FAITH LEADERS IN ALBUQUERQUE CALL GLOBAL WARMING THREAT TO CREATION

Unprecedented Event Joins Hundreds of Thousands of People of All Faiths in Over 4,000 Congregations Across Country

Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 21, 2006: A sign of hope in troubled times, leaders from all faiths are joining forces to mobilize a religious response to global warming. In Albuqueruqe, the New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) has organized over 20 local churches and congregations in Albuquerque and some 45 state-wide to participate in Interfaith Power & Light’s “Spotlight on Global Warming” an unprecedented inter-religious nationwide screening of educational films about global warming, featuring Paramount’s An Inconvenient Truth, and HBO’s Too Hot Not to Handle.

“Global warming is a threat to God’s creation,” said Sister Joan Brown, a Franciscan who works in Ecology Ministry and is a member of the Steering Committee of NM IPL, and a threat to all people across the globe, particularly the poor. “Our goal is to educate and engage our congregants to take personal and collective action to reduce global warming emissions.”

“Spotlight on Global Warming” screenings are taking place in large cities and small towns, across the country — from Dallas, Texas to Brunswick, Maine. “People of all religious and political beliefs share a common concern over the risk global warming poses to our planet,” said Sally Bingham, founder of Interfaith Power & Light, a nondenominational, nonpartisan ministry that helps congregations of all faiths to reduce global warming emissions.

Participating congregations will provide educational materials to attendees and feedback on the event to Interfaith Power & Light. Twenty-two congregations and faith communities will conduct a series of activities surrounding the screening including: classes for children, discussions, sermons, recruiting members for NM IPL, engaging action to address global warming in New Mexico as a response to Governor Richardson’s Task Force on Global Warming.

“Everyone has a stake and a role in reducing global warming emissions. Working together we can change history. We invite you to join us,” said Rev. Frank Yates, Pastor of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church who has seen the film and believes it is an educational tool to engage faith communities to work on Global Warming.

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