Earth Justice
Unitarian Universalist commitment to Earth Justice is rooted in the 7th Principle:
The interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.
The interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.
Available Now:
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On January 25, Side with Love - Climate Justice offered a webinar on Reimagining with Energy Democracy. You can review the slides here and watch the recording here.
Reimagining with Energy Democracy was part of two larger events, Side With Love’s 30 Days of Love and our Clean Energy as a Human Right series. Throughout this series, they’ve invited folks to embrace a visionary approach to clean energy, not just as a technical solution, but as a moral imperative. Rather than falling into the scarcity mindset so common in climate spaces, they encourage you to embrace abundance and ensure that our clean energy work nourishes thriving communities for all. The Clean Energy as a Human Right series includes:
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These are the beginning initiatives the GPUUC Earth Justice committee wants to implement in our congregation and community:
Initiative #1. The "End of Your Fork"
This initiative is about the choices we make with each meal we eat. The simplest, most powerful immediate action any of us could take is to choose to eat 'higher' on the food chain, or eat a plant based diet. A vegetarian diet has been commonplace and pervasive in many cultures, especially in India, and Seventh Day Adventists have foundational beliefs around eating a healthy vegetarian diet. A step higher in commitment is to eat vegan meals. Vegan meals are vegetarian and do not include any animal products such as eggs, dairy (including cheeses).
Food chemistry has grown tremendously in the last few years so anyone close to major grocery stores is able to obtain delicious meat, egg and dairy substitutes. Our goal is to increase awareness about delicious ways to prepare vegan and vegetarian meals, and inform about 'best brands' for best taste to help us move in this direction easily and happily. Choosing one day a week, or one meal a week is a step forward.
climatehealers.org has solid data on its website about how important the step is towards reducing CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere (that is heating up the Earth) by eating vegetarian or vegan. The results are statistically supported. Here are some educational videos the whole family could watch: https://climatehealers.org/education/webinars/ In particular, this is an important short video given at the UN Climate Change Summit 2021: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNIZlB14-4s
Initiative #1. The "End of Your Fork"
This initiative is about the choices we make with each meal we eat. The simplest, most powerful immediate action any of us could take is to choose to eat 'higher' on the food chain, or eat a plant based diet. A vegetarian diet has been commonplace and pervasive in many cultures, especially in India, and Seventh Day Adventists have foundational beliefs around eating a healthy vegetarian diet. A step higher in commitment is to eat vegan meals. Vegan meals are vegetarian and do not include any animal products such as eggs, dairy (including cheeses).
Food chemistry has grown tremendously in the last few years so anyone close to major grocery stores is able to obtain delicious meat, egg and dairy substitutes. Our goal is to increase awareness about delicious ways to prepare vegan and vegetarian meals, and inform about 'best brands' for best taste to help us move in this direction easily and happily. Choosing one day a week, or one meal a week is a step forward.
climatehealers.org has solid data on its website about how important the step is towards reducing CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere (that is heating up the Earth) by eating vegetarian or vegan. The results are statistically supported. Here are some educational videos the whole family could watch: https://climatehealers.org/education/webinars/ In particular, this is an important short video given at the UN Climate Change Summit 2021: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNIZlB14-4s
Initiative #2. Single Use Plastics Have to Go!
Every time we open a snack bag, use a regular zip lock bag, take our groceries home in a thin easy to carry bag, wrap a sandwich in plastic wrap, get a cold drink in a plastic carry out cup, etc., we contribute to what has become a problem of Monumental Proportions. This habit, this way of living has been marketed to us as making our lives better, easier, safer, cleaner, more wholesome, when actually we are putting trash into our waste treatment systems that are not equipped to process them in any safe way.
Anytime we are able to use glass, re-useable wrappings for sandwiches (there are several re-useable products available made out of beeswax and other sustainable materials), paper bags, wax paper or parchment paper instead of plastic wrap, carry our own shopping bags that are sturdy, buy deli products that are wrapped in paper or stored in sturdy hard plastic, the better it is for our dear Earth and assists in recovery from significant injury. The plan is to add to sources at this page for us to obtain sustainably made, re-useable products and contribute to a healthier environment in our homes, our community and outward!
Here is a short animated film to begin to describe the cycle of harm that single use plastics perpetrates on us and the environment: www.storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-plastic-animation/
Every time we open a snack bag, use a regular zip lock bag, take our groceries home in a thin easy to carry bag, wrap a sandwich in plastic wrap, get a cold drink in a plastic carry out cup, etc., we contribute to what has become a problem of Monumental Proportions. This habit, this way of living has been marketed to us as making our lives better, easier, safer, cleaner, more wholesome, when actually we are putting trash into our waste treatment systems that are not equipped to process them in any safe way.
Anytime we are able to use glass, re-useable wrappings for sandwiches (there are several re-useable products available made out of beeswax and other sustainable materials), paper bags, wax paper or parchment paper instead of plastic wrap, carry our own shopping bags that are sturdy, buy deli products that are wrapped in paper or stored in sturdy hard plastic, the better it is for our dear Earth and assists in recovery from significant injury. The plan is to add to sources at this page for us to obtain sustainably made, re-useable products and contribute to a healthier environment in our homes, our community and outward!
Here is a short animated film to begin to describe the cycle of harm that single use plastics perpetrates on us and the environment: www.storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-plastic-animation/
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Monday-Friday 9:00AM-12:00PM Location: 17150 Maumee Avenue, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230 Phone: 313-881-0420
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