Green Sanctuary

If you went to the UUA’s General Assembly in Charlotte, NC last year you may have been present for (or watched via live-streaming) the heart-felt debate and vote for the 2011 Statement on Conscious Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice.

If you’re involved in Unitarian Universalist Association issues you may have been aware of th3 2008-2012 Congregational Study Action Issue: Ethical Eating.

If you’ve been in the market for food you may have seen an increase in “CSAs,” “farmers markets,” “organic gardens,” “community gardens,” “sustainable gardens” etc.

If you’ve been to a store you may have noticed the increase of “sustainable,” “organic,” “green,” “natural,” “GMO-free,” etc products.

Or maybe you’ve just recognized that people are talking about food a lot more today than they were say 10-20 years ago.  Saturday, the New York Times published the article “The Myth of Sustainable Meat.”

So the topic of food seems to be everywhere. Yes, we eat everyday, and I’d contend that most of people in the middle-to-upper class in the USA did little thinking about how the food they ate everyday affected others. Climate Change is impacting our planet’s ability to produce food and there are a whole other list of issues that are impacting the World’s Food Economy.

Rev. Peter Morales, the Unitarian Universalist Association’s President, has appointed a President’s Advisory Council on Ethical Eating.  This appointment demonstrates a commitment on the part of the UUA to follow-through with the SOC: Ethical Eating.  I highly encourage folks to check out the Ethical Eating website on UUA.org to learn more about the community the that is flowing from this creation and our continued dedication to this important subject.

If you’ve exhausted the resources on the Ethical Eating website and want to bring the subject back to your congregation you may want to investigate using one of the Nortwest Earth Institute‘s discussion courses: Hungry for Change and Menu for the Future.  While Hungry for Change is a newer curriculum, Menu for the Future has been used over the past several years by many UU congregations.  These curricula are helpful in educating people to thoughtfully about Ethical Eating.

This year Earth Day falls on Sunday, April 22nd.  If your congregation is planning on celebrating Earth Day please consider reporting your community’s action to the UU Ministry for Earth

Totem Salmon: Life Lessons from Another Species
by Freeman House
Published by Beacon Press

Because it was about salmon in the Pacific Northwest, this book was hard for me to read.  Periodically I found myself bored  But then I remembered something I’d told others about when I was running a book group:  boredom can be a sign of resistance, and if you dig deeper you might find something underneath that boredom that you really didn’t want to see.   What I found was a profound feeling of disconnection.  Disconnection from the food I eat, the products I buy, the consequences of those purchases.  This book is all about connection, but since I was (at the time of reading it) so vastly disconnected that I’d lost the ability to even recognize the problem.

If you have an interest in Native American ecological perspectives, or would like to read a detailed account of what a local grassroots environmental action looks like when it’s serious, this is the book for you.  It’s lyrical prose will lure you into a deep reflection on the state of food practices, an indeed life itself.  This book is deeply spiritual, and you may find yourself surprised with the depth of meaning you take away from its pages.

Three Unitarian Universalist congregations were recognized at this year’s California Interfaith Power & Light 5^th Annual Energy Oscars.

Representatives of UU San Francisco (David Jones and Margaret Pearce, second and third from left), UU Santa Cruz County (Deborah Pembrook, second from right), UU Fresno - Mary McDonough (far left) and Connie Young (far right) at the Energy Oscars. Photo by Rick Johnson

This article was kindly submitted by Margaret Pearce on behalf of Don Williams.

Green Building Finalist, First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

California Interfaith Power and Light (CA IPL) listed First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco (FUUSSF) as a Finalist in the Green Building category for the Society’s new 21.5 KW solar system, lighting retrofit, and innovative “Trash Talking” educational campaign on recycling and composting.  In addition FUUSSF’s Green Committee energetically move the congregation into strong advocacy for climate and energy policy, and participation in San Francisco’s Moving Planet Day of Climate and Action.  FUUSSF also is in final documentation process for Green Sanctuary status from the UUA because of the congregation’s hard work in the following areas:

• worship and celebration
• Religious Education
• environmental justice
• and sustainable living

Advocacy Oscar Finalist, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County

Advocacy Oscar finalists Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County (UUFSCC)  with leadership of UU Legislative Ministry installed solar, energy efficient lighting, used captive and stored rainwater and involved the wider community in the promotion of:

• Energy and Climate Legislation
• Desalinization Alternatives
• Simple Living
• Ethical Eating
• Save Our Shores

Education Oscar Winner, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno

The Education classification winner, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno (UUCF), built a LEED-certified building, installed solar panels and hosted an Earth Day Celebration with the Fresno Earth Day Coalition to educate the whole community on environmental and climate stewardship.

