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Patagonia's Environmental Activism Page
From mission statements to multimedia resources to annual reports, this page displays projects essential to Patagonia's sustainability efforts as a business as well as an environmentalist community. The site can serve as an inspiration template for organizations and businesses when seeking ideas for storytelling and communications with a wider audience. -
A Bahá'í Compilation on Soil and Earth
This compilation gathers a selection of references to soil, earth and minerals in the Bahá'í Writings, including the ways these are referred to both symbolically and literally.
Contents:
Mineral Kingdom
Agriculture
Metaphorical Uses
Humility
Earth as Tomb
Rain on Soil
Fertile versus Barren
Cultivation - Divine Education -
Indigenous environmental justice and sustainability
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
Volume 43, April 2020, Pages 35-40 -
Religious Affiliation and Environmental Challenges in the 21st Century
This paper researches the relationship of religion and environment in the 21st century. They do this by studying religious affiliations from all over the world, and comparing and contrasting their results to examine the impacts those affiliations have on the environment. -
Lessons from Islamic Environmentalism: Interconnection, Structural Change, and the Limitations of Religious Environmentalism
In this article, Rosemary Hancock explores the lessons of religious environmentalism within the Islamic faith and discusses how these lessons were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and the current environmental crisis. -
American Jewish World Service- Land, Water, and Climate Justice: Story Collection
The American Jewish World Service compiled a website of their outreach stories from the US, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Reflections from work with Indigenous communities are included as well. The environmental activism showcased on their website also defend women and their crucial involvement with agriculture and the environment. From the website;
"We aid communities and movements organizing to protect the land, water and natural resources that people depend on for their survival".
More information on how to get involved is listed on their website. -
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying
"After too many years of unfulfilling work, Bronnie Ware began searching for a job with heart. Despite having no formal qualifications or experience, she found herself working in palliative care.Over the years she spent tending to the needs of those who were dying, Bronnie's life was transformed. Later, she wrote an Internet blog about the most common regrets expressed to her by the people she had cared for. The article, also called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, gained so much momentum that it was read by more than three million people around the globe in its first year. At the requests of many, Bronnie now shares her own personal story.Bronnie has had a colourful and diverse past, but by applying the lessons of those nearing their death to her own life, she developed an understanding that it is possible for people, if they make the right choices, to die with peace of mind. In this book, she expresses in a heartfelt retelling how significant these regrets are and how we can positively address these issues while we still have the time.The Top Five Regrets of the Dying gives hope for a better world. It is a story told through sharing her inspiring and honest journey, which will leave you feeling kinder towards yourself and others, and more determined to live the life you are truly here to live. This delightful memoir is a courageous, life-changing book." -
Inflation Reduction Act Resources to Help You Electrify Your Home
"The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest climate and clean energy investment America has ever made, with strategic incentives to make the transition to clean energy and a decarbonized life easy, financially smart, and equitable.
It created programs to help you go electric — swapping out your old, fossil-fueled appliances for new, clean electric ones — over the next ten years. The IRA’s home energy offerings include upfront discounts, tax credits, and low-cost financing that together provide a substantial pot of money for every household to electrify the machines they rely on — the cars they drive, how they heat the air and water in their homes, cook their food, dry their clothes and get their power — regardless of income level.
Much of the solution to the climate crisis is just doing two things: getting all the carbon out of our electricity supply, and then electrifying everything we can.
As people of faith and conscience, shifting our household energy use to efficient technologies that use renewable energy is an opportunity to help bring about climate justice based on our shared values: caring for one another and our common home.
Jamal Lewis, Director of Policy Partnerships and Equitable Electrification for Rewiring America, joins us for a conversation on electrification, what it looks like, and what federal resources are available to help you do it.
Join us to learn more about the incentives that will be available to help make your home healthier and more efficient." -
Climate and Energy Resources for Faith Communities: A Briefing with the U.S. Department of Energy
"The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) created the largest climate and clean energy investment America has ever made. These bills provide federal funding for energy and climate resiliency improvements that can be used in houses of worship and our individual homes. This historic legislation provides people of faith and conscience with an opportunity to live our values of caring for one another and for our Sacred Earth. The IRA included clean energy tax credits for wind and solar, EVs, efficiency upgrades, heat pumps, and much more. It also made it easier for nonprofits and houses of worship to access clean energy funds and tax credits through a program called 'direct pay.' Before the IRA, only homeowners and commercial entities with some tax liability could claim tax credits when installing solar panels or other eligible technologies on an eligible property. Now, the 'direct pay' option means non-taxable entities can also benefit from these credits.
Join us for a briefing with the U.S. Department of Energy to learn more about direct pay, the tax credits, the programs, and the role faith communities can play in helping our country address the climate crisis and ensure that all communities are supported.
