Current News

Interfaith Alliance for Environmental Stewardship

Our three major focus points have been plans for Earth Week, joining with other organizations to help thwart oil and gas drilling in Santa Fe County, and raising additional funds to support the Environment Education Resource Center (EERC) at our Santa Fe Southside Branch Library.

Our Earth Week plan focused on helping IPL Unitarian congregation member carry out “Green Sunday,” in which congregation members come to church in a transportation method that makes the smallest possible carbon footprint per person. Everyone who does so receives a public recognition sticker, signs a large bulletin board, and receives recognition from the pulpit and congregation. The topic of the day’s sermon also concerns the eco-justice aspects of global warming /climate change. The transportation used in previous such events has included roller blades, bicycles, car-pooling, park-‘n-walk, buses, hybrids, scooters, and hiking.

The Santa Fe County oil & gas situation is perhaps of more serious concern to our SF-area congregations, both because of the close proximity of the proposed drilling, and the possible impact a nearby oil field would have on fresh water and property values of both congregation members and church properties. So far, however, we have not been able to line up sufficient presentations for congregation groups, but will keep working on it.

We are pleased to report that we have been instrumental in raising an additional $1600 to acquire additional environment-oriented materials for the EERC. When the new materials arrive, we will begin training volunteer presenters of the integrated EERC outreach programs for schools, congregations, and other environmentconcerned organizations.

Doug Stewart, Coordinator
Santa Fe Interfaith Alliance for Environmental Stewardship

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Previous News

Hearings on Desert Rock Power Plant

July 19, 2007, 1 p.m. Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th
Street, NW. (1 block north of I-40), Albuquerque, NM.
July 20, 2007, 1 p.m. Larrazolo Auditorium, Runnels Building,
1190 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM.
Many of you made calls to legislators regarding the Desert Rock Power Plant issue during the New Mexico legislative session. Your efforts assisted in stopping an $85 million tax incentive for the plant.

April 14, 2007 9 am–1 pm
Step It Up Congress! Get Serious About Climate Change!
Rally and Neighborhood Actions. Tiguex Park (across from Science and Art Museums, on Mountain Rd. north of Old Town), Albuquerque, New Mexico
We invite adults, children, citizens, people of faith to join with others in calling on Congress to Step Up and Stand Up for an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions.Organized by New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light and The Sierra Club in cooperation with the City of Albuquerque.
Click here to see photos.

Global Climate Report Released: click here for more information

February 5, Monday, 2–3 PM
Rally to Express Opposition to Desert Rock Power Plant
RoundHouse Rotunda, Santa Fe
Desert Rock Power Plant, proposed coal fire power plant near Farmington, NM would greatly increase CO 2 emissions in New Mexico. Some Navajo People are opposing the plant, even though the Navajo Nation has agreed to have the plant. A coalition of groups including NM Interfaith Power and Light is working to oppose a tax incentive for the plant that will come to this legislative session. (Click here to download sample letter to legislators, click here for photos, and click here to read details of issue. Organizers: Robb Thomson (robbm@toast.net), Lori Goodman, Ben Luce, Holly Beaumont. www.desert-rock-blog.com

February 1, 2007, Thursday, from 8 to 4 pm
Legislative Day for People of Faith Concerned about Energy / Environment.
State Capitol Round House, Santa Fe, NM. Join others from various faith traditions who are concerned about climate change as a moral, ethical, spiritual and justice issue. Sponsored by Stewards of Creation and Partnership for Earth Spirituality.

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 who gather to view An Inconvenient Truth.