Our Summer Intern Looks Back

Jennifer's Note: We've been blessed with having several great interns and fellows over the summer.  Alison Amyx, from Emory's Candler School of Theology is our Beatitudes Fellow, and she  joined us for the summer. Alejandra Rodriguez joined us from the Spark Program, a non-profit for middle school youth.  Savannah Van Leuvan, joined us from St. Mary's College High School. Savannah wrote the following blog as she ends her summer with us to begin 11th grade next month. Thanks to all of our interns this summer, you've done a great job!

At the beginning of the summer, when my mom told me about California Interfaith Power and Light and the possibility of me doing an internship, I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to do it but I decided to go ahead and do it, maybe learn a couple things. What I wasn’t aware of at the time was that I would have such a blast working as the summer intern.

 

Everyone that worked in the office was so nice to me and supportive. I’d get distracted and have long conversations with Sally about Obama or with Alison, the national office intern from Georgia, about her new kitten. I always had something to do and, even though some of it was fishing through an online database, I always enjoyed what I was doing. I did so many things, redecorate the office, work a little bit on the youth program, staff meetings, conference calls, help out with starting an East Bay working group. But my favorite, the highlight of my time at CIPL was Lobby Day, when we went to the state capital on June 17^th.

 

The two weeks before Lobby Day, everything went by in a blur. Copy, paste. Copy, paste. Copy, paste. I spent hours listening to Jen make phone calls to legislators, used my spare time to look up what RPS, offsets and net metering are. On the 16^th, all I could think of was printing things out and putting together packets for the Senators and Assembly members, confusing myself on the two Calderons and confusing others on Jerry Hill and Berryhill. I stayed in the office until seven and figured out what I was going to say the next day as the 15 year old young person who wanted the Senators and Assembly members to hear her voice, or, what we said at the office, the ‘secret weapon.’  

 

We woke up early and met at BART at seven in the morning, got in the car and drove off to Sacramento. Once we got to the church where we were meeting all of our team of clergy and faith leaders, Alison and I ran to get the food, cakes and coffee, for everyone. We set it out, organized packets so that people could find their names easily, alphabetically of course, and then we waited. Handshakes, voices, talking, conversations about people’s lives. One person even said to me, “You must be Jen!” I corrected him, telling him that no, I was the fifteen year old intern that worked for Jen, going into my Junior year of high school, and that Jen was the one standing by the coffee. “It was great to meet you!” He said before quickly walking over to Jen.

 

Once we were all seated, folders in hand, extra handout passed out, we listened to people talk about the bills that we were lobbying, then we listened to a run down of the day, and did a practice run of what we were going to say. And then we walked. Hurried feet, rushing to the capitol building. We didn’t want to be late to our first meetings. Sally, Jennifer, Barbara and I went to our first meeting, my first constituent meeting, appearing at the door just in time, before having to wait ten minutes. Once we were in the conference room, talking to one of the staff members, we couldn’t stop talking. We wanted our voices to be heard, and the staff member we were talking to heard them. We wanted change, we were so passionate about the bills that time just seemed to fly by. Everything was going so well, so well that we looked at our clocks and realized we were 5 minutes late for our next meetings. We quickly said goodbye and navigated the halls and elevator systems to get to our next meetings. Mine was with a republican’s staff member who listened to everything we had to say, asked us questions. We were interrupted when the Senator himself, John Benoit, popped in to say hello to us.

 

The rest of the day went by in a blur. Rushing around, lots of talking, meeting people, stuffing business cards in my folder. During lunch we met Assembly member Kevin de Leon who came up to meet us and talk to us briefly before he had to rush off to a meeting. More meetings, more talking, more trying to get people to vote yes on our bills. While I was sitting in Assemblywoman Noreen Evans’ office, talking to one of her staff members, we were surprised to see her pop in and say hi before she, like the other Politicians we had met that day, rushed off to a meeting. While we walked out of her office, we noticed a blown up cartoon that the opposition had tried to use against her. Why anyone would think labeling someone as ‘an environmentalist’ while they ran for a position in the North Bay would hurt their chances at winning is beyond me.

 

More meetings, more talking, a slight mishap in which one of our scheduled visits didn’t have us on their calendar, and then we were done. Alison and I started to head downstairs for our recap when we passed the metal bear by Governor Schwarzenegger office, which she made me stand next to with her to take a picture. ‘You’re such a tourist!’ I laughed while smiling for the camera, secretly enjoying the touristyness of the pictures. The halls were beautiful on the ground floor. Displays on every county in California lined the walls. Once downstairs, Senator Mark Leno came to say hello to us. He beamed at me and exclaimed that it was great to see a young person so involved when I told him I was only fifteen.

 

I didn’t quite realize how tired I truly was until we were walking back to our cars. The walk seemed so much farther then it had when we had walked to the capitol building. We found the church, got in our cars, and headed back to our appropriate points of return. My legs ached, my energy was drained, I was tired, but surprisingly energized from the day’s events. I was excited, happy to be making a difference, to get my voice and opinions out there. To start taking steps to promote a green state, a green country, and a green world for future generations, for those living in poverty, and for God, to protect his creation.

