GreenFaith on New Rule to Reduce Mercury Pollution
When my phone rang on March 15, it was the office of Lisa Jackson, the EPA Administrator.
I was invited to Washington for the signing of a new rule to reduce mercury pollution from coal plants. This rule will save 17,000 lives each year --- many in poor communities. EPA leaders know GreenFaith cares. They wanted us there.
Soon after I arrived at EPA’s beautiful Rachel Carson Hall, Administrator Jackson spoke. She said that our children and elderly need clean air. The Presidents of the American Lung Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics voiced support. The 100 of us in attendance gave her a standing ovation.
GreenFaith was the only faith-based group in the room.
As soon as the rule was released, some industry groups attacked it. One group said, “Adaptation to all the proposed rules constitutes an extraordinary threat to the power sector.”
She thanked me for our support of clean air for all people. She said that religious voices were critically important. She asked me to do everything I could to get more people of faith involved.
That’s why I’m writing you. I need you help – now.
This new rule is still open for public comment. I don’t need to tell you that some groups want it weakened.
I want to get 1,000 people to sign a statement by Earth Day -- April 22 -- in support of strong action to reduce mercury pollution.
As the event was ending, the head of the Academy of Pediatrics said, “If you think it’s expensive to put a scrubber on a smokestack, you should see how much it costs to treat a child over a lifetime with a birth defect.”
I agree, and so do you. Your show of support will help ensure that tomorrow’s children get cleaner, safer air to breathe. Please add your name today.
In faith,
Executive Director
P.S. Don’t let industry groups weaken this life-saving rule. Let your voice be heard.Please sign today.
On 40th Earth Day, Reform Movement Demands Climate Action for our Future
Saperstein: “The growing threat of climate change looms on the horizon but – unlike on the first Earth Day 40 years ago – clean energy solutions abound. We look ahead with hope.” As we celebrate the 40th annual Earth Day, we mark a milestone in the fight for a clean, healthy environment for all people. The movement for a secure environmental future has grown by leaps and bounds over the past four decades, and we take pride in the progress we have made and the leading role played by the faith community. However, in the next year and the next 40 years we must redouble efforts to protect our planet, for our own sake and that of our children. |
Lawn Maintenance the GREEN way
Use of a good all-natural fertilizer is recommended. Chemical fertilizers draw roots shallower and reduce valuable microbes that your grass needs for survival. This combination greatly increases thatch, an ideal condition for disease. New plantings will require more frequent watering than established plants. The same type of saturating should be exercised, but once a week may be necessary for new plants.
Mulching can help to reduce water loss. The use of mulch on new or established plantings is an excellent method of conserving water. Beds, which are exposed to the sun, and drying winds without cover will dry out rapidly. Trying to keep these areas moist by watering is not adequate, and a great deal of water is wasted. Some of the more common materials used for mulching are peat moss, wood chips, straw, salt march hay, sawdust, pine needles, hay, leaf mold, compost, dried bark, leaves and many others. Much less water will be required to maintain vigorous plants with the use of a 2-inch mulch.
Overall Watering Program for Outdoor Plants.In trying to conserve water and to realize greatest benefit from water used, it is wise to set up a regularly scheduled program.
· Do not try to water all planted areas at each watering.
- Section off your areas, and concentrate on these areas individually for maximum benefit.
· Saturate each area, and then allow to dry out before watering again.
· Plan to use mulch around all planted areas to reduce water loss.
· Do not allow plants to wilt before beginning a watering program.
· Remember—two hoses at low pressure without a nozzle is the best method of watering.
· Over watering can be more harmful to plants than under watering. Roots need air as well as water. Do not keep soil saturated with water continuously
GreenFaith on Snowmageddon
It's been quite a winter.
Record blizzards in the United States. Massive flooding in Pakistan and Australia. Millions of people forced to drink unsafe water. Hundreds of thousands homeless.
It seems like severe and dangerous storms are the new normal. In fact, 90% of all natural disasters last year were directly related to weather. And a recent study confirmed this pattern isn't part of "natural cycles" --- human activity is partly to blame.
Climate change is too big for any one person --- or one country --- to solve. Government and business can't, and won't, do it on their own. The earth needs religious support, because religion is one of the few forces on the planet big enough to tackle such a big problem.
GreenFaith is the leader in rallying religious support for the environment. We unite people from diverse traditions, and get them working together, to protect the earth.
You can be a part of this great work.
We're reaching more people that ever. We're organizing churches from Washington State to Texas to Maine, and synagogues from Florida to California. We're working with Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist leaders.
Your support will enable us to reach more congregations, to educate more leaders, to mobilize more action --- to help heal the planet.
Won't you join us today?
In faith,
Rev. Fletcher Harper
Executive Director
Take a Bite Out of Global Warming
The Green Supports the DRESS FOR SUCCESS event on February 27, 2011
TSTI Part of the Greening Reform Judaism Pilot Program
The TSTI Green team has been hard at work and they have an exciting announcement:
TSTI has been selected to participate in the Greening Reform Judaism Pilot Program!
The URJ has partnered with GreenFaith, a leading national interfaith environmental coalition, to provide a limited number of qualified New Jersey congregations the opportunity to enroll at no cost in the GreenFaith Certification Program and support strong environmental leadership within our Movement. TSTI is among the first Reform congregations in North America to become a GreenFaith Sanctuary, serving as an example to our community, our state, and the Movement.
Thanks to special funding from the National Religious Partnership on the Environment, the URJ will be able to completely underwrite the costs to enroll in the Certification Program. This represents a savings of approximately $1,500 for TSTI.
Our congregation, led by the Green Team and with the full support of leadership, clergy and staff, will make a two-year commitment this pilot program. Over the two-year period, our congregation will engage in a range of environmental activities, including:
• Environmental education programs for children, teens and adults;
• Environmentally-oriented worship services;
• Green building and facility management activities;
• Environmental justice education and advocacy;
• Interfaith environmental efforts with houses of worship of diverse denominations.
TSTI has been and continues to be very committed to the environment. Our Green Team has been active for a few years and has been successful in helping the Temple achieve savings and more environmentally conscious consumption. The team continues to create awareness for the Temple Community. We are excited about the opportunity to become part of the Greenfaith program because there is still work to be done in our congregation and this program will provide us with more resources, structure and direction than we currently have on our own. TSTI also welcomes the challenge to reach further on environmental issues and the opportunity to be a role model for other congregations.
Upon completion of the pilot program, our congregation will be considered a leader in the Greening Reform Judaism initiative. Members of our Green team will serve as advisors to other Reform congregations and participate in select URJ programs and events such as the URJ Biennial and the Religious Action Center’s Consultation on Conscience.
Coejl On Judaism and the Environment
FAQ: Green Questions from the URJ
| FAQ: Green Questions |
Is environmentalism a Jewish Issue? Yes! Our story of peoplehood begins: “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to till it and tend it.” (Genesis, 2:15) See the Judaism and the Environment page for more information.
Where do I start? Start with an energy audit. This audit will calculate your current energy usage and recommend specific adjustments you can make to lower the environmental footprint of the building. The professional administering the audit will walk though the synagogue inspecting doors, windows, walls, heating, appliances, etc to gain an in-depth understanding of how best to green your specific building (the suggestions on this website and in the greening guides are meant to be broad, not directed at any one specific congregation). Contact Energy Star Congregations for assistance in finding a certified Energy Auditor in your area – you should also join Energy Star Congregations while you are on the website.
What are CFL bulbs and why should I use them? Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) are fluorescent light bulbs which have gained broad appeal in recent years. While many are spiral, CFLs come in various shapes and sizes. The light bulbs last ten times longer than standard incandescent bulbs while using only ¼ of the energy of regular bulbs. While CFLs have some mercury content and need to be disposed of properly with other household hazardous waste items in order to contain the mercury this should not discourage their use. Replacing just ten 100-watt bulbs could reduce your congregation’s CO2 emissions by more than 8,254 tons over the lifespan of the CFL! You could also save roughly $600 on energy bills with CFLs in comparison to using incandescent bulbs in that same time span.
Which is better and what’s the difference: Local vs. Organic foods? Local foods are grown within the community/neighborhood. Depending upon your area, the “community” size and location may vary. Organic foods do not contain chemicals or pesticides and they are not treated with chemicals in any stage of their processing. They are grown on land that has been, (in order to be certified organic,) chemical free for at least three years. The main difference is local refers to where the food originates and organic refers to how it is grown and handled. If you only have the option of one or the other, you must choose which you deem more environmentally friendly. Organic food may be chemical free, but if you live in Florida and the produce comes from California, then there will be energy and resources expended to package and ship the food. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables from a local farmer’s market probably didn’t travel very far or necessitate a great deal of packaging, but they may be treated with pesticides and other chemicals. Consider starting a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm to take greater control over this choice.
Farm raised, free-range and cage-free: So many labels, what do they all mean? All three of these labels refer to the way the animal is bred and raised. What is important to note is that there is not strict regulation on food labeling, although to use certain agency or organizational labels, such as USDA Certified, specific criteria must be met. Also, some animal rights groups dispute the legitimacy of these labels, claiming the names are misleading and that they do not accurately describe the animals’ living conditions. The following is a brief overview of farm raised, free range and cage-free animals, as well as some links to find out more information.
Farm Raised : Concerning farm-raised game, the USDA states that such “game live in more confined outdoor areas [than their ranch raised counterparts, which are allowed to roam at will over hundreds of acres] and are fed grains such as wheat, alfalfa or corn.” Fish are considered "wild" if they have spent their entire life cycle in the wild and originate from parents that were also produced by natural spawning and continuously lived in the wild. Farm-raised fish, on the other hand, are raised in small pens in the ocean or ponds and are secured by nets. Because they are not free to swim throughout the ocean, they are not able to eat the natural diet of wild salmon, which contributes to both salmon’s lush pink color and rich levels of healthy Omega 3 fatty acids.
Free Range : The USDA states that free range refers to “A system of animal management where animals are not confined and can freely roam and forage over a large area of open land.”
Cage Free : The Humane Society states: “Most cage-free hens live in very large flocks that can consist of many thousands of hens who never go outside. Unlike battery hens [which are raised in tiny confined spaces in which they cannot even spread their wings] cage-free hens are able to walk, spread their wings and lay their eggs in nests. Cage-free egg producers who obtain certification under the better welfare standards programs must provide perching and dust-bathing areas for the birds as well.”
Additional Resources :
Organic Farming guide from the EPA
Hekhsher Tzedek, or Magen Tzedek, is a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism to certify food items to be ethically produced. In addition to items being Kosher, they are also required to be produced under ethical labor practices (with regard to both human workers and animals,) corporate transparency and with minimal environmental impact.
Does doing only a little bit help? Absolutely! You’ve heard people say, in relation to any number of things, that something is better than nothing. That is especially true with environmental responsibility. We learn from Pirkei Avot: “It is not required of you to complete the task but neither are you free to desist from it.” So while you are not expected to do everything, you are encouraged to do what you can. You could start by changing from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent ones. Or you could start by turning off the water while you brush your teeth. Whatever you can do is be better than ignoring the problem all together. In this case, every little bit really does help.
How can I make sure the purchases I make (for myself or for my congregation) are environmentally responsible? As consumers, we make choices everyday that have long-lasting environmental impacts. As Julia Hailes, author of A Green Consumer Guide explains, "All products have an environmental impact, however small. The idea is to reduce it to the minimum." Visit the Purchasing: Spending Green page and consider the environmental impacts of your everyday purchases from office and classroom supplies to products used for Jewish celebrations and lifecycle events.
How can I measure my efforts? Ways of measuring your impact vary but here are a two simple ways to know you are contributing to tikkun olam .
- After changing all your incandescent light bulbs to CFL ones, compare pre- and post-change electric bills. You should notice a drop in energy use (great for the environment!) and a drop in the payment amount due (great for your wallet!)
- Set benchmarks for yourself or your congregation and then calculate your carbon footprint at each point. The Jewish National Fund has a carbon calculator on its website – you can calculate your CO2 output in minutes!
How can I solicit support for congregational greening efforts from my board? Your synagogue’s board members are most likely inclined to want to go green but when it comes to making decisions for the congregation, they’re often concerned with the answers to three main questions: What’s the Jewish connection? Where does this fit in to our synagogue’s mission statement? How much will this cost / How is this financially advantageous? This website provides information that will help answer all three questions. In particular, see the Judaism and the Environment and Funding Sources pages for details.
Is there funding available? Yes. Limited funds are available from several non-Union sources. See the Funding Sources page for details.
Isn’t this really a political issue? No – this is a moral and a Jewish issue. A majority of scientists have concluded that there is a climate crisis and they warn of dire consequences if we do not act now. The responsibility of repairing our world falls on all generations, as Talmud explains: While the sage, Choni, was walking along a road, he saw a man planting a carob tree. Choni asked him: "How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?" "Seventy years," replied the man. Choni then asked: "Are you so healthy a man that you expect to live that length of time and eat its fruit?" The man answered: "I found a fruitful world because my ancestors planted it for me. Likewise, I am planting for my children."
I want to learn more. Who can I contact for more information? Greening Reform Judaism is here to help. Send your questions to greening@urj.org.
from : http://urj.org/green/101/faq/
