Sally Bingham prioritizes environment in refusal to fly to receive award
Episcopal News Service. April 18, 2007 [041807-04]
Phina Borgeson
The Climate Protection Program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency will on May 1 recognize the work of the Rev. Sally Bingham as a "protector of the climate."
But Bingham, president of the Regeneration Project and co-founder of Interfaith Power and Light won't be in Washington, D.C., to pick up the citation in person. Instead, Allison Fisher of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light will be accepting it on her behalf.
"I think flying for 12 hours to be at a two-hour event would be hypocritical," Bingham says, adding, "Flying is one of the worst sources of green house gases."
Chris Goodall, author of "How to Live a Low Carbon Life: the Individual’s Guide to Stopping Climate Change" would agree. Asked for his top recommendation for personal actions on a recent Science Friday program on National Public Radio (NPR), he did not hesitate to say, "Stop flying."
Bingham continues: "I greatly appreciate the recognition from the EPA for all the hard work that our Interfaith Power and Light Campaign has accomplished and in no way am I negating its importance. I wish, however, to remain 'a protector of the climate' and in so doing not fly unnecessarily."
Bishop Richard Chartres of London agrees that travel on jet planes has moral consequences, and pledged in February not to fly for a year as a commitment to the environment.
Respect for the environment, Chartres said, is central to the faith, though Christians have sometimes been "slow on this issue." His vision is that "every single church in some way or other ... is going to be a place where energy is captured from God, the sun, the wind and transformed into energy for the common good."
The Interfaith Power and Light campaign is built on strong local leadership in more than 20 chapters around the country which makes it possible for a local person to be present and accept the award on Bingham's behalf.
Find an Interfaith Power and Light chapter near you here.
Last minute Earth Day ideas here.
Use Earth Day to commit to an energy audit of your congregation here.