Copenhagen this December to solve the crisis. Not next year, this year.
A Response to Global Warming: A Moral Issue
[This post is from The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham in response to a recent article, "The Carbon Tax: A Moral Issue", by Father Paul Mayer (co-founder, Climate Crisis Coalition). The article gives reasons for a carbon tax. IPL however is focusing efforts on the "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009", introduced by Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, which includes cap and trade legislation instead of a carbon tax.]
Views on Global Warming Among Major Religious Traditions in the U.S.
A 2008 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press examined views on global warming among major religious traditions in the U.S. Click on more to see the chart. more »
Congressman: “The Earth Will End When God Declares It’s Time”
Rep. John Shimkus (IL) quotes the Bible at a recent U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing to give a theological argument that global warming is not a problem.
Jews Celebrated the Sun Today
Today was a rare celebration for Jews around the world. Every 28 years, according to Jewish tradition, the sun returns to the same spot it was at in the sky on the fourth day of the week – when the sun, moon, and stars were created. This Birkat HaChamah was especially unusual because it occured just before Passover begins.
The celebration includes a special prayer thanking God for creating the sun. Some added folk songs like “Here Comes the Sun” and “Morning Has Broken” to their celebrations! The ritual goes back to the 3rd century, originating from an astronomer and Jewish teacher named Schmuel.
The prayer:
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe who makes the works of Creation.
Jewish observers are very careful to emphasize that they are not worshipping the sun. Instead they are celebrating the creation of the sun. They look at the sun one time and then turn at an angle during the ceremony to make this point.
Some of these gatherings even included reflections about caring for Creation and the need to develop more solar power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For further reading on Birkat HaChamah:
