(via e-mail)
May 27, 2008

Greetings from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office:

Climate legislation to be debated in Senate

From the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program:

When Senators return from their Memorial Day recess they are scheduled to debate climate change legislation.

Go to http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1845/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24636 to tell your Senators you want justice for all of God's Creation.

America's Climate Security Act, co-sponsored by Senators Lieberman (I), Connecticut and Warner (R), Virginia, is a critical first step towards addressing global climate change.

We applaud the efforts of these Senators to find common ground on this critical issue and move forward with consensus legislation to address global climate change.

We urge the Senate to continue this path and take meaningful and measurable steps to

• follow scientific recommendations by reducing carbon emissions 15-20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050
  
• shield vulnerable populations from the disproportionate dangers they will be exposed to as the planet warms and
  
• limit the financial burdens placed on those living in poverty and low-income families by spreading costs of changing our energy habits fairly and sustainably.

Current legislation includes initial forms of these provisions and it is our hope they will be strengthened as this process moves forward.

Join with people of faith from around the U.S. to advocate for strong emissions reductions and justice for people in poverty and those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

For more information about America’s Climate Security Act (Lieberman-Warner Bill) go to http://usclimatenetwork.org/federal/lieberman-warner-bill/

A 1991 Annual Conference statement entitled “Called to Care”, reads, “God’s promises are not mere pledges. They are covenants. And covenants are agreements between people and between people and God. The covenants with Noah and Abraham and the New Covenant mean that people of faith are responsible for their part in renewing and sustaining the creation. This statement helps us to see the degradation of the earth as sin, our sin.” And our sin since this statement has only continued.

The 2007 United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report states, “Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 […] The primary source of the increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide since the pre-industrial period results from fossil fuel use, with land use change providing another significant but smaller contribution”. Take this opportunity to care for God’s creation. More info at: http://www.brethren.org/genbd/witness/GlobalWarming.htm

Brethren Witness/Washington Office Contact Information

If you have questions on these or other issues, contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at the address below. We would love to hear from you!

Brethren Witness/Washington Office Action Alerts are sent out as important issues arise. Forward this alert to others! To add an e-mail address to our list, contact us at:

Brethren Witness/Washington Office
337 North Carolina Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Local Phone: 202-546-3202
Toll Free: 1-800-785-3246
Fax: 202-544-5852
E-mail: washington_office_gb@brethren.org