This group gives me so much hope for the future. They are mature, wise, articulate, and have stamina! The United Student Leaders are a student organized group at South Whidbey High School who's focus is on climate justice and race and gender equity. Following in Greta Thunberg's example, they have been protesting outside Chase Bank in Freeland for a while now. Their goal? To get the largest bank funding the fossil fuel industry, to change their ways. Do you bank with Chase? If so, you have the power to effect what they fund. Contact the bank to let them know your wishes for a healthy planet. Consider taking your money elsewhere. USL students welcome community support at their protests, which happen several Friday's a month at 3:30pm in Freeland. Visit their Facebook page or new website for more details and information. An inspiring group of smart, capable and hard working students right here in our local public school system. Wow! Let them inspire YOU into action! USL WEBSITE

Waste is a huge problem all around the world, but especially here in the US.  Let's understand our nation’s linear material economy, then understand how a circular economy works to start. Then by putting forth the best policies as well as focus our attention, words and actions toward changing, we can move toward a more sustainable future. Preferably one that recognizes that there is no such place as thrown “away.” Producers have few incentives to build products that last, to make them easy to repair, to use less packaging, or to make their goods or packaging easy to reuse, recycle or compost. In fact, it is quite the opposite. They want consumers to continually buy more. Great for short term profits. Not great for long term health, safety and vitality of our planet and race. Efforts to reduce waste should prioritize reducing material consumption first and foremost; reusing, refurbishing and repairing everything possible; and recycling or composting all remaining materials. 
We can do this! We MUST do this! Click here to see more on our Footprint page...

If you have not heard of or engaged with Environment Washington yet, I encourage you to check them out. They have impressed me! I had a nice chat with Lillie Wright - she called to get to know me better, and to answer any questions I had. And to collect my annual donation, which I have been a "member" of for about five years now, but still so inspiring to see an energetic and caring young person that is dedicated, even during a pandemic, to the environment in our state and all of Mother Earth.  I hope you will check out the good work they are doing... CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE

​Shelly Ackerman

April is Earth and Ocean Month!  And just in time for this, I noticed a new offering at the Goose Community Grocer! It is bulk dish and laundry soap (powder or liquid) as well as all purpose cleaner! Bring your own container and fill up! Check out the offerings below. Thank you Goose!

The Greening Congregations Collaborative is very happy to announce that there will be wonderful introductory speakers for each of the Community Conversations about Fratelli Tutti , Pope Francis’ exhortation to Solidarity:
    March 15, 3 pm    Rabbi Olivier Benhaim, Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue AND
                    Imam Jamal Rahman, Interfaith Community Church
    March 22, 3 pm    Sister Simone Campbell, Network Advocates for Justice
    March 29, 3 pm    Kate Davies, Mindfulness Meditation

​Click on our Goings On page for full details!

Today I read this IMPORTANT piece from the Herald:
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/small-fish-big-barriers-a-county-confronts-climate-change/

These issues-- discussed in the Herald bring climate change to my attention in a new way. ... not that I had not heard of sea rise, mind you. The article updated me. It takes a scientific --thoughtful & news-worthy--approach.
I think there should be and probably is a deep interest here, so I wish to share. It is personal. I do not see this as stirring "panic" I see this as helping our community to work together...toward more solidarity.
High regards,
Donna

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is Washington’s largest energy utility company – providing fossil gas and electric services to almost two million homes across the state.
Over the next couple years, PSE is going to play a major role in whether or not Washington transitions to clean energy — and right now it’s holding us back. 
It might be hard to believe, but PSE spends more on lobbying and campaign contributions in Washington than Amazon, and they’ve pumped thousands of dollars into pro-fossil gas advertising that runs all across the state.
Starting Thursday Jan. 28th, STAND.earth is co-hosting an event series with 350 Seattle and other organizations from across the state. The series will provide knowledge, tools, and ways to take action for a cleaner, equitable, and less expensive energy future for Washington.
Please consider attending one or all of these discussions.
RSVP NOW

Please join us for one or all of these awesome events in the series:

• January 28th - How to Spot and Respond to Deception, Manipulation, and Misinformation
• February 4th - Financial Flaws
• February 11th - Undermining WA Climate Progress
• February 18th - Indigenous Sovereignty and Pipeline Politics
• February 25th - Solutions for a Healthy, Clean Future

Each year, Earth Ministry/WAIPL raises up the moral voice for environmental justice in the state legislature. 
The Legislative Session will begin on Mon, January 11 and below is the initial list of bills Earth Ministry is supporting. More information and updates can be found on our webpage.

Top Priorities: 

• Clean Fuel Standard: Requires fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels 20% by 2035 to clean our air, give us more options to fuel our vehicles, create economic development, cut climate pollution, and move us beyond oil
  
  
• HEAL Act: Defines environmental justice in state law and requires its application using a racial justice lens and equitable community participation

Other priorities:

• Clean and Just Transportation: Creates a holistic transportation system with new revenue and investments that focus on accessibility for all users, prioritizes equity, and reduces environmental impacts
  
  
• Conservation Works: Protects essential environmental programs from budget cuts and promotes investments in stimulus projects that tackle climate change, create good jobs, recover salmon and orcas, and help communities chart their own course for a better future
  
  
• Clean Cars 2030: Requires all new light-duty vehicles of model year 2030 or later to be electric in order to be registered in Washington State
  
  
• Reduce Plastic Pollution: Addresses recycling and plastic pollution
  
  
• Growth Management Act Update “Washington Can’t Wait”: Makes sure we address climate change, affordable housing, and environmental justice in our state’s land use planning

​We are following an emerging conversation about a price on carbon being put forward by the legislature. Earth Ministry will stand behind the leadership of frontline communities working for environmental justice, and we will work to ensure that any proposed policy meets the Climate Alliance’s carbon pricing and investment criteria.
In peace,
Jessica Zimmerle (she/her)
Program & Outreach Director

Pope Francis issued his third encyclical in early October, titled “Fratelli Tutti”. It comprises eight chapters, ranging from topics such as division and politics to justice, social structures and dialogue with one another. The overall message is that we are a global race and thus change is needed on a global scale, made more obviously by the current pandemic.  The opportunity exists to use this time for change, rather than go back to what was. He lays out a fairly comprehensive vision of how the world should shift as we move forward and past the pandemic. We can likely all relate to the need for communities and societies that are based on support and care for basic dignity and human rights, and away from the focus on capitalism. It will require us to rethink our life styles.      Please visit our "Goings On" page for several links to more about it.