The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community
David Korten (Actor), Robin Mallgren (Director) 2006

This movie provides a whirlwind overview of the multiple socio-political-economic strands feeding into the tangled knot of environmental destruction and looming oil crisis we are leaving for our children and grandchildren.  David Korten makes the case that largely the knot is tangled by the stories we tell about who we are as a species, how we do business, and what political structures best ensure our survival.  The most tragic part of these stories is that they may actually run counter to our survival as a species. By changing our stories we can change the way we approach each other and how we do business, which will ultimately increase our chances of survival.

As I approach the end of a master’s in sustainable communities, I can attest to the truth in Korten’s reasoning.  Because this is an overview, he doesn’t lay out in a way that will convince the unconverted.  However, the areas where he is less than convincing may entice viewers to conduct a bit of research on their own. I would suggest holding a discussion group after this movie so that you have an opportunity to assess the group for any frustrations with those limitations, and bring them around to a place of curiosity instead.

The extremely positive conclusion at the end is Korten’s focus on the solution, which again finds strong support in the world of sustainability: we must forge community where we are, and find common ground with our neighbors.  We cannot rely upon governmental bodies or corporate entities to make decisions that are in our best interest.  Instead, we must join together one relationship at a time to create a strong community that shares a vision of a more just and sustainable world.

I have yet to read his book, which I hear is fabulous.  I can envision this movie being the lure that sparks interest in forming a book group that delves deeper into the questions raised. If you’re interested in reading the book, which goes into greater detail, the Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economy page can provide you with information on how to order a packet including the book, CD of David Korten’s slides from General Assembly 2006, and supplemental materials.

After a congregation has achieved Green Sanctuary Accreditation I always encourage them to “begin to assemble a “scrapbook” which shares information about your Green Sanctuary movement – congregations create these in many different way; some use their applications, some include orders of service, newsletter columns, fliers about special events, and pictures, some write storybooks about the journey, and some come up with new ideas that we’ve never seen before.”

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick took this task to heart.  Sandi Smith-Gill sent me an email encouraging me to take a look at the “just finished Green Sanctuary pictoral history – which started as a project to send for the reception at the GA, but ended up taking 3 months to finish.”  I opened their scrapbook and was impressed by the amount of time and effort that was put into pulling it together.  I was equally impressed with how well they did at sharing lots of information and showing that lots of people from the congregation had been involved in the project.

I don’t expect all scrapbooks to look like this, each is individual and unique.  And I encourage you to look at what they’ve done for inspiration for projects as well as what a scrapbook might look like.  I have a feeling that the UU Congregation of Frederick will have a printed version of this book in their congregation for many, many years.

By Tim Magner
Illustration by Lindsay Knapp

This coming of age tale details the developmental trajectory of Earl the earthworm, from the moment he hatches from his tiny cocoon until he realizes his important Earthy destiny.  Children will relate to Earl’s process of self-discovery as he encounters other species.  He sees that the ants are much stronger than he, the trees much larger, and the bees have the power of flight.  But only through following his inner wisdom does he come to recognize his own special gifts and his important role in sustaining the lives around him.  At the bottom of each page are factoids about earthworms and other microbial soil-dwelling organisms.  The glossy, richly colored illustrations engage the reader’s focus on this lowliest of creatures, whom, as we learn from one footnote, “Charles Darwin declared the most important animal in the history of the world.”  This book makes an excellent companion to the Compost Stew book, as both books mention the importance of worms in the creation of compost.

World as Lover, World as Self:  Courage for Global Justice and Ecological Renewal
Written by Joanna Macy, PhD
Parallax Press
2007

World as Lover, World as Self, written by Joanna Macy, a Buddhist scholar, eco-philosopher and spiritual activist, counters the standard notion that true enlightenment leads to withdrawal from all worldly concerns.  To the contrary, says Macy, it leads to the fortitude necessary to address them. Three themes emerge from this reading relevant to the very important work involved in your congregational Green Sanctuaries projects: the dynamic tension between despair and hope, the need to develop a larger sense of self in order to address global problems, and the benefits of spiritual practice in sustaining one’s commitment to creating social change.

Macy rightly devotes an entire chapter to the necessity of despair work in order to move forward to create solutions for these massive problems, stating “of all the dangers we face, from climate chaos to nuclear warfare, none is so great as the deadening of our response.” We cannot heal what we cannot feel.  Once we begin to heal, we develop a profound sense of what our role in what the UU Seventh Principle says is “the interconnected web of existence of which we are all a part.”

Development of this larger sense of self hinges on the theory of co-arising.  Not only that, the Buddhist theory of co-arising “frees us from having to have it all figured out ahead of time, for the solutions arise as we walk the path and meet each other on the road.”  It allows for the possibility that although previous attempts have resulted in failure, solutions may yet arise, provided we persist in moving toward them.

Most importantly, Macy beautifully articulates the vital link between spiritual practice and faith. Joanna Macy states that “it becomes clear that unless you have some roots in a spiritual practice that holds life sacred and encourages joyful communion with all your fellow beings, facing the enormous challenge ahead becomes nearly impossible.”

