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May 2011---E-Notes of Action and Hope
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Greetings! 
Blessings this day! As I pray each day for the healing and well-being of all in the Sacred Earth Community each day, my reflections hold the many events of the past five months within a humble, searching and most days hopeful heart. Bill McKibben's op-ed in the Washington Post connects some dots around climate change and recent events.
Click here to read the article and share. In May Edwina Beard, President of NM IPL attended a productive annual IPL meeting in DC and represented us well in meeting with our legislators. The passing over of my mother prevented my attendance, but now back at work, I know that her spirit with many others are working with us to care for life and the future. Your help is needed more than ever. Consider engaging youth in our new effort to create an NM IPL Youth component. Your voice is needed in addressing Clean Air Standards with EPA, New Mexico safeguards for coal fired power plants, New Mexico codes for energy efficient buildings, energy assessments in your houses of worship and much more. Please read the briefs below and act as you can. Contact us if you have need of a presentation, film, energy assessment, etc. Now more than ever your contributions are greatly needed to continue our work. Any donation given will be doubled through a matching grant that we will receive when we meet the final goal of $5,000 of this $15,000 matching grant. Let us continue to work, pray and meditate with grace in our hearts for the well-being of the Sacred Earth community. Joan Brown,osf Executive Director, NM IPL |
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Youth Important Part of Work on Climate Change
Youth are vital to the care, hope and future well-being of life. As adults we are invited into the responsibility and joy of supporting and working with them. NMIPL is initiating a youth component for caring for creation rooted in spirituality and faith. If you have a youth leader or young people who might be interested let us know.
In the news this week was Alec Loorz, a 16 year-old who filed a lawsuit against the US Government for allowing profit before survival of the planet and his generation. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/05/sueing-us-government-climate
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The Earth Community Needs You!!
Calls for Post Card Signing, Letters, More....
IPL campaign calls EPA to Protect Air. Postcards for people of faith to sign are available through
NMIPL. Lend your voice to protect air and safeguard to reduce hazardous mercury, arsenic, dioxin, and acid gases from smoke stacks and protect health. Signatures can be collected and postcards sent back to NMIPL for delivery.
Let us know how many you would like. The deadline to return signed cards is June 20, 2011.
People of Faith needed to lend a voice for strong safeguards to reduce emissions at the San Juan Power Plant in the Four Corners area. Hearings will be conducted with the NM Environmental Improvement Board and NM Environment Department June 1, in Santa Fe and June 2 in Farmington. Contact NMIPL if you are interested in testifying.
State Energy Efficient Building Codes might be rolled back without your voice.
Hearings will be held throughout New Mexico Thursday, June 2, 9:--noon.
Albuquerque , Regulation and Licensing Department, main conference room, 5200 Oakland NE
Farmington, McGee Park Convention Center, 41 Road 5568, Bloomfield Hwy.
Roswell, City Council Chambers, 421 N. Richardson
Las Cruces, Las Cruces Administrative Offices, Conference Rm. A, 505 South Main St., Suite 249
If you are unable to attend but would like to comment contact NMIPL.
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Resources and More....
*The National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) now has a Food & Justice discussion guide out as well. http://www.ncrlc.com/page.aspx?ID=8
*NMIPL has access to many books, DVD's, speakers and resources that can assist you in planning your programs. Two recent films of interest are:Gasland which addresses the issue of water and fracking and is one of the campaigns of IPL andEconomics of Happiness. Contact usinfo@nm-ipl.org
*NMIPL can assist you with an energy assessment for your House of Worship.
*Check out the IPL Cool Harvest program that engages faith communities in food production and eating.
*If you are looking for a summer program check out This Planet as Paradise: Beauty & Ecological Restoration, June 20-26, 2011, Ghost Ranch. info@ghostranch.org.
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Note worthy News
Solar May Be Cheaper Than Fossil, Nuclear Power in Five Years, GE Says (click to read)
The New Geopolitics of Food
Vatican Scientists Concerned About Climate
VATICAN CITY (AP) - A Vatican-appointed panel of scientists has reported what climate change experts have been warning for years: the Earth is getting warmer, glaciers are melting, and urgent measures are necessary to stem the damage.
The scientists called for urgent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and reductions in methane and other pollutants that warm the air, and for improved observation of mountain glaciers to better track their changes. Their final report, dated May 5 and signed by independent glaciologists, climate scientists, meteorologists and chemists, was posted on the Vatican website. Pontifical Academy of Sciences' (PAS) recent report
"We appeal to all nations to develop and implement, without delay, effective and fair policies to reduce the causes and impacts of climate change on communities and ecosystems, including mountain glaciers and their watersheds, aware that we all live in the same home," the report said.
"We are committed to ensuring that all inhabitants of this planet receive their daily bread, fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink as we are aware that, if we want justice and peace, we must protect the habitat that sustains us."
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t was a "significant scientific contribution" to the concerns that Pope Benedict XVI has voiced in both his encyclicals and public statements.
Benedict has been dubbed the "green pope" for his environmental concerns: In 2008, the Vatican installed photovoltaic cells on the roof of its main auditorium. A year later it installed a solar cooling unit for its main cafeteria. The Vatican has also joined a reforestation project aimed at offsetting its CO2 emissions.
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