“Bah·'Ìs approach nature with an awareness of the interrelatedness of themselves and the natural world, with an indication of the importance of all the world's resources for the civilization they are building, and the example of their leaders showing the spiritual and aesthetic values of wilderness, the countryside, and the diversity of natural life.”

Excerpted from "Baha'i Perspective on Nature and the Environment", 1986

HOT TOPICS
Turning Up the Heat
Published on April 18 in the Financial Times of the London Times, Environmental Correspondent Fiona Harvey, wrote that a delegation from the European Union met with top officials in Washington to try to put more pressure on the administration to cooperate with other world leaders on environmental issues. Fueled by a new report that came out by the U.S. Energy Department, which stated that the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions would have a very low impact on the U.S. economy, Stavros Dimas, the EUís environment commissioner, said: "Both climate change and sustainable development are top priorities. It is important that we achieve sustainable development and provide all the people in the world with decent living conditions."

The report that provided new ammunition for the debate with Washington stated that the cost of reducing greenhouse gasses by 4% by 2015 and 7% by 2025, in accordance with the NCEP's recommendations, would cost 0.15% of the gross domestic product. That figure equates with about $78.00 per household by 2025.

To read the Financial Times full article, go to http://news.ft.com/cms/s/%20f1177bee-b038-11d9-ab98-00000e2511c8.html

More Heat...
In March, a core team of high profile and powerful leaders of the National Association of Evangelicals met on Capitol Hill and in the suburbs of Washington DC to draft a statement concerning a new priority, the theological mandate to address global warming. Until this time, the Evangelical side of the Christian Church, decidedly Republican, has been either silent on the threat to Godís Creation, or has disparaged the evidence in support of global warming. However, The Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, apparently underwent a conversion experience when he went scuba diving and witnessed the effects of rising ocean temperatures and pollution on coral reefs.

According to the article in the Washington Post, pressure from the Evangelical Church could change the climate in Washington on the subject of global warming and the need for emissions control.

To read the full article, www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/national/10evangelical.html

Alaskan Island in Hot Water
The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church sent out an Earth Day letter to the members of his denomination. In it he asks how will his faith community respond to global climate change and its threat to the well being of all creatures and species around the earth. He calls into focus the denomination's northernmost congregation, Shismaref Lutheran Church, located 20 miles south of the Arctic Circle on the Chukchi Sea. This is what he says about this parish within his bishopric: "The forces unleashed by global climate change are literally washing away the earth on which these 600 Inupiat Eskimos live. Due to increased storms, melting sea ice, thawing permafrost and rising sea levels, their island home will soon be under water. They must uproot themselves and their 4000 year-old culture and find a new, yet to be determined, place to live."

Bishop Mark Hanson is a part of the growing number of prophetic voices now being heard from the faith community. Bishop Hanson goes on to say, "We are committed to repent of our own sinful misuse and abuse of the earth, direct and indirect... But we also are bold in our faith and hope, knowing that God calls and empowers us to confront these issues of life and death. We do this especially for the sake of the poor of the earth, working on their behalf, even as we contend with entrenched political, economic, and social forces."

For the courage of Bishop Hanson's prophetic and forceful voice, CIPL expresses gratitude; for the people of Shismaref Lutheran Church in Alaska, CIPL offers our thoughts and prayers.

FACING FACTS
Current Statistics

* According to statistics published by the EPA, the average person in the U.S.
emits 6.6 tons of greenhouse gases per year.

* Approximately 82% of the emissions generated by each individual person in the U.S.
are from burning fossil fuel to generate electricity or operate automobiles.

* In the U.S., about 2,700 pounds of carbon per person per year
(18% of total emissions) come from operating our homes, and most
of that is from the energy used to power electrical appliances.

GOOD NEWS
Finding Their Voice
Proclaiming the U.S. FY2006 Budget a moral document, the leaders of five mainline Protestant Denominations called for Congress to reject President Bush's proposed budget for the coming year. Anchoring their statement Biblically, the joint communication called for the infusion of U.S economic policies with the spirit of the man who was anointed to bring "good news to the poor."

