Celebrating Earth Day Locally and Globally

It's almost become a cliché.  Think globally, act locally.   But this sentiment almost always applies when we think of environmental sustainability.  So I want to take this opportunity to commemorate Earth Day, both in Albuquerque and with our brothers and sisters across the planet.

ACT LOCALLY

In our community, we have a wonderful celebration on Sunday, April 25, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the street (Silver) immediately behind La Montañita Cooperative in Nob Hill.  

(The ONE Campaign, Bread and partners had a booth several years ago. Pictured are Sarah Magill Mueller and Laura Casselman)

It's a big celebration featuring

• Environmental Education and Action,
• Booths, 
• Farming, 
• Gardening, Sustainability
• Alternative Energy Resources, 
• Arts, Crafts, Food, Music, Fun, Friends, and More... 

We won't have a booth this year, but Sister Joan Brown and the New Mexico chapter of Interfaith Power and Light could use your help if you would like to volunteer.   Drop her an e-mail JoanKansas@swcp.com

THINK, ACT GLOBALLY

Speaking of Interfaith Power & Light, the national organization is offering a great opportunity to join with the Lutheran Church in Tanzania to fight deforestation through the Green Kilimanjaro project.  All you have to do is tell five friends about this project.  Click here to find out how you can participate.

By helping to green Kilimanjaro and supporting congregants halfway across the world, Interfaith Power & Light supporters are setting an example that we can all be proud of. When faith communities come together to speak out about these issues, people listen. In fact, one congregation in Tanzania was so inspired by this effort that they set aside 10 acres of land for a church forest. 

The Tanzania project is part of IPL's global efforts through its Carbon Covenant campaign to connect with communities addressing climate change. 

And as long as we're looking at environmental sustainability, it would be useful to see how it plays a significant role in addressing global hunger and poverty.  The Bread for the World Institute's latest hunger report, entitled A Just and Sustainable Recovery, addresses this issue.  

The report points out that reducing climate change and creating so-called green jobs are key factors for economic growth and reducing world-wide hunger and poverty.

The institute has put together a great resource, including illustrations, stories, photos and videos, and much more.  Click here to access the site.

Back in November, C-Span carried a 1-hour segment featuring the hunger report.  Read the blog post I wrote, which includes a video of the program.