Albuquerque Reforestation Meeting
Albuquerque is losing its tree canopy at an alarming rate. As vegetation disappears, our community is at risk to become hotter and drier. You can be part of a solution and help mitigate climate change. Saturday, August 15, 10-12 am at Albuquerque Mennonite Church, 1300 Girard NE, Albuquerque, a forester and arborist from the city will address this concern with solutions. No cost. Part of the event will be strategizing as communities of faith and organizations. E--mail your response/questions to Donna  ddetw_55@yahoo.com  phone- 249-1713.  

Reforest Albuquerque

CFL Light Bulb Distribution Slated for PNM Distribution Areas throughout State
NMIPL is partnering with PNM and Sierra Club for the last round of CFL light bulb distribution beginning NOW. Our goal is to reach outlying areas of the state. In the past two years NMIPL has been part of reducing New Mexico’s carbon footprint by:

• Distribution of 100,000 CFL bulbs at 4 per household to 25,000 households
• Saved 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over a CFL lifespan: or 4,000 tons of CO2 a year for 20 years
• Saved 250,000 milligrams, or 250 grams of mercury from coal fired power plant emission
• Water savings
• Economic savings of $20/household per year or total $500,000
• Education on climate change, engagement in next steps and care for creation

CFLs available again

Thank YOU!
Thank you for contacting your US Representatives regarding the American Clean Energy Act of 2009, HR2454, which passed the House. It is important and not too late to contact your representative thanking them for all their work. Your thoughts of support and concern for the Senate version of the bill are now needed. NMIPL will be sending out alerts and action suggestions. If you are not on the advocacy list for action alerts, please sign on.

350.org Faith Community Call to Raise an Alarming and Joyful Noise
On October 24 at noon, your faith community is invited to ring your church bells 350 times, have your bell choir ring out, make 350 gongs on prayer bell, sound the chafer or invite your choir to stand on the corner and sing 350 notes of a song. NMIPL is raising awareness about climate change and the realization of 350 ppm (parts per million) of CO2 emissions and the upcoming international climate change meeting in Copenhagen. Contact Joan at joankansas@swcp.com if your community wants to participate.

Ring those bells!

Sponsor a Low Carbon Dinner Party
Have fun, raise awareness about food and carbon footprint and raise money for NMIPL. If you are interested in sponsoring a Low Carbon Dinner Party contact us. NMIPL has new materials that are very informative about eating and climate change. Sponsor a party with a purpose!

Joining in the Praise of the Universe:  Rediscovering Creation in the Psalms
The Partnership for Earth Spirituality and Stewards of Creation are sponsoring an engaging workshop and worship experience Saturday, August 29, 2009, 9-3:00 at Las Placitas Presbyterian Church, Placitas, New Mexico. www.earthspirituality.org. for more information and to register.

Let us know what your faith community is doing to care for creation.
Have you done an energy audit? Need help? Need resources? Check out our website www.nm-ipl.org and contact us at info@nm-ipl.org

Check Out Shop IPL—
For great products and savings that care for creation and assist NMIPL
Rebates for energy-efficient appliances are coming -- but the details haven't yet been published. New energy efficiency standards will be expedited for a range of consumer products.You will soon be able to claim a tax credit if you purchase one of many qualifying energy-efficient appliances. If you shop for Sears items through Shop IPL you might save even more. We will keep you posted on upcoming savings.

Religious News on Climate Change from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Orthodox Patriarch Urges Defense of Planet
Writes Message for Today's World Environment Day
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- No one is exempt from the "indisputable obligation" to protect the planet, says the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople. Bartholomew I affirmed that climate change is the biggest threat for all types of life on earth in a message for World Environment Day, Sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program.  http://www.zenit.org/article-26095?l=english

Catholic Encyclical Promotes Environmental Justice & Solidarity
The Vatican released the Holy Father's encyclical letter, Caritas In Veritate or Charity in Truth, focusing primarily on international economic issues to promote the common good and concerns of global warming. The fourth chapter addresses "The development of people, rights and duties, the environment." 
The pope says that, "The environment is God's gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole."  "In nature, the believer recognizes the wonderful result of God's creative activity, which we may use responsibly to satisfy our legitimate needs, material or otherwise, while respecting the intrinsic balance of creation."

