In a recent hands-on workshop, children participated in the Climate Justice Revival through a unique TrashLab Art Project. The project blended creativity with environmental stewardship, encouraging participants to reflect on our role in caring for the Earth.
The workshop began with an outdoor exploration around the East Shore campus, where kids collected natural items and litter, learning about the importance of protecting the planet and its beauty. They safely sought out a variety of colors, textures, and shapes. Back in the classroom, the children transformed their findings into a collaborative canvas to represent both the natural environment and human impact. By turning trash into art, they discovered how small actions can lead to positive change, fostering a sense of responsibility and deeper connection to the Earth.
The canvas is now hanging in the upstairs of the Education building. Come check it out and take a look.
by Amanda Alice Uluhan, Director of Religious Education
ECAM has 500 postcards waiting to be written for NO on I 2117. The backers of I 2117 want to repeal Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) and forever ban any future price on carbon. The revenues raised through the CCA are important to improve our environment, to reduce pollution, and to fund projects for marginalized communities severely impacted by climate change. We need to defeat I 2117.
Pick up packets of 25 post cards in foyer on Sundays from Kristi Weir or to learn more about the NO on I 2117 campaign. Kristi will also have a post card writing party on Sept 19, 10-noon, at her house. Email her for her address.
Send Postcards
The Earth & Climate Action Ministry Team (ECAM) supports the work of Get out the Vote: The Environmental Voter Project (EVP). This project increases the number of voters who value the environment using postcard messaging.
Ron Lovell from ECAM is supporting this effort and has packets of 10 postcards for you to write and address. Pick a packet in the foyer on Sundays.
Some of you are already at work postcarding to get out the vote. Here are 4 ways the rest of us can start postcarding to get out the vote for this vital/historic/important election year.
The Earth & Climate Action Ministry Team (ECAM) plans to have a table with information and postcard supplies in the foyer following service from September 8 to close to election day. However, you can still start now on some of the activities below.
Environmental Voter Project (EVP)
Environmental Voter Project (environmentalvoter.org) increases the number of
voters who value the environment using postcard messaging. Since 2015, EVP has mobilized low-propensity environmental voters to vote in 1,918 local, state, and federal elections.
ECAM is supporting this effort and has packets of 10 postcards for you to write and address: pick up a packet on Sunday from Ron Lovell then return the completed cards the next Sunday. The completed cards will be stamped and mailed to Florida primary voters in early August. Contact Ron ([email protected]) if you want a packet left at Pony Express or have questions.
Reclaim Our Vote (ROV)
Reclaim Our Vote (centerforcommonground.org/reclaim-our-vote) is a grassroot campaign that focuses on increasing BIPOC voter turnout through postcarding, texting, and phone banking. Working with local, on-the-ground partners and Democracy Centers, ROV builds effective, respectful, and relevant campaigns that engage BIPOC voters around upcoming elections. In 2021 writing postcards increased Black voter turnout by 3%.
ROV works with campaigns all over the US on varying deadlines depending on the local situation.
Dave Edfeldt has volunteered to put together packets of postcards, addresses, and instruction sheets which you can pick up by emailing Dave ([email protected]). Dave can customize the size of your packet from 20-200 but packets of 30 are most efficient.
The script is simple and pretty quick to write. Postcards are to be mailed in October. You will need to provide stamps but if this is a hardship we have volunteers who have underwritten some stamps. If you don’t want to write and want to help anyway, there may be a way you could help with distribution, just contact David.
Initiative 2117
In November, Washington State voters need to vote NO on Initiative 2117 which would repeal our Climate Commitment Act (CCA) and forever prohibit a price/fee on carbon in our state. CCA is landmark legislation that forces big polluters to pay a fee for emissions. These revenues are then used for investments to improve our environment, like salmon habitat restoration and heathy forests, as well as reduce pollution by investing in electric school buses, new hybrid ferries, other funds go to marginalized communities more severely impacted by climate change.
More than 30 environmental groups have formed the “No on 2117” campaign. (no2117.com/)
Earth and Climate Action Ministry (ECAM) is planning an information session in fall on I-2117. Meanwhile, Kristi Weir ([email protected]) will be getting 500 postcards for the No on I-2117 on late August for distribution. They will be available at the table on September 8. Kristi plans a postcard party in late August or in September.
Vote Forward
Vote Forward (votefwd.org) may be an option if you prefer to minimize the amount of handwriting to only one sentence. This campaign is focusing on sending personalized letters (not postcards) directly to 10 million under-represented registered voters in a mostly swing states variety of states who have not typically voted.
You can download either 5 or 20 preformatted letters with a space to add a sentence for your personal reason for voting (non-partisan). You supply paper, envelope, and stamp. All letters are to be mailed between October 1 and 29. Contact Kristi Weir ([email protected]) if you have questions on how to download letters.
All of these activities are more fun to do with a group, so call some friends and invite them to participate with you. We may be arranging postcarding events, so watch the church eblasts for announcements. This is a great way to connect with other East Shore members and build community, while potentially making a big difference in the upcoming elections!
by Kristi Weir, Ron Lovell, Laurie Wick, Dave Edfeldt
To increase Bellevue’s tree canopy and bring the benefits of trees to all Bellevue residents, the City will give away 700 trees this summer. Applicants can receive up to 2 free trees of many different types, with instructions on how to plant them.
The program prioritizes resident applications based on an online survey tool, in order to improve access to trees across the community.
The application for the 2024 Tree Giveaway will be open from June 25th through mid-August. To register and learn more about the program, see:
The April 21st church service was an Earth Day celebration of the spirit of the earth, our need to collaborate to nourish and sustain her, and a call to action for East Shore to continue our tradition of direct climate action. The Earth and Climate Action team (ECAM) has worked since late last year to solicit ideas and concerns from the congregation about our dreams for healing the Earth, what we can do as a group to collaborate to have an impact, and how those actions can take place. ECAM talked to almost all ministry teams, had listening sessions with other members, solicited one-on-one feedback, and conducted an online survey, to give all of us the opportunity to participate and share our feelings and ideas.
The work resulted in a lot of great feedback, that fell roughly into five categories. The most consistent areas of interest and concern were:
Developing deeper Connection with Nature
Embracing Indigenous Wisdom about the natural world
Acknowledging our grief, and shifting to Hope and Action
Advancing Environmental Justice
Assuring a sustainable planet for future generations
This feedback gives all of us at East Shore a core set of values and priorities to further our positive climate action. ECAM will continue to organize the feedback and share ideas in more detail, and more climate action sessions are certain to arise from what our congregation has said.
To top off the Earth Day activities ECAM hosted a Climate Action Celebration in the sanctuary, featuring live music with multimedia, composed by John Chmaj and performed by an all-East Shore ensemble, featuring more extended sharing of congregational feedback and personal observations from all of us. The more we can share our passions for the Earth, and find ways to work together to heal our world, the greater our impact and commitment will be. Hoping your Earth Day was filled with gratitude for the miraculous ‘blue boat’ we find ourselves sailing in!
by John Chmaj, Earth & Climate Action Ministry Team
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!
