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Interfaith Climate Action - First Hill
People of faith responding to the existential threat of climate change
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“…If we are to heal our planet in the present crisis we will need to draw on the wisdom and commitment of every human culture. We need to move far beyond isolation and hostility into the inter-relational work toward the active making of peace and justice among all peoples and our planet’s web of life. “
Rabbi Arthur Waskow |
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“The earth belongs to God, as affirmed in Psalm 24:1. We are caretakers or stewards. Thus we are each related to God as one appointed to take care of someone else’s possessions entrusted to us – our life, our home, the earth.”
American Baptist Policy Statement on Ecology Photo of Earth from the Apollo 17 mission - NASA |
Who We Are
We are members and friends of Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue and Seattle First Baptist Church who are learning about the causes and effects of human-caused climate change and are working in concert with other local and regional groups to maintain a livable climate. Interfaith Climate Action – First Hill sponsors educational events, supports climate-friendly legislation and policy, and opposes actions that would increase global warming.
Thanks for visiting this web page. We hope you find useful information, ideas, and most of all, encouragement to join in an emboldened movement to confront climate disruption from a faith perspective.
We would be happy to speak with you directly if you have questions or want to talk. Please contact: Keith Ervin, keithervin@msn.com, 206 371 3834 or
Rev Harriet Platts, seeker@seanet.com.
We are members and friends of Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue and Seattle First Baptist Church who are learning about the causes and effects of human-caused climate change and are working in concert with other local and regional groups to maintain a livable climate. Interfaith Climate Action – First Hill sponsors educational events, supports climate-friendly legislation and policy, and opposes actions that would increase global warming.
Thanks for visiting this web page. We hope you find useful information, ideas, and most of all, encouragement to join in an emboldened movement to confront climate disruption from a faith perspective.
We would be happy to speak with you directly if you have questions or want to talk. Please contact: Keith Ervin, keithervin@msn.com, 206 371 3834 or
Rev Harriet Platts, seeker@seanet.com.
Please Join Us!
- Subscribe to our email message list, at keithervin@msn.com.
- Come to our regular monthly meetings to help set our priorities and take action to create a better future. Next meeting: Sunday, Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m. in the Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue Living Room, at 1111 Harvard Ave., first door north of Spring Street.
- Help make Washington state a national leader in climate policy. Join us in campaigning for passage of Initiative 1631, which would put a price on heat-trapping carbon and use the proceeds to fund clean energy and clean air projects.
- Come to the Faith + Ecology film series for a free vegetarian supper, a film and discussion. Co-sponsored by St. James Cathedral, we will screen these films after a 6 p.m. supper in the St. James Cathedral Outreach Center, 907 Columbia St., Seattle:
- October 4: Sonic Sea: how human-caused noise is threatening the fragile ocean environment
- October 11: Sustainable: a visit with leaders in the movement for a sustainable food system
- October 18: Return of the River: the unlikely success story of how the Elwha River’s dams were removed and nature again flourished
Highlights of Recent Activity
- Planted trees to celebrate Tu BiShvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees. Plans pending for another planting in early 2019.
- Participated in Taming Bigfoot, a friendly competition to reduce our personal carbon footprint.
- Co-sponsored two day-long faith in action climate conferences.
- Participated in prayer vigils with Faith Action Climate Team members
- Hosted a six-session book group on Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone’s “Active Hope.”
- Ongoing action to lower our personal and communal carbon footprints.
- Organized premiere performance of jazz artist Nelda Swiggett's mixed-media work on climate change, The Alaska Suite: a story of beauty, loss and hope.
Partner organizations
- Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light, https://earthministry.org.
- Faith Action Climate Team
- St James Cathedral Care for Creation Committee, http://www.stjames-cathedral.org/ministries.aspx
- Faithful Climate Chorus (Contact Abby Brockway)
- https://yeson1631.org
How We Can Live More Lightly on the Earth
Things you can do now to lower your personal carbon footprint
These specific areas are places you and I can make a big difference NOW as we change our lifestyle and consumption habits to reduce the amount of carbon we are each producing.
