Two Earth and Climate Ministry (ECAM) members (Ann Fletcher and Marilyn Mayers) participated in Faith Action Network’s Interfaith Action Day on February 8. They lobbied their state legislators (Districts 48 Bellevue and 5 Issaquah) to advance climate and environmental action and affordable housing. Faith Action Network (FAN) hosts this annual lobbying day, bringing different faith communities together to advocate for justice.
This year, morning workshops prepared attendees on specific legislative actions related to environmental justice & climate change, economic justice, immigrants and refugee rights, incarceration reform & accountability, housing, public safety, hunger and the social safety net and health care access. FAN also set up appointments with our own district legislators to talk with them about specific bills.
Already halfway through this short legislative session, some bills FAN supported had not made it through various committees and were dropped (notably proposals to create transparency for oil pricing, promote community solar, and addressing cumulative risk burden due to pollution). However, other bills were still in play that we urged legislators to support: if passed
HB1368/SB5437 will transition the state’s 12,000 diesel school buses to electric buses.
The Re-WRAP Act (HB2049/SB6005) will reduce plastic and packaging trash by focusing on producer responsibility and increasing curbside recycling.
Navigator for Energy Cost Savings and Access (HB1391) and Building Energy Labeling (HB 1433) will help households and communities identify needed home improvements and access subsidies to transition to cleaner energy.
Rent Stabilization (HB2144) will help retain affordable housing in our communities.
A citizen initiative (Initiative 2117) to repeal the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) was another important topic of discussion. CCA was a groundbreaking bill approved by our legislature in a previous session. Its multi-faceted initiatives are designed to boost our state toward significantly impacting climate change in the next decade.
Anyone can send a message to their legislator about these or other bills or issues at leg.wa.gov/
Both Ann and Marilyn found participation in IFAD rewarding and encourage others to consider coming next year! We learned about the legislative process and challenges legislators face in trying to advance change. We also had a chance to meet with wonderful attendees from other faith traditions who share the same fundamental concern: to advocate for environmental and social justice. If you are curious, we’d be happy to talk with you about this legislative session and what you might expect by participating next year!
The Earth and Climate Action Ministry (ECAM) has started to talk with groups around church to hear ideas, concerns and hopes about taking better care of the earth.. We are gathering East Shore’s passions and perspectives and we need YOURS!
We would appreciate the opportunity to have a short conversation about:
What are some positive outcomes you dream about for the Earth and climate?
What relevant issues or activities do you think are important for ESUC to address?
Our goal is to gather as many perspectives as we can, pull them together, and celebrate our joint passions and ideas at a church service and special event near Earth Day (April 21).
Either Zoom or in-person meetings would be possible. If your team meets regularly, perhaps we could have a short time on an agenda for this activity. We are also open to individual conversations and written input.
Hope to join you sometime soon for this important church-wide conversation! Please contact Kristi Weir or another member of the ECAM Team below who may reach out to you to get started.
ECAM Team: John Chmaj, Karin Elofson, Ann Fletcher, Ron Lovell, Marilyn Mayers, Jill McGrath, Mark Norelius, Kari Ann Hailey, Kristi Weir
Connect with 350 WA
Here is an easy way to support bold, sound, and just climate legislation in the Washington state during this year’s short session (Jan 8-Mar 7).
Join the 350 WA Civic Action Team (CAT) which will send you two easy-access emails per week which are tailored with options for how much time you have (from 5 to 20 minutes). The bi-weekly email lists the climate bills with top priority for the week. After the brief explanation of the bill, click on a link to register your Pro or Con position on a bill. You may add a comment, but it is not required.
350WA says: “We recognize that folks don’t always have time to get all the way through our actions, and that is okay! Every little bit helps. We just ask that you get through as many sections as you can and then scroll to the bottom and click the orange “Done” button to submit. This way we can keep an accurate tally of how many actions the CAT campaign takes this session. Here is the link to join the CAT: https://www.350wa.org/cat
FREE TREES for Eastside Residents from 300 Trees!
300 Trees will hold its Spring 2024 Tree Giveaway on March 15-16 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in South Bellevue.
For the first time since 300 Trees began distributing free trees in 2020, we are opening our program to all Eastside residents, schools, faith communities, and small businesses!
Order Trees: Our goal is to distribute at least 1000 trees during this event. Each participant may request 1-3 trees using our online order form: https://300trees.org/freetrees/.
We will accept orders until February 25, but we have limited quantities of some tree types, so don’t delay!
The trees can be picked up at the church parking lot on March 15-16. All trees will fit in normal passenger vehicles, and our volunteers will can load them for you.
Volunteer: If you would like to volunteer to help us during the event, sign up on Sign Up Genius here.
This year, the Earth and Climate Action Ministry Team (ECAM) plans to partner with our Minister, Rev. Maria Cristina, our Staff, and interested church groups and individuals as we:
LISTEN TO their ideas, concerns, hopes to take care of the earth. We’ll encourage sharing with a few open-ended questions during:
Group meetings we are invited to;
Individual conversations;
A congregant survey.
BASED on ABOVE, SHARE, CONNECT, and OFFER RESOURCES, SERVICES, and PROJECTS.
Collaborate with other groups at the church, local, or global level,
Integrate resources as celebrants at specific themed worship services,
Facilitate an Earth Day Service April 21 and a culminating Earth Celebration event with other interested groups and individuals.
ECAM aims for East Shore’s Mission through:
LOVE of the Earth from which we and all living things evolved and depend– CONSIDER WHAT A LOVING RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US AND THE EARTH LOOKS LIKE;
SPIRIT of known and unknown forces of Nature that create and sustain everything–BE OPEN TO LEARNING TOGETHER;
COMMUNITY of the interdependent web of all the earth’s elements and life–COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER AND NATURE in MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL WAYS;
JUSTICE as good stewards who heal and enhance our relationships–DO WHAT WE CAN TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND OUR HOME, THE EARTH.