The encyclical further states: "the protection of the environment, of resources and of the climate obliges all international leaders to act jointly and to show a readiness to work in good faith, respecting the law and promoting solidarity with the weakest regions of the planet."

The eco evangelist
Xan Rice, The Observer
While recovering from a brain hemorrhage, Craig Sorley had an epiphany – to spread the environmental word using the Bible. He took his green gospel to Kenya – now crop yields are up, the monkeys are back and even the Church is won over.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/07/eco-evangelist-craig-sorley

John B. Cobb Jr. issues challenge to the UCC
Written by Staff Reports
The Rev. John B. Cobb Jr., foremost known as the lead proponent of "process theology", has called on the United Church of Christ to lead all Christians in a mission of ecological and social transformation. Cobb made his remarks before the annual meeting of the UCC's Southern California – Nevada Conference on June 5, 2009.  In Cobb's own words, his challenge consists of "proposing that the United Church of Christ take as its mission working with God for the salvation of the world.”   http://www.ucc.org/news/cobb-challenge.html

Alberta bishops raise ethical concerns about nuclear power
By Jamie Hall, EdmontonJournal.com  
EDMONTON — Alberta’s Catholic bishops have entered the political fray over nuclear power, saying serious ethical questions must be addressed before any decision can be made about whether or not to establish nuclear reactors in the province.

“Much of the discussion so far has focused on scientific issues, cost issues, technological issues, all of which are very important,” Archbishop Richard Smith, president of the Alberta Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Wednesday.  “But what we would like to suggest as well is that there are other ethical questions that really ought to be brought into the discussion.”  http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Life/Alberta+bishops+raise+ethical+
concerns+about+nuclear+power/1705522/story.html

For Cizik, it’s suddenly a lot easier being green
By Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service
Washington (RNS)--Fellow evangelicals long have criticized Richard Cizik, who resigned under pressure from the National Association of Evangelicals in December, for being a little too green.

Emerging from a self-imposed media blackout, Cizik is back, and he’s wearing the label of converted conservationist even more comfortably now. “I have become a conservative who, by some people’s definition, has become a liberal,” Cizik said during a meeting on climate change in May. “I am not a liberal. I am a conservative who, of all things, believes that some people should become conservationists.”
http://www.baptiststandard.com/

Empty chairs at climate talks 'will symbolize' those who can't speak
By Stephen Brown
When international talks about climate change open in Copenhagen in December, there should be three empty chairs at the conference table, a Church of Sweden expert on sustainable development has urged. Lutheran pastor the Rev. Henrik Grape wants three chairs left empty at all future talks on climate issues to symbolize non-participants - the poor, future generations, and creation itself.

"Climate change has become a question of survival, especially for the poor and vulnerable, who will be the first to suffer," said participants at a 17 June meeting in Brussels about the ethical dimension of climate change, where Grape made his proposal about the empty chairs. http://www.melbourne.anglican.com.au/main.php?pg=news&news_id=20852&s=157

Sikhs in Collaboration with United Nations to respond to climate change and Global warming
Punjab Newsline Network   
WASHINGTON DC: The Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) has partnered with the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to help make the world greener by announcing the launch of a new initiative called EcoSikh.

EcoSikh is the Sikh community’s contribution to the UNARC Seven Year Plan project, whose aim is to help the world’s major religions create long term, plans to improve their relationship with the environment. The plans, in which each tradition celebrates its unique relationship with the environment and puts its teachings on ecology into action, will be launched at a major Event at Windsor Castle this November, and will also be used to inform the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen this December.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/17415/38/

How Confucianism could curb global warming
China openly debates the role of Eastern thought in sustainability
By James Miller
Kingston, Ontario - Now here's a curveball to secular Western policy experts: China's intellectuals are openly debating the role of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in promoting the Communist Party's vision of a harmonious society and ecologically sustainable economic development.

Nowhere is the question of what to do about the environment more vital than in China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases – especially because scientists agree that climate change disproportionately affects the poor and the disenfranchised and that climate change will affect future generations far more than the present. Yet the general impression of China's role in issues relating to environment is one of foot-dragging because it hasn't bought into a Western model to address it.

But Pan Yue, China's vice minister for environmental protection, is calling for China to capitalize on traditional Chinese religions in promoting ecological sustainability.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0626/p09s01-coop.html