Transportation
+Discontinue travel by airplane unless you have to.
The bottom line is we need to drastically reduce our air travel! If you’re planning a trip or vacation and thinking about flying, look at the CARBON cost of the trip. Log on to Taming Bigfoot (www. Taming-Bigfoot.org) to find out how much projected carbon will be emitted when you travel by air vs, by car or train or bus. Consider not taking trips that involve flying. Just because you can doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do.
+Rideshare
Cultivate connections in your community and share rides.
Take public transit, walk or bike.
+Replace your gas combustion car with a hybrid, better yet an electric vehicle.
There are A LOT more affordable options for electric and electric hybrid (electric/gas) vehicles now. Take a look at the Chevrolet Volt, or Nissan Leaf for starters. Go test drive. Buy a used one!
Home Energy Use
+Replace all your light bulbs with LED bulbs!
+Wash your clothes in cold water.
+Dry your clothes on a clothes rack instead of using a dryer. Dryers use a lot of energy.
+Have an energy assessment of your home to learn about low costs things you can do to increase energy efficiency.
Food Consumption
+Practice not eating meat on certain days of the week.
+Reduce or discontinue your consumption of beef and pork.
+Eat locally grown food that you can purchase at a farmer’s market or through a community supported agriculture program (Produce boxes). Share one with a friend if a box feels like too much.
+Make a commitment to eat in-season food. Foods have carbon footprints too. Foods that have to travel by airplane and long distance across the country… well, you get the point.
+Decrease use of bottled water. This decreases your plastic purchases and lowers risk of plastic pollution. Get a reusable water bottle and practice taking it with you wherever you go.
Would you like support or coaching in making some lifestyle changes to reduce your carbon footprint?
Contact Keith Ervin at keithervin@msn.com or Harriet Platts at seeker@seanet.com. We’d be happy to consult with you about changes you want to make or point you to helpful resources!
Things you can do now to lower your personal carbon footprint
These specific areas are places you and I can make a big difference NOW as we change our lifestyle and consumption habits to reduce the amount of carbon we are each producing.
Transportation
+Discontinue travel by airplane unless you have to.
The bottom line is we need to drastically reduce our air travel! If you’re planning a trip or vacation and thinking about flying, look at the CARBON cost of the trip. Log on to Taming Bigfoot (www. Taming-Bigfoot.org) to find out how much projected carbon will be emitted when you travel by air vs, by car or train or bus. Consider not taking trips that involve flying. Just because you can doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do.
+Rideshare
Cultivate connections in your community and share rides.
Take public transit, walk or bike.
+Replace your gas combustion car with a hybrid, better yet an electric vehicle.
There are A LOT more affordable options for electric and electric hybrid (electric/gas) vehicles now. Take a look at the Chevrolet Volt, or Nissan Leaf for starters. Go test drive. Buy a used one!
Home Energy Use
+Replace all your light bulbs with LED bulbs!
+Wash your clothes in cold water.
+Dry your clothes on a clothes rack instead of using a dryer. Dryers use a lot of energy.
+Have an energy assessment of your home to learn about low costs things you can do to increase energy efficiency.
Food Consumption
+Practice not eating meat on certain days of the week.
+Reduce or discontinue your consumption of beef and pork.
+Eat locally grown food that you can purchase at a farmer’s market or through a community supported agriculture program (Produce boxes). Share one with a friend if a box feels like too much.
+Make a commitment to eat in-season food. Foods have carbon footprints too. Foods that have to travel by airplane and long distance across the country… well, you get the point.
+Decrease use of bottled water. This decreases your plastic purchases and lowers risk of plastic pollution. Get a reusable water bottle and practice taking it with you wherever you go.
Would you like support or coaching in making some lifestyle changes to reduce your carbon footprint?
Contact Keith Ervin at keithervin@msn.com or Harriet Platts at seeker@seanet.com. We’d be happy to consult with you about changes you want to make or point you to helpful resources!