 

My time at CIPL really affected me. I learned so much, about the state government, about green jobs and ways to be ecological, about God and people of faith, and about myself, about my values and what I want to do to make a difference. Working at CIPL gave me the knowledge and experience to do so much in my life, and I really appreciate it. It was an amazing experience.

Faith Leaders Taking Action on Climate Change

These are exciting times for those of us in the faith community who understand climate change is the biggest moral issue of our times! We are finally starting to see legislation, in the form of the Waxman-Markey bill, that aims to cut our carbon emissions and encourage better energy efficiency. While some concessions have been made in order to accommodate for regional differences, this bill remains the strongest legislation we have seen at the national level, and this is reason to celebrate. Our prayers have been heard!

Thankfully, many of our California Representatives and Senators in Congress have strong faith connections, and they understand it is their moral duty to protect creation.

Listen to our champions from California speak up:

Click here to listen to Rep. Jackie Speier from California's 12th District discuss our duty to be better stewards.

Click here for Rep. Matsui's testimony on new innovations to cut carbon in Sacramento

Click here to listen to Mary Bono Mack, who could shape up to be a great champion for climate change. Let's encourage her to advocate for more renewable energy!

Click here to listen to Senator Boxer speak in 2008 about the Climate Change Act in the Senate and remember to contact our Senators to say we need to see more in 2009!

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But wait! We can't just sit back and celebrate our legislators are doing in Congress, because unfortunately, we still have representatives who don't believe in climate change:

Click here to listen to Rep. Radanovich's from California's Central Valley assert that climate change just isn't real

We, as people of faith, have the moral responsibility to encourage our leaders in the state to be better stewards of creation. Do your part, and contact your legislators today!

http://www.house.gov/

http://www.senate.gov/

  

 

Documentary Screening: Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars, Feb. 1

Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars follows the story of Texans fighting the high stakes battle for clean air. The film’s producer, Jill Rosenblum Tidman, and the Rev. Sally Bingham, president of Interfaith Power and Light Campaign, will lead a discussion at the conclusion of the 34-minute film.

When: Sun., Feb. 1, 1 p.m.
Where: Gresham Hall, Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., @ Taylor, San Francisco
Cost: Free of charge
More information: Visit www.gracecathedral.org
Deadline: None

Solar for CIPL's Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is going solar in a big way. This Saturday, September 6, the congregation will install a 5000 watt solar photovoltaic generator on their Fellowship building in Bayside. The system will provide all of the facility's electricity needs and is the centerpiece of the congregation's effort to minimize their "carbon footprint" and become a "Green Sanctuary". Scott Allen, a retired Coast Guard Captain and member of the congregation, encouraged the group to take responsibility for their own energy needs as part of an overall effort to minimize waste, eliminate use of toxins and seek a healthier way of life. "We reached consensus on the project last year and members invested in our "Adopt a Watt" fundraising campaign so that everyone is a part owner of the system. Our faith leads us to care for each other and our world and the interdependent web of life on which we all depend for our food, clean water and air to breathe. Our Solar Generator will add most of it's electricity to the local electrical grid during hot summer afternoons when it is most needed for air conditioners and home and business energy consumption. Through a bi-directional meter we will buy electricity back in the evenings when the peak need for electricity has passed. It is a win-win for electricity consumers on the North Coast. We could wait for someone else to solve the puzzle of how to meet our national, and world, need for energy but the social, political and economic upheavals over securing sources of energy convinced us that we should act locally and act now. By tackling this project we will leave a legacy of personal responsibility and good stewardship to our children and our community. As a member congregation of California Interfaith Power and Light, we are eager to share what we have learned with other congregations, homeowners and businesses and encourage them to act as well" Roger, a local solar installer, designed and will supervise construction of the system. Aided by a grant from the State of California's Solar Initiative, the congregation raised over $27,000 to pay for the project. An electric vehicle charging station will be installed at the site as well.

POINT OF CONTACT:

SCOTT ALLEN
825 7019
616 5598
RAINDOG@SUDDENLINK.NET

ELK GROVE PEACE & JUSTICE FORUM

MOVIE NIGHT

R E N E W A L

RENEWAL is a documentary which tells how various faith groups are trying to save the environment in area which are especially important to them. Various Christian groups, the Jewish community, Muslims, and Buddhists, each tell what they are doing. The documentary suggests ways many facets of our society who are concerned about environmental sustainability may do things to preserve our world. RENEWAL is a powerful tool for everyone concerned about the current environmental crisis and the fate of life on our planet. Come share with us.

WHEN: Monday, July 28, 2008; 7:00 pm
WHERE: Elk Grove United Methodist Church

8986 Elk Grove Boulevard
Elk Grove, CA 95624

For Further Information:
Bob Fossgreen, 685-3612
Bill Myers, 689-6943

Climate Equity Event at Grace Cathedral

Want to help fight climate change AND poverty? Then join the Climate Equity Campaign on June 6th at the Grace Cathedral for a special event with two international climate justice activists. You'll learn about the real effects of climate change on communities around the world and the small steps you can take to make a big difference.