I strongly recommend this book for anyone seeking to participate in their Green Sanctuaries Program as an enriching spiritual practice, rather than another thing on your to-do list.

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.
Dir. Faith Morgan.
The Community Solution.
2006.

I saw this movie a week ago and I can’t stop talking about it. It is absolutely the most uplifting movie I have yet seen on the topic of the multiple pending environmental disasters towards which the human species seems to be careening.  With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Cuba abruptly lost 80% of its import-export business.  For a tiny island producing only three cash crops and heavily dependent on foreign oil, foreign food, and petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides for the food they did produce this was catastrophic.

Immediately they faced what oil geologists tell us we will all face: a peak oil crisis.  Peak oil is the term used to describe the phenomenon experienced when the production of oil, a finite resource, reaches its peak and begins to rapidly decline.  In short, we will run out of oil.  We in America, similar to Cubans in the late 80’s, are dependent upon petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers, and oil-guzzling tractors and combines as well.

The situation in Cuba was dire.  People on their way to work had to wait four hours for a bus, only to find that there was no work due to power outages or lack of supplies.  They then had to wait another four hours for a bus home.  Within weeks, children were showing signs of malnutrition and babies with low birth weight were born.

I will not ruin the surprise and tell you how they got themselves out of that mess, but only that they did and how they did it is a lesson for all of us, which is what makes the movie so uplifting and worth seeing.  As a sneak peak, I will say that currently, 50% of the food in Havana is grown by organic urban agriculture.  My friend who’s a habitat biologist tells me their coral reef is the healthiest on the planet.  That means there’s hope for Earth yet.

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of this very special day, we thought it might be timely to post some information about environmental service projects that youth might be interested in. Activism is essential, and today’s youth are strong advocates for Earth justice. For those of you out there looking to engage in some projects on Earth day, or in the days and weeks that follow (or, even better yet…everyday!) here are some ideas. These all come from a book by Barbara A. Lewis, titled The Kid’s Guide to Service Projects. There is an entire chapter dedicated to environmental service projects, and here are a few of my favorites. Some of these projects will be ongoing, some of them can be a one-time event. While these are very general, the idea is for individuals to take the service project and adapt it to the area in which you live. Enjoy!

• Plant a garden on your school grounds
• Encourage your school to recycle paper, newsprint, cardboard, glass, plastics, aluminum cans, chemistry lab wastes, etc.
• Hold an environmental fair at your school
• When you shop for school supplies, buy folders and notebooks made from recycled paper.
• See if your school with agree to switch to recycled paper products for the whole school (office paper, stationary, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.)
• Make presentations on environmental issues to community groups, local garden clubs, the health department, PTA, mayor’s council, and other organizations in your area
• Work with your neighborhood or community to clean up abandoned buildings and vacant lots
• Volunteer to help with neighborhood curbside recycling pick up
• Try to get a state or city ordinance passed requiring deposits on recyclables
• Organize a carpooling campaign to cut down on air pollution, or organize a “Bike it” campaign
• Start a compost pile with natural refuse
• Check your tap water at home for lead or chemicals
• Take household toxic waste to a proper facility

There are many more ideas on how to get involved in community activism and Earth justice, and these are just a few general ideas that may help you get started. Remember, while some people may think that Earth day is only one day a year, we must encourage them to treat everyday like Earth day- participating in events and ongoing projects like these show that we are actively participating in Earth day everyday of the year!

Starring Colin Beavan and Michelle Conlin
Directed by Laura Gabbert & Justin Schein
Rated: NR
2010

This movie won’t change your life, but it will give you some food for thought and spark some conversation.  It’s lighthearted and entertaining, and  worth seeing. In 2006 Colin Beavan decided to live a “no impact” life for a year, bringing his wife and daughter along for the ride.  Many reviewers have commented that its biggest obstacle of the movie comes right at the beginning, which is Beavan himself.  Initially, he’s not very likable.  He’s easy to pick on and dislike.

He goes to ridiculous extremes in his effort to “leave only footprints” on the Earth for a whole year.  For example, he outlaws toilet paper, starts a worm bin in the kitchen, and goes six months without electricity.  Somehow, via solar panels, he maintains an active blog site, allowing in the flood of criticism his radical choices draws from mainstream America.  You will want to criticize him, too.  But in the end you will find yourself won over by his sheer humanity.  Toward the end the documentary films him talking to school children about his project, which are by far the deepest, most moving moments of the film and redeem the entire project.  You can see exactly how much he’s learned in a year, regardless of how self-serving his initial motives may have been.

Watching this small family go through the struggles involved in this project raises questions for each of us.  How far am I willing to go for the environment?  Which impacts are necessary, and which others can I forgo for the sake of my commitment to economic and environmental justice?  How do I engage the seven principles—which include the use of the democratic process in decision-making—when engaging other members of my family in making lifestyle changes to promote sustainability?