Sister Joan Brown Joins National IPL President in Support of Pope Francis’ Laudate Deum

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“Pope Francis again calls us to engage with concerns of economic inequity, greed, food and water, fossil fuel use, and destruction of Earth that are part of a climate warming world. This past summer we all faced stark realities of increased warming and resulting suffering. In calling out the abuse of power in our world while more and more suffer, we are invited with more urgency to use our voices of faith for change as we face ‘breaking point’. Ultimately we must act out of great love for great change.” –Sister Joan Brown, executive director of Interfaith Power & Light New Mexico and El Paso

When Pope Francis released his follow-up document  to Laudato Si in early October, the national Interfaith Power & Light issued a statement in support of the pope’s new encyclical Laudate Deum.  The IPL statement quoted two faith leaders, national president Susan Hendershot and our own Sister Joan Brown.

Rev. Hendershot also published  a joint op-ed with other faith partners in the National Catholic Reporter.

The published piece has links to two other relevant articles in the NCR

Related: Editorial: Climate action requires interfaith collaboration

Related: Faith groups to G7 leaders: Peace requires a fossil fuel treaty

Catholic Climate Covenant also issued a statement in support of the encyclical offered a plan on how we can respond to the pontiff’s new exhortation.

Stay tuned for more resources related to Laudate Deum.

 

Faith Leaders, IPL Supporters Testify at Hearing on Advanced Clean Vehicle Standards

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The Environmental Improvement Board and Albuquerque Bernalillo Air Quality Board were holding public hearings on Nov. 13-15 to dteremine whether or not to adopt the proposed Advanced Clean Vehicle Standards.

Members of the public had the opportunity to testify on the new standards.  We have compiled from faith leaders and supporters of Interfaith Power & Light New Mexico & El Paso (Sister Joan Brown, John Maddaus, Ruth Striegel, Clara Sims, Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev, Rev. Dr. Rob Woodruff) on this page.

Op-Ed: Clean Cars standards benefit rural New Mexicans

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In support of the Clean Cars and Trucks rulemaking beginning today, this opinion piece by Joseph Hernandez, Indigenous Energy Organizer, Naeva and Susan Nedell, E2 Mountain West Advocate, appeared in both the Farmington Daily Times and the Santa Fe New Mexican (and possibly other newspapers).
Bere ks a excerpt:

We need to take action, and that starts with supporting the state’s clean vehicles initiative in November 13-15 public hearings held by the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board and Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board. 

Transportation pollution ranks second highest in the state behind pollution from the extraction and production of oil and gas. 

This pollution fuels climate change and extreme heat and devastation from wildfires, as well as rising ozone levels—which are high in San Juan County—that exacerbate respiratory diseases, asthma and premature mortality, especially among vulnerable New Mexicans, children, older people and those living near transportation corridors. 

And while some might think clean vehicle standards are just for big cities, the benefits extend well into rural areas like the four corners of our state, including the Farmington area.