If you aren't able to attend, you can still register, and we will send the recording out to everyone who registered." -
In Deep Waters: Spiritual Care for Young People - an author conversation with Talitha Aho
"Join us for a captivating webinar as author Talitha Aho engages in a thought-provoking conversation about her book, 'In Deep Waters: Spiritual Care for Young People in a Climate Crisis.'
Discover how the climate crisis impacts the younger generation and the importance of offering ecologically informed spiritual care. Talitha will also discuss practical ways to care for and respect God's world, drawing on science, Scripture, and her expertise.
Whether you are a caring adult, a member of Generation Z, or simply interested in the intersection of Christianity and the environment, this webinar is not to be missed. Join us for an enlightening dialogue that will deepen your understanding, provide actionable strategies, and ignite hope in the face of our planet's challenges." -
UN Environment Programme Faith-Based Activities Compilation
"The World Environment Day is a UN day celebrated to promote awareness and inspire action. It has been celebrated since 1974. The event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries...In the celebration of World Environment Day, 482 faith-based related activities were organized all around the world" -
Compassion, Pollution & Community Health
This event was created to help people learn about and discuss the health impacts of methane pollution and how to create positive change with the environment and community. -
Magic Mushrooms in Religion and Alchemy
This book discusses the roles that the fly agaric mushroom played in human perceptions of God through many religions. The same religious practices and stories present in some of the most prevalent religions of today can be explained by the beliefs held about Amanita muscaria. As it was thought to be eaten by the Gods, when humans consume it, they become closer to the divine. -
A Glimpse at the Reality Existing After Ours through Near-Death Experiences
This chapter from the student-written book “Emerging Perspectives on Religion and Environmental Values in America” explores the phenomenon of near death experiences through several first-hand accounts. The author explores the spiritual aspect of these experiences and compares and contrasts each instance. Below is the first paragraph of the chapter to introduce the discussion.
"Near-death experiences (NDEs) are gateways for the soul—a profound, transformative experience that has taken place for some who have kissed death and returned. It is estimated that NDEs affect 1 in 10 people (The European Academy of Neurology, 2019). At best, these experiences are dismissed as wild dreams or hallucinations, but we struggle to make sense of what they are. One way some scientists have been trying to explain the reality of near-death experiences is in the connection between psychedelics and psychology. Dr. Rick Strassman (2001), a psychologist who has done extensive research on the topic, is one among many hypothesizing that NDEs are a result of the hallucinogenic chemical dimethyltryptamine, or DMT for short. He suspects that DMT is produced in the pineal gland of the brain, which is an area of the brain we still know little about. Because of the pineal gland’s connection to light (what we do know is that it produces melatonin, a hormone that regulates both the reproductive system and the circadian rhythm), it has been spiritually associated with many ideas of a higher conscious and enlightenment such as the third-eye, crown chakra, and the seat of the soul. Strassman infers that DMT is produced in times of birth, near-death, death, and intense pain." -
Humans as Part of Nature: The Benefits of Time Spent Outdoors for Mental Health
This chapter from the student-written book “Emerging Perspectives on Religion and Environmental Values in America” explores the impact of connecting with nature and the environment on mental health. The author describes their own experiences with mental health problems and healing through activities in nature to frame this issue. Below is the first paragraph of the chapter to introduce the discussion.
"In the summer of 2019, I was a high-school junior going to be a senior the coming year, going on a SCUBA trip out of state with my specialized environmental science class so that I could finish up my certification. This time in life at the end of high school but before college is widely regarded as the most fun and free time for a young person. A time where you’re so close to the end of the life that your parents and the state have laid out for you and still far from the stresses of choosing for yourself in life and dealing with the repercussions of those choices. This expectation was far from where I was at that point in my life." -
Near Death Experiences and their Implications for the Afterlife
This chapter from the student-written book “Emerging Perspectives on Religion and Environmental Values in America” explores the science as well as the spirituality behind near-death experiences. The author assesses hypotheses behind this phenomenon and describes some examples of them occurring. Below is the first paragraph of the chapter to introduce the discussion.
"What happens after death is a mystery that humans all over the world have speculated on since the beginning of time. In many religions, there is a sense of certainty among the followers regarding what to expect when they pass, as promised by God or a higher power they worship. Although no one really knows for sure, the closest we have come to proving the reality of the afterlife are the stories told by people who have had near death experiences, or even died temporarily and came back to life. Spiritual revelations during these incidents are a cross-cultural phenomenon felt all over the world, with details that overlap and hint at the answer to this unsolved mystery." -
An Insight into Wilderness Therapy
This chapter from the student-written book “Emerging Perspectives on Religion and Environmental Values in America” explores the benefits of nature and being in the wild for mental health. The author uses research on wilderness therapy as well as her own experiences to discuss this relationship. Below is the first paragraph of the chapter to introduce the discussion.