We shared our plan and began our outreach at the newly formed Collaborative Justice Council on November 6. We will invite ALL of YOU to exchange ideas. To schedule a listening session please contact: Kristi Weir [email protected]
Imagine, Learn, and Take Action with Earth & Climate Ministry
“Imagine the air as the earth’s skin. It is amazingly thin compared with the size of the planet. This air layer is far thinner than the skin of an apple compared with its diameter. Underneath it lies ocean and rock, and upon that rock, lies a wee bit of soil and greenery. Yet inside this fluctuating layer of air, between a rock and a cold place, all life is protected and nourished.” –Adapted from Per Epson Stokes
East Shore’s Earth & Climate Action Ministry team thanks all six Bellevue City Council candidates—John Stokes, Paul Clark, David Hamilton, Mo Malakoutian, Janice Zahn and Betsi Hummer–for participating in a panel discussion at the Climate & Environmental forum hosted by East Shore on September 19th. Mayor Lynne Robinson and Bellevue City Councilor Jeremy Barksdale were among the approximately 130 audience members listening attentively to candidate responses to questions regarding climate policy.
ECAM is one group among a coalition of grass-roots environmental and community groups (including People for Climate Action/Bellevue, Indivisible Eastside, 350 Eastside, Save Coal Creek, 300 Trees, Eastside Audubon, Sierra Club, Trees4Livability, Sustainability Ambassadors and Futurewise) who came together to organize this event.
An important aim of the forum organizers is to educate both candidates and the public about the urgent need for action to address the climate crisis. A related aim is to demonstrate to city leaders the support among Bellevue residents for measures to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment while preparing for greater urban density and equitable development. Panelists were allowed two minutes to introduce themselves after which they were asked a series of pointed questions which they had received in advance. In response, all the candidates shared their priorities and spoke to the need for collaboration at all levels of government and civil society.
The evening began with desserts (thanks to all volunteers who donated) and casual conversations among guests and candidates. A fun raffle concluded the evening—two audience members won $500 coupons towards the purchase of heat pumps or water heaters; five audience members won coupons for meals at local vegetarian restaurants and one audience member won a month subscription to RIdwell. The raffle prizes encourage all of us to consider vegetarian options and to learn about small businesses whose practices are environmentally sound.
Thanks again to the organizers, all who volunteered and everyone who attended this very informative and fun event! And thanks above all to the candidates for running for office and sharing their thoughts and priorities with us. As the principal city on the Eastside, what happens in Bellevue affects not only this city but the entire region. So please be sure to VOTE in the upcoming November election!!
For those of you who were unable to attend the forum, a recording of the event is available at this link:
Earth and Climate Action Ministry (ECAM) and the Indigenous Connections Team invite you to University Unitarian Church in Seattle and Northlake UU Church in Kirkland for a presentation and Q&A offered by Jacob Johns. Jacob is part of an international effort to organize and include Indigenous perspectives at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Chante (COP28) in Dubai in November and December this year.
Jacob (Akimel O’odham and Hopi tribes) and over 20 Indigenous activists from all over the world are working together to incorporate diverse perspectives and traditions into contemporary climate policy. The group states, “….we face obstacles in our journey towards a sustainable future. The Conference of Parties (COP) often excludes us, the Indigenous and front-line communities, from the official negotiations that set the course for global climate action. This exclusion creates a significant challenge: it hinders our ability to contribute meaningfully and create impactful actions to address climate change. Therefore, it is imperative that we work together to ensure that our perspectives are not only heard but also translated into actionable policies. By amplifying our voices and ensuring our active participation in COP, we can bring forth the wisdom and knowledge that arise from our deep connection to the land and nature. Together, we can shape a future that respects and integrates the diverse perspectives of all communities, forging a path towards a more sustainable and equitable world.”
Contact Carrie Bowman ([email protected]) if you would like to go and are interested in carpooling.
DATE/TIME: Sunday, October 15, 2pm WHERE: University Unitarian Church sanctuary / 6556 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115 FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
NEED MORE INFO? Contact Carrie Bowman at [email protected]
As countries around the world face growing urgency to address climate change and build environmental sustainability, policy makers at all levels of government are considering various policy options. Here in Washington, state government has passed significant legislation to address some aspects of the climate crisis. Cities too are taking action to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a clean energy economy.
Bellevue prides itself as a “City in a Park”. It has taken steps to address declining tree canopy, and agreed on targets to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation and building sectors. This is a crucial time for the city to implement significant plans to enable the city to reach these targets even as the population grows. The ability of Bellevue City Council to implement necessary measures will depend in large measure on who makes up the City Council in 2024 going forward.
East Shore’s Earth & Climate Action Ministry team along with local climate and environmental organizations (350 Eastside, Eastside Audubon, Indivisible Eastside, 300 Trees, Trees4Livability, Save Coal Creek, People for Climate Action/Bellevue chapter) invite all Bellevue residents to attend the Bellevue City Council Candidate forum on Tuesday evening, September 19th, here at East Shore.
All candidates will be asked to address specific questions related to the climate crisis and environmental stewardship. As a number of candidates are new and unknown to many in the Bellevue community, this in-person forum provides a great opportunity to get to know a bit more about their background and priorities before the November election.
Before the program begins, join us for dessert and informal conversation starting at 6:30 in the Sanctuary! The program itself will start promptly at 7:00 and conclude by 9:00. Pick up a raffle ticket and see what you might win at the end of the evening! (BTW, a recording will be available within days after the event if you cannot make it.)
