New England Religious Leaders Call for Action on Climate Change Plan
Episcopal News Service. June 12, 2002 [2002-150]
Jan Nunley
(ENS) Calling global warming "a crime against Creation," New England religious leaders, including many Episcopalians, converged on their state capitols on June 11 to ask the six New England governors to implement the Climate Change Action Plan to which they agreed last August. The plan calls for regional reduction of greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by 2010 and long-term reductions of 75-85 percent.
At the Massachusetts State House, more than a hundred Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other worshipers called upon Governor Jane Swift to reduce the state's greenhouse emissions through conservation, efficiency, and the use of alternative fuels.
"Like Noah, we must build an ark to save Creation and our own children," said the Rev. Fred Small of Religious Witness for the Earth, which convened the service. "The sky is darkening, the rains have begun, and still we pretend it's just a passing shower. We beseech our leaders in government to take courageous action before it's too late."
"We're asking our governor to keep her promise," explained the Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, associate rector of All Saints Parish in Brookline. "With our national leaders shirking their moral duty to confront global warming, we're taking our prayer out of the sanctuary and into the public square." Bullitt-Jonas joined the religious delegation that delivered to the governor's office the New England Interfaith Call for Climate Action signed by 328 clergy, including more than 100 Episcopalians.
Also leading worship were Bishop Steven Charleston, dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge; Sister Tess Browne of St. Anthony Cares; Rabbi Daniel Siegel of the Alliance for Jewish Renewal (ALEPH); Dr. A. Karim Khudairi of the Islamic Council of New England; the Rev. Mel Hoover of the Unitarian Universalist Association; the Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian, dean of religious life at Mount Holyoke College; and Joshua Raab, a 13-year-old seventh grader at Wellesley Middle School who dedicated his Bar Mitzvah to stopping global warming.
New England not spared in warming
A small group gathered outside the Connecticut State House in Hartford as the Rev. Susan Veronica Rak of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Bridgeport sounded a tone on a Tibetan singing bowl and read from the Psalms.
"Even though the Environmental Protection Agency recently released a report admitting that climate change is happening and will greatly affect the United States, the current Administration in Washington is likely to do nothing to help stop climate change," Rak said in a statement. "We cannot remain silent as global warming alters the earth's climate, melts Arctic ice, floods low-lying homelands, spreads tropical disease, unleashes devastating storms and droughts, exterminates countless species, and threatens agriculture and society worldwide." After a prayer, the group went to Governor John Rowland's office to deliver the Call for Climate Action with signatures attached.
In Maine, more than 50 people assembled in the state house's Hall of Flags to hear author and environmentalist Bill McKibben, a United Methodist Sunday school teacher, note that New England would "not be spared" in the event of drastic climate change, facing the possibility of a climate not unlike that of Georgia--which would devastate the maple sugar industry and other economic benefits unique to northern New England.
Maine Department of Environmental Protection commissioner Martha Kirkpatrick accepted the 1,300 New England signatures from the group, and spoke about the efforts her department is making to move the state forward on meeting the goals of the climate change action plan. She pointed out that the most significant way that Maine could lower its greenhouse gas emissions would be for CAFÉ standards to be increased, since cars and trucks contribute nearly 50 percent of Maine's greenhouse gas emissions.
An interdependent web
A circle of prayer was held on the front steps of the Rhode Island State House in Providence, as the Rev. Amy Freedman led a service with four members of Channing Memorial Church (Unitarian Universalist) of Newport. Gathered around the United Nations flag, participants offered readings, joined in song and shared about their commitment to protecting the Earth.
"We are a part of an interdependent web of existence, therefore our own actions effect not only our own communities but also New England, the United States, North America, and the entire globe," proclaimed Freedman. The group then delivered the Call to the office of Governor Lincoln Almond, urging a strong state plan.
On the lawn of New Hampshire's state house in Concord, participants heard a statement from Governor Jean Shaheen reiterating her commitment to move the state along as a leader in greenhouse gas reduction in the region. Jan Pendelberry of New Hampshire Climate Change encouraged the group to take their concerns and share them with their elected officials, especially encouraging support on legislation. More than 80 additional Calls were distributed to those gathered.
Fifteen people sang, spoke and prayed on the steps of the Vermont State House in Montpelier in support of the Call, and then presented Governor Howard Dean's receptionist with a letter to him, the text of the Call and the signatures of approximately 75 Vermonters of many faiths.