"Nature has so many captivating qualities. Whether it be the rustle of summer green leaves, the indescribable blue of the sky on a clear day, or the countless creatures that scurry across the earth’s floor, I always find myself amazed by its peculiar yet familiar structure. Nature is something that is often taken for granted. Yes, individuals are constantly reminded of its presence, but do we often think of its value? For me, the wilderness has been a place of refuge and comfort. Somewhere that I look to when I am feeling lost and confused." -
By the Sun: A Home Solar Workshop by Green Muslims and IPL-DMV 2023
"Join Green Muslims and Interfaith Power & Light as we gather to learn how we might power our homes with clean energy -- "wash shamsi wa duhaa haa," by the sun and its brightness! (Quran 91:1)
Along with members of Masjid Muhammad and other local masajid ... you're invited to learn about and consider joining Solar United Neighbors (SUN)'s open solar purchasing groups for homeowners in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia.
Together we:
- Reflected on the Muslim call to be khalifa - stewards - of our world
- Heard from Sis. Bayinah Shaheed whose home is powered by the sun
- Connected with Sukrit Mishra from Solar United Neighbors, which is convening solar purchasing groups this summer.
- Asked your questions about going solar at home
- Started your solar journey
- DC, NoVA, & Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick Counties MD: https://www.bit.ly/SolarSwitchIPL
- Baltimore & surrounding counties: https://www.energyprograms.civicworks...
(Calligraphy in illustration is text of Surah 91 Ash-Shams by Everitte Barbee: https://www.saatchiart.com/.../Drawin...)" -
Fairmount Presbyterian Church achieves another environmental milestone
"Each year, the Cleveland 2030 District and the NEO Local Leadership Team of USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) Ohio host a friendly green building challenge to recognize exemplary new green construction and renovation projects in this region. In May, the winning entries were announced and—among recipients such as Oberlin College, the Progressive Insurance Campus, and the Maltz Performing Arts Center—Cleveland Heights Fairmount Presbyterian Church (FPC) was recognized for its work in achieving a 50% electricity use reduction." -
Moving Forward: A Guide to Climate Action For Your Congregation and Community
This guide was created by ecoAmerica and the Blessed Tomorrow coalition. It includes actions that individuals, household, and community groups can take with regard to the eliminating of pollution, conserving energy, transitioning to clean power. It also focuses on supporting policies that support care for creation. -
Catholic Diocese of Columbus: Creation Care Guide
The Creation Care Team of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus has created a Creation Care Guide based on the teachings of Laudato Si’. This guide contains information on energy conservation and efficiency, purchasing and recycling, transportation, and water conservation. Additionally, they have a section on making Laudato Si’ more accessible to younger generations. The inspiration for this guide came from the Archdiocese of Atlanta who wrote a document titled, An Action Plan for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta. -
Interfaith Power and Light
"Interfaith Power & Light effort began in 1998 with Episcopal Power & Light and the support of Grace Cathedral as a unique coalition of Episcopal churches aggregated to purchase renewable energy. In 2000, this Episcopal effort broadened its focus, brought in other faith partners, and California Interfaith Power & Light was born.
California IPL developed a successful organizational model that engaged hundreds of congregations, educated thousands of people of faith about the moral and ethical mandate to address global warming, and helped pass California’s landmark climate and clean energy laws. Building on California’s success, this model has now been adopted by 40 state affiliates, and we are working to establish Interfaith Power & Light programs in every state.
The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham, IPL founder, has brought widespread attention to the link between religious faith and the environment. As one of the first faith leaders to fully recognize global warming as a core moral issue, she has mobilized thousands of religious people to put their faith into action through energy stewardship. Sally continues to serve IPL as a President Emeritus." -
The Rewiring America Handbook: A Guide to Winning the Climate Fight
"The COVID-19 pandemic showed the world the dire consequences of ignoring science and its predictions of global crises. But the pandemic was just a rehearsal for the climate disasters humanity will face – unless we act now.
In his new book, Rewiring America, Saul Griffith, PhD argues that we can still address the threat of climate change, but only if we respond with a massive war-time mobilization effort to transform the fossil fuel economy into a fully electrified one, run on wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. Based on the vast data about energy flows in the U.S. economy that his company, Otherlab, has mapped, Griffith details how to not only save us from climate disaster, but to help us enjoy a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous future." -
Compostable
"A compostable outhouse made from recycled/reused wood and aluminum, built with tools fueled by solar and biodiesel." Taken by Ashley Murphy. Submitted to the RESTORExchange Sustainability Photo Contest. -
On Top of a Sustainable World
"On top of a Sustainable World: this photo shows the view from the top of Volcan de Pacaya just outside of Antigua, Guatemala. In the background a set of windmills can be seen and just at the foot of the volcano is an eco-turism hub that uses hydroponics to grow produce in the volcanic soil. I paused when taking this photo to pause and think about what a sustainable built environment could look like with windmills replacing non-sustainable power plants, agriculture and local food production becoming a norm, living locally with access to public transportation, and equal access to opportunities." Taken by Mikayla Carey. Submitted to the RESTORExchange Sustainability Contest.