"As we view the FY'06 Federal Budget through our lens of faith,
this budget, on balance, continues to ask our nationís working poor
to pay the cost of a prosperity in which they may never share. We
believe this budget remains unjust. It does not adequately address
the more than 36 million Americans living below the poverty line,
45 million without health insurance, or the 13 million hungry children.
Worldwide it neither provides sufficient development assistance nor
adequately addresses the Global AIDS pandemic.
Therefore, we ask Congress to reject this budget and begin anew."

The document was signed by the leaders of the Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran and United Church of Christ and cited specific areas of concern:

"those in our own country who suffer from hunger, lack of
education, jobs, housing, and medical care as well as concern for
our global community."

The statement concluded with a request of Congress to go back to the drawing boards.

Seeing Green and Connecting the Dots: An Editorial Comment
Congress did not go back to the drawing boards. The "blueprint" of the budget was approved. And as courageous as the ecumenical statement calling for justice for the economically disadvantaged was, the document failed to explicitly list funding for environmental programs to develop sustainable energy and reduce greenhouse emissions among those concerns that erode the justice of our society. It failed to deal explicitly with the connection between the poor in our country and in the in the world and the number one planetary threat, climate change.

It falls to the leaders of our religious community to insist that our elected officials connect the dots between climate change social justice, in ministry to those who will suffer the most, if emissions are not controlled and global warming is allowed to spin out of control. When heat related medical crises are filling the emergency rooms with the uninsured, then the dots will get connected. When water shortages cripple agriculture and food costs skyrocket and the societal ills of hunger and malnutrition loom large, then the dots will get connected. CIPL asks all of our members to enlarge our network by inviting other faith communities to join CIPL and become a part of our movement to lower emissions throughout our State, our country and the world.
Sally Juarez, CIPL Outreach Director

CIPL NEWS
Featured Congregation
CIPL welcomes Shell Ridge Community Church in Walnut Creek, the newest of our Covenant Congregations. Shell Ridge launched its commitment to energy conservation and efficiency by working on the first covenant agreement of providing ongoing education by making climate change and global warming the focus of their Sunday morning adult education class recently. Shell Ridge, an American Baptist congregation whose pastor is the Reverend Greg Ledbetter, describes itself as " theologically progressive and socially active." Shell Ridge had already changed out all their incandescent light bulbs at the time of their joining CIPL, replacing them with CFL's.

With an eye to budget and energy efficiency, one member noted that single paned window glass would be changed, one window at a time over the course of time. Enthusiastic and supportive of the CIPL mission, Rev. Ledbetter has agreed to serve on a Clergy advisor committee that is planning an outreach event for clergy in Contra Costa in the fall. Read more about this vibrant congregation by visiting their website at www.shellridge.org .

THE ART OF GLOBAL WARMING
Lyrics Are Psalms of Lament
Nancy Schimmel, SF Bay Area storyteller, musician and songwriter and daughter of well-known folk singer, Malvina Renolds shares her song, "Home in the Sky" with our CIPL membership. It reminds us of the hundreds of species on the planet already endangered and the thousand more who will be unable to adapt to climate change and the other impacts of the human footprint. Nancy actually borrowed the words from a lot of old gospel songs and wove them together with her feelings about the threat to the endangered and extinct birds and animals of the planet. Nancy notes that mountain lions actually purr and yowl and that "Bengal tiger" may be substituted in the song for those who prefer to be scientifically accurate. Bengals are endangered too!

