Our World Water Day Observance

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Today is World Water Day. To commemorate the occasion, we created this video using prayers and reflections from Joan Brown, OSF, Terry Sloan (NM-IPL board member), Dr. Larry Rasmussen (NM-IPL advisory board member),  Kathy McCord, Amber Jeansonne, Deirda Velasquez of Valencia Water Watchers; Dodie Hawkins of United Methodist Women; Malcolm Siegel of Water Resources Action Project; Sue Brown from Albuquerque Mennonite Church; and Rev. Vincent Chavez from the Shrine of the Little Flower St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Catholic Church.

 

Earth Web, Green Teams Web

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We recognize that climate change is not merely an economic or technical problem, but rather, at its core, is a moral, spiritual, and cultural one. We, therefore, join together to teach and guide the people who follow the call of our faiths. We must learn to live together within the shared limits of our planet.

(Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change)

 

At NM IPL, we know that much of the work we do would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of our Green Teams, who work to inspire their faith communities to act on climate change. Faith communities have a unique voice in this work, for they can do what economic plans and political programs cannot: create an inner change, a change of heart, igniting transformation toward a new vision of a Whole and Holy, mutually flourishing Earth community. 

One of our New Mexico faith communities leading the spiritual call to this work is Earth Web, the Green Team at First Unitarian Church in Albuquerque. Marilyn O’Boyle, one of their team members, shared with us some of their history and the work they’ve been doing.

Could you share a bit of history about Earth Web and what kind of programs you all have been doing?

The Earth Web Team grew out of the national Unitarian Universalist Association’s Green Sanctuary program. We were one of the first congregations to reach that status and then renewed it by accomplishing other environmental tasks and upgrades. We have been working as a Team since 2002, so we have a long history, with no real gaps. We meet after church on the second Sunday of every month, except for June and July.

We have done various projects and programs, including the adoption of 10 acres along the Rio Grande Bosque, after the burns in 2008. We still care for that land and have expanded it further. We regularly run environmental educational programs using material from the UUA and North West Earth Institute. We won a $1000 award from the national Cool Congregation Challenge a few years ago and used it to buy recycle bins and a monitor for the solar panels on the roof so that people can see the energy savings. We have a Sustainability Fair every May, with a plant sale, vendors, and displays (solar companies, water catchment, seeds, composting, etc.)

What has the team learned throughout this time they’ve been active? Have you had any roadblocks in the work you do?

I think what we have learned is that Earth Web acts on behalf of the congregation. Most UUs believe in climate change, environmental justice, care for the Earth, etc. They support our work and help when asked but mostly want to stay informed. They are happy we are doing what we’re doing. So, we have not had reluctance or negative pushback from the congregation or ministers and have been welcomed to give ‘pulpit editorials’ now and then. We feel very supported and an asset to the church.

What have been some of your more meaningful projects (if you can choose)?

It’s hard to say what the most meaningful work would be. We have also run ‘forums’ several times a year, with various speakers on environmental issues. These have been well attended by the congregation. 

We encouraged and helped with an energy audit many years ago and helped the committee working on installing the solar panels to most of the buildings on our campus. We also have a great xeriscape garden which has been designated as a Wildlife Refuge. Our new sanctuary, built about 5 years ago was awarded a LEED Platinum status, and our newer Social Hall remodel is also quite energy efficient. 

Why do you believe it is vital to have a “green team” or faith communities engaging in this work?

I think it is important to have a ‘green team’ in this present time of meta-crisis. As I mentioned, the congregation supports us, and we help bring everyone forward with our projects and educational efforts.

We all at NM IPL are genuinely thankful for Earth Web’s dedication to living into a new transformative vision of a flourishing Earth. Earth Web is certainly not the only Green Team living into this call. We have so many Green Teams throughout the state who are doing the work (and we will be featuring these Green Teams monthly)! This work is communal and collaborative. Thus, we are hoping to create a web of Green Teams throughout the state who can help empower and inspire each other in this work. 

If you are a budding Green Team (or even a sole Green Individual) in your faith community hoping to get your community more involved in the work of sustainability, join us! We have a Green Team Gathering coming up on Tuesday, March 23rd at 4PM.

REGISTER HERE

New Mexico’s authority to set strong clean air, hazardous waste protections a matter for Our Common Home

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By Sr.  Rose Marie Cecchini, MM,

Office of Life, Peace, Justice & Creation, Catholic Charities of  Gallup Diocese

We live in a beautiful state. We live in a place where ancient and alive cultures continue to teach and remind us that we must care for sacred land, water and our communities. We are to care for our brothers and sisters and Our Common Home. There is wisdom in these ethical values, and yet we are not listening.

For too long, antiquated state laws have limited the regulatory tools available to protect communities from rising threats to our air quality, to our drinking water and our climate. The state and local agencies tasked with protecting our health are hampered by laws that don’t allow them to adopt regulations that are stronger than federal standards.

That’s a problem, especially considering the federal government has rolled back or eliminated dozens of public health and environmental protections over the last four years. New Mexico’s air quality is deteriorating and recent news stories have focused on public health threats from contamination of our groundwater and a legacy of environmental contamination. Pollution poses a serious threat to the health of all New Mexicans but the impacts are not equal – children, Native Americans and those living in poor, rural communities are hardest hit. These are our brothers and sisters. State environmental agencies need the authority necessary to address urgent challenges including the legacy of abandoned, unremediated uranium mine sites, exposing communities to radioactive contamination of water, land and air;  the Delaware-size methane cloud over the Four Corners area of the state impacting climate change.

But we are always given opportunities to begin afresh. This past week, the Senate Finance Committee voted to move Senate Bill 8 forward. SB 8 would empower the Environmental Improvement Board and local air quality boards to better respond to the problems associated with industrial waste and pollution and adopt critical pollution and hazardous waste regulations that go beyond federal standards.

In New Mexico we do have the power to care for one another. We simply cannot rely on the federal government to make the right decisions for us, and our local and state agencies should have the authority to adopt strong public health and environmental protections now for our communities and future generations to come.

In addition to allowing stringent air quality standards, SB 8 would allow the state to consider strong, enforceable limits on emerging groundwater pollutants such as PFAS. According to the New Mexico Environment Department, there is “evidence that exposure to some PFAS chemicals can lead to adverse health effects such as increased cholesterol, reproductive problems and cancer.” PFAS are found in a wide variety of products “including food packaging, nonstick pans and aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) used to extinguish fuel-based fires.”

Senate Bill 8 also would strengthen cleanup standards at polluting facilities like the hazardous waste deposited around Los Alamos National Lab from plutonium processing where local officials worry they don’t have standards necessary to protect drinking water. And it would allow the state to address cleanup at other sites, such as Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base.

We appreciated Senate Finance moving this bill forward. Gallup residents and communities across New Mexico will benefit greatly from public health protections that will be made possible by Senate Bill 8. It is our moral and ethical responsibility to be good neighbors to one another. We call on the State Senate and House to approve Senate Bill 8 as soon as possible and give New Mexico the authority and flexibility it needs so that we can choose life with dignity, health, right livelihood and care for our communities.