 November/December 2000 (XXXVIII 5) |
YM Interim Meeting in June approved a minute calling for Spirit-led action to address global climate change. During the session, the expectation was expressed that practical ways would be brought forward for Meetings and individuals to do something about this concern. Here are a few from the PYM Environmental Working Group.
Arrange for an adult forum or other program in the Meeting on global warming as a religious issue. Seasoned discussion leaders are looking for opportunities. It always helps to have a visitor speak to a challenging and troubling concern.
Consider ways of reducing energy consumption in the Meeting's facilities. Over the past 15 years, many Meetings have had energy surveys done by the Interfaith Coalition on Energy. If your Meeting is one, it's time to reassess. If your Meeting has not had a survey, consider having one done. Financial assistance is available.
Consider purchasing renewable electricity for the Meeting's facilities. Electric choice is available to every Meeting in Pennsylvania and many in New Jersey. A number of Meetings have already done this. The board of Friends Center in Philadelphia decided this year to buy Green-e certified renewable electricity from the Energy Cooperative Association of Pennsylvania.
Consider ways of encouraging Meeting members to reduce energy consumption and purchase renewable electricity at home. Remember that there is energy from various sources embodied in everything we use and everything we do.
Consider ways of encouraging Meeting members to reduce fuel consumption for transportation. Some Friends have chosen not to own a car! Mount Holly Meeting (NJ) has a bumper sticker that says "slow down global warming" and a leaflet showing that it takes 30% more fuel to travel the same distance at 75 mph than at 55 mph!
Help the Pennsylvania Council of Churches interfaith climate campaign make contact with the interfaith organization or ministerium in your community.
Help identify individuals in the Meeting willing to work with the Pennsylvania Council of Churches public advocacy campaign to address climate change in state and federal policy. Meetings in other states can participate in this work too.
Identify someone from the Meeting to be a contact with Quaker Eco-Witness and its project of generating support for having an additional lobbyist at Friends Committee on National Legislation to work on climate change.
The PYM Environmental Working Group can help with direction and resources for any of these avenues. EWG's project leader, Ed Dreby, is also coordinator of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches interfaith climate campaign. EWG's recording clerk, Keith Helmuth, is also clerk of Quaker Eco-Witness.
For more information on any of the suggestions above, call me at 609-261-8190 or e-mail drebymans@igc.org.
Ed Dreby
Mount Holly Meeting (NJ)
Project leader of Environmental Working Group
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM