Letter to the Editor: Faith leaders join methane fight

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In a Letter to the Editor of the Albuquerque Journal (Saturday, February 18), Shana Edberg of Baltimore Maryland, joins faith leaders in New Mexico and elsewhere urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce methane emissions.

IN RESPONSE to “EPA should ensure methane protections,” (Journal Jan. 29) it was an inspiration to read a faith leader’s perspective on limiting methane pollution.

Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación Faith-Based Alliance is a group of Latino faith leaders in New Mexico and across the country with the mission of protecting God’s creation — our lands, air, water, wildlife and a healthy environment for all.

We believe that God gave us the Earth to act as stewards.

Reducing the contamination our communities and environment face from oil and gas operations is one aspect of stewarding God’s creation. All families deserve to breathe clean air, but that is not currently the case, especially in our Latino communities. For example, as a result of living in more polluted neighborhoods, Latino children are twice as likely to be hospitalized and twice as likely to die of asthma as White children; 1.6 million Latinos live within a half mile of an oil well.

It is up to us as faith leaders and leaders of our communities to ensure we are creating a healthy environment for our families and our planet to thrive. For that reason, Por La Creación is joining the call for the Environmental Protection Agency to limit methane pollution. It is our obligation as stewards of creation to voice the needs of our communities, and we hope you will as well.

SHANNA EDBERG Baltimore, Maryland

Current Revolution: Featured Film of Faith Climate Action 2023

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Share the exciting news of the transition to clean energy with your congregation with a series of short films called Current Revolution, this year’s featured film of Faith Climate Action Week in April. These films show the possibility of a just transition to a clean energy economy where the well-being of workers and frontline community members is valued, instead of neglected.

Said Susan Stephenson, executive director of IPL, “I think you will love this offering, because the short films are a perfect length to view in a group and then allow time for discussion at your events, and you can offer the whole series over multiple weeks or evenings! The first two of the three films are approximately 30 minutes each, and the last is 6 minutes. Also, astute viewers will notice a familiar face in one of the films – long-time IPL national chair Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley!”

IPL congregations may register to share these films for free during Faith Climate Action Week, April 14-23, 2023. A screening license is normally $90, but thanks to the generosity of the American Resilience Project, this screening license is FREE to IPL congregations.

Registration to share these films with your congregation is coming in March. Sign up here to be notified when registration is open.

DVDs are available for purchase now through IPL for screening at any time. $25 plus shipping, INCLUDES screening rights (valued at $90.)

Purchase your DVD here.

These films expand on this year’s Faith Climate Action Week theme: Living the Golden Rule: Just Transition to a Clean Energy Economy. The theme examines our responsibility to transition to energy sources that are sustainable and healthy for our communities and Creation.

Purchase your DVD here. 

IPL invites you to screen this film series as part of your celebrations of Earth Month and join the community of people of faith preaching, teaching, and acting to heal the climate in 2023!

All the information you need about film licensing can be found here.

New Mexicans Make Their Voices Heard at EPA Hearings

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The Methane Partnership Campaign, which helped organize people around the country to testify at the Environmental Protection Agency’s three virtual public hearings on January 10-12, deemed the effort a success. These hearings provided an important opportunity for communities across the country to make their voices heard, and demand that EPA adopts strong, comprehensive methane safeguards to protect our health and our planet.

“Over the past three days, 289 advocates across 33 states and 110 organizations testified in support of strong federal methane safeguards – With a total of 297 total speakers, 97% of the total testimony came from folks in this community, and over 99% of all testimony provided was in support,” said Kimberly Gerbert, manager for the Methane Partnership Campaign.

The map provided by the MPC shows was very strong participation from New Mexico residents. Two residents of El Paso affiliated with NMEP-IPL also participated.

Here are the livestreams for Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3

We posted the testimony from folks in New Mexico and El Paso who are connected with New Mexico El Paso Interfaith Power & Light and/or Citizens Caring for the Future on this website and on Twitter.  Here are links to the testimony from some of the participants.

Sister Joan Brown (Albuquerque)
Sister Odile Coirier (El Paso, Texas)
Arcelia Isais-Gastelum (Albuquerque)
Cynthia González (El Paso, Texas)
Sister Marlene Perrotte (Albuquerque)
David Robertson (Albuquerque)
Patricia Sheely (Gallup)
Karen Smith (Albuquerque)
Father Tom Smith (Mesilla Park)
Ruth Striegel (Albuquerque)

Sister Rose Marie Cecchini (Gallup)
Chris Dizon (Hobbs)
Rev. Gene Harbaugh (Carlsbad)
Rev. Lynne Hinton (Albuquerque)
Ann McCartney (Los Lunas)
Ward McCartney (Los Lunas)
Stan Renfro (Jemez Springs)
Pastor Dave Rogers (Carlsbad)
Don Schreiber (Blanco-Four Corners)
Kayley Shoup (Carlsbad)

New Mexicans in partner organizations
Wendy Attcity (Naeva)
Joseph Hernandez (Naeva)
Ana Rios (Moms Clean Air Force)
Shana Oliver (Moms Clean Air Force)
Celerah Hewes (Moms Clean Air Force)
Paige Grant (Sierra Club)
Camila Fiebelman (Sierra Club)
David Weymouth (Sierra Club)
Antoinette Reyes (Sierra Club)
Diana Woods (Sierra Club)
Lawrence Shandler (American Academy of Pediatrics -NM Chapter)
Jeff Thrope (Public Lands Solutions)
Paige Knight (New Mexico Voices for Children)
Kendra Pinto (Earthworks)
Elaine Cimino (Common Ground Rising)