"Home In The Sky"

Is there a habitat in heaven
For the species that no longer dwell on earth?
When I book a trip on that old gospel ship,
I would like to think the dodo has a berth.
We have cut down the wildwood the sweet waters blessed,
It must be the eighth deadly sin
To tear up creation so the birds have no nest,
I only hope that God will take them in.
I would like to take a walk with the great and little auk,
I would like to see the passenger pigeons fly,
And all the feathered folk who have no home in this world,
I hope they find a home in the sky,

I hope they find a home up above the sky,
I hope they find a home in the sky,
And all the feathered folk who have no home in this world,
I hope they find a home in the sky.

Is there a habitat in heaven
For the species that are still to meet their doom?
When earthly comfort fails for the elephants and whales
Will the pastures of heaven give them room?
Will the great condor glide over on the other side?
Will I still hear the mountain lion roar?
Will warblers be heard with the great speckled bird,
When we meet on that beautiful shore?
Will I watch the dolphins play in that home far away?
Will I meet with the shy chimpanzee?
And if we kill so many of the creatures on this earth,
Will there still be room in heaven for me?

Will there still be room in heaven for you and me?
Will there still be room in heaven for me?
And if we kill so many of the creatures on this earth
Will there still be room in heaven for me?

Sun Sun Shine and other recordings and books by Nancy Schimmel, Malvina Reynolds, Candy Forest and Fran Avni at www.sisterschoice.com Berkeley, California

 
COOL TIPS

* The average American household spends $40.00 a year on "phantom loads",
electricity used when the appliances are supposedly off.

* You can save money and prevent CO2 from entering the atmosphere by plugging in
your VCRs only when you watch a movie.

* Wall cube plugs, like those on answering machines or cell phone chargers consume
20% to 50% of their appliance's "on" wattage

RECOMMENED READING
CIPLís suggested reading for the month is Lester R. Brown's, PLAN B, Rescuing a Plant under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble. Building on the foundation that he laid in Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth, Brown calls for a redefining of "security" by the restructuring of the world economy. Brown states that we are operating on bubble economies that are based on the over-consumption of the world's natural capitol assets. The most vulnerable sector of the economy, according to Brown, is food. For those people who have concerns over the economy in the midst of the debate over emissions control, this book is a "must read."

EVENTS

East Bay CIPL Working Group
Wednesday, May 11
8:30-10 AM
Robert Cordova will present highlights from a report made by 'Redefining Progress' on the health and economic implications of climate change on communities of color.
1904 Franklin Street ñ 6th Floor Conference Room
Oakland, California
RSVP to Sally Juarez, 510-763-4217

Sacramento CIPL Working Group:
Monday, June 6
Noon - 1:00 PM
St. John's Lutheran Church
1701 L Street
Sacramento, California
RSVP to Rev. Dexter McNamara
916-448-2212
dexter@isbsacramento.org

San Diego CIPL Working Group (RECAP) Meeting
Tuesday, June 7th
6:00-7:30 PM
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
2728 Sixth Street
San Diego, California
RSVP to Rev. Glenn Allison
tachs.glenn@sbcglobal.net
858-790-3744

 
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Does your congregation have an eco-event coming up? Let us help you get the word out to all of our covenant congregations. Do you know of a great film or reading that you wish everyone would take advantage of? Let us know about it and we will include it in the Newsletter. Send us all copy by the 25th of the month for inclusion in the next month's edition. Email Sally Juarez at outreach@interfaithpower.org.

CLOSING REFLECTION

“O our mother the earth, O our father the sky,
Your children are we, and with tired backs
We bring you gifts that you love.
Then weave for us a garment of brightness;
May the warp be the white light of morning,
May the weft be the red light of evening,
May the fringes be the falling rain,
May the border be the standing rainbow.
Thus weave for us a garment of brightness,
That we may walk fittingly where the grass is green,
O our mother the earth, O our father the sky!

TEWA PUEBLO PRAYER

The CIPL E-Newsletter is produced by:

California Interfaith Power & Light
2715 K Street, Suite D
Sacramento, CA 95816
916-442-5447

Sally Juarez
Outreach Director
outreach@interfaithpower.org

Tom Bourne
Executive Director
tom@interfaithpower.org