Guest speakers Nnimmo Bassey of Friends of the Earth International/Nigeria and Mina Susana Setra of the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago in Indonesia will inform listeners of the effects of climate change on their own communities as well as efforts to develop local and global solutions. Their combined experience includes decades of groundbreaking social justice work, such as documenting environmental damage caused by the oil companies in Nigeria and ongoing corporate collusion with the Nigerian military, establishing Community Resource Centers in areas of oil company activity, combatting the effects of Oil Palm Plantations in Indonesia and helping those imprisoned for protecting their land, and defending indigenous rights. Come hear what they have to say and leave with an understanding of how you can help ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable communities will have access to the financial and technological resources needed to adapt to climate change.

WHEN: Friday, June 6th, 5-7pm
WHERE: Grace Cathedral, Wilsey Conference Room
1100 California St., San Francisco
For more info, contact Samantha@priceofoil.org

This event is co-sponsored by the Grace Cathedral Stewardship of Creation Committee, the Diocese of California Commission for the Environment, and California Interfaith Power and Light

The Climate Equity Campaign is a coalition of groups including ActionAid, Center for American Progress, Friends of the Earth, Jubilee USA, Oil Change International, Oxfam America, and US Climate Action Network. For more info on the campaign, visit www.climateequitycampaign.org

Ten Commandments to Save the Planet: Bolivian President Evo Morales Addresses Global Warming at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

President Evo Morales told the United Nations that in order to save the planet, we must eradicate the capitalist model, and the North must pay its ecological debt. This was the first of Ten Commandments presented by the leader during the inauguration of the VII Indigenous Forum of the United Nations during a long speech that received high acclaim by those who attended the annual encounter.

Morales Ayma proposed ten commandments to save the world, life and humanity that require: respect for the earth, renouncing war, bilateral relations without imposition, clean energy and a rejection of bio-fuels, access to basic services, prioritizing local production, promotion of cultural diversity and living well through communitarian socialism in harmony with Mother Earth.

The President affirmed that there are two paths for humanity, life and planet earth; either we recover a way of living that is in harmony with Mother Earth and life, or we continue on the path of capitalism and death. Morales insisted that the only way to save the world is to end the way of thinking which foments individualistic egotism, and the thirst for profit.

"The enormous effects of climate change are not a product of human beings in general, rather the result of the existing capitalist system that is inhuman and predicated on unlimited 'industrial development'. For this reason I feel that it is important to stop the exploitation of human beings, and end the plunder of natural resources", said the head of state. "If we want to save the planet, we have to eradicate the capitalist model and the North must pay its ecological debt rather than the countries of the Global South and rest of the world paying external debts."

The second commandment, Morales explained is the concept of denouncing war, which only generates profit for the imperial powers, transnational corporations and a small group of families, but not the people. The millions and millions of dollars which are currently designated for war should be invested in the earth, which has been wounded, mistreated and overexploited.

Third - Relationships of co-existence rather than submission of one country to another must be achieved, in a world without imperialism or colonialism. Bi-lateral and multi-lateral relations are important, because we are a culture of dialogue and social co-existence, but these relations must not be based on the submission of one country to another.

Fourth - Water is a human right of all people living on the planet. It has been said that you can live without electricity, but not without water. Water is life. There should be no policies that permit the privatization of water. President Morales proposed an international convention on water to protect water sources as a human right, and to prevent privatization.

Fifth - Clean, environmentally friendly energies must be developed and we must stop wasting energy. In 100 years we will finish off fossil fuel deposits that took millions of years to create. "Avoid promoting bio-fuels. It is impossible to understand how some presidents and development models are setting aside lands to run luxury automobiles and not to produce food for people.

Morales proposed promoting debate among governments and creating conscience so that land benefits human beings rather than being used to produce fuel. He referred to pronouncements of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and expressed that for the first time, he is in agreement with both of those institutions on this issue.

Six - Respect Mother Earth. No expert or specialist can debate with Indigenous leaders on the issue of respect for Mother Earth. We should seek ways for the Indigenous movement to influence other social sectors, urban and rural, so that everyone understands that the earth is our mother.

Seven - Basic services including water, electricity, education, health care, communication and transportation should be considered a human right, and should be publicly owned services rather than private businesses.

Eight - Consume only what is necessary; prioritize what we produce and consume locally. Consumerism, extravagance and luxury must end. It is inconceivable that some families pursue luxury while millions and millions don't even have the possibility of 'living well'. He noted that while millions of people die of hunger each year, in other parts of the world millions of dollars are spent combating obesity.

Nine - Promote the diversity of cultures and economies. We are so diverse, and even though the Indigenous movement has always been excluded, we are proposing unity in diversity. A Pluri-national State, in which all are included; white, brown and black.

Ten - Live Well. The concept of 'living well' is not new. It is about recovering the way of our ancestors, to 'live well', which is not to "live better" at the cost of others. We must build a communitarian socialism in harmony with Mother Earth.