How Green is Our Sanctuary?
by Nancy Peterson
May 23, 2007
The true meaning of Green Sanctuary is not a committee of a small number of people committed to environmental issues, but the attitude and accomplishments of the entire congregation. The Green Sanctuary Committee merely suggests, coordinates, documents, and makes contact with UUMFE.
I would like you to be aware of what a Green Sanctuary we are. The major efforts of the Green Sanctuary Committee this year were the implementation of recycling in our facilities, the showing of “An Inconvenient Truth,” our weekly information table, participation in the local “Step It Up” rally, and the documentation of our environmental activities, which we are submitting to the UU Ministry for Earth in our Application for Candidacy to be recognized as a Green Sanctuary. Other groups in the congregation took the initiative for quite a number of environment-oriented programs. These included:
- Circles on-line which saves paper
- Our minister’s frequent inclusion of environmental references & ideas
- Our on-going commitment to the plight of Katrina victims, with two organized trips to help in New Orleans
- Oct.5—Women’s Alliance program on global warming
- Oct.19—hosted ECOS Rachel Carson dinner with wind power program
- Nov.5—Jon Kaledin speaking on “Environmentalism in Our Society”
- Feb. 22—EBWA program on family farms
- Feb. 28—hosted LWV African Water Crisis program
- Mar. 18—Sunday collection to benefit Roots and Wisdom
- Coffee, Cocoa & Conversation—Chris Walcek on climate issues
This is the true measure of our success as a Green Sanctuary.
We share a common responsibility for our environment.
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