Posts Categorized: Environmental Health

Peacemaker Lifts Up Importance of COP26

From an island in the Pacific Ocean, Frances Namoumou recently made a peacemaking pilgrimage to the Presbytery of the James in central Virginia. Appearing via Zoom, the International Peacemaker discussed how climate change is negatively impacting her home country of Fiji and neighboring islands in the region. As the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) takes place through Nov. 12,… Read more »

Climate Change and Disaster: Chilling Impacts of a Warming World

Steady increases in temperatures have already dramatically changed our seasonal weather patterns — including more severe droughts, storms, floods, and heat waves. This has consequences on our lives and livelihoods — and it’s caused by climate change. These intensified floods, droughts, hurricanes and fires impact all of us but they disproportionately affect populations already made… Read more »

Strong and Courageous Enough to Rest

When My Heart Is Faint I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel strong right now. I have tried so hard to be intentional about living out Psalm 61;  1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I call to you,     when my heart… Read more »

The Power of Community and Agency to Transform Society

Little Village Environmental Justice Organization By Jennifer Evans, mission specialist for the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP)   During PHP’s spring advisory committee meeting, we visited one of our newest grant partners, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) in Chicago. In this predominantly Mexican-American community, their office is located in the Little Village neighborhood and appears… Read more »

On behalf of the Lummi Nation and Northwest Native Tribes

Submitted by Jessie Dye, Program and Outreach Director, Earth Ministry and Washington Interfaith Power and Light     Rev. Holly Hallman, Presbyterian teaching elder in the Seattle area, last week delivered a letter from PC(USA) to the Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the Lummi Nation and Northwest Native Tribes in a public ceremony… Read more »

PCUSA Comment on the Proposed EPA Carbon Regulations

Yesterday, December 1, was the deadline for the EPA to receive public comments on the clean power proposed rule. Many Presbyterians lifted up their voice in local and national settings, encouraging this rule that will limit carbon emissions from existing power plants.   J. Herbert Nelson of our Office of Public Witness submitted a powerful… Read more »

EPA New Carbon Plan

Monday marked an important moment in our care for God’s creation. The EPA, as part of the President’s ongoing climate action plan, has passed guidelines for curbing carbon pollution from power plants. As it says on the EPA website, “Power plants are the largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S., accounting for roughly one-third… Read more »

Environmental Justice Atlas resource online

A great resource for finding out what environmental conflicts and environmental justice movements are happening around the world is the Environmental Justice Atlas.   You can go to this resource to see a world map and to sort by company, country, or issue. The site also includes reports and links to other world-wide Environmental Justice… Read more »

Environmental Justice: paying attention to people

Environmental Justice is a term used to indicate that certain sectors of the human population suffer from the worst affects of environmental disaster and are kept from the best of environmental benefits. Correlating with a lot of other structural issues of injustice, people of color and people in lower economic brackets are documented to be… Read more »

Heat Awareness

 As summer draws near, it is time to prepare for heat awareness. A week ago (May 24, 2013) was NWS NOAA Heat Awareness Day. It is important during these extremely hot days that you take care of your body. Also, know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stress. Please remember to stay cool, drink… Read more »