Congregations Getting Cool

Local Solutions to Global Problems (LSGP), a subgroup of People Power, is up to some powerful projects. Our latest efforts involve reaching out to churches, synagogues, and other places of worship to organize events on Global Warming. Through our group, congregations can arrange for a speaker or panel to visit and discuss how city, county, and state policy decisions, as well as personal choices, can make a big difference in reducing greenhouse gasses. We hope to help make connections between caring for the environment and honoring a spiritual commitment to the sanctity of all life. This work also represents a social action commitment, as many people are already suffering from the effects of global warming—especially poor people and people of color.

We already have contact and an agreement to host events at the Quaker Center, the Center for Conscious Living, Chadeish Yameinu (Jewish renewal), and are talking to the First Congregational Church and the Unitarian Church. Though dates have not been set for all of these venues, our first event is scheduled for June 13th as a joint venture between the Center for Conscious Living and Chadeish Yameinu.

Our hope is that these efforts will culminate in a platform and/or set of pledges that will lead to a significant commitment and influence on local policies that have an impact on global warming. This is truly a grassroots effort with the platform or pledge being informed by the congregations that participate in these programs. To quote Rabbi Zalman Shachter-Sholomi (the leader of the Jewish renewal movement), "the only way for us to get it together is together," meaning we all need to work together to make this happen.

If you or someone you know is involved in a church or religious institution and wants to help us get these programs up and running in their congregations, please feel contact Batya Kagan at 419-6574 or send email to: lchaim@jps.net.

If you are interested in getting involved with any of LSGP's other projects, you can also contact Batya. In addition to our outreach to local congregations, we also are working with the City of Santa Cruz to help shape the General Plan (see article on page 5 of this issue.)

Since the group began last summer, we have also hosted several film screenings and other presentations. Our upcoming event, "Dam Nation" is a book release celebration and workshop by Laura Allen and Cleo Woelfle-Erskin who will be discussing water use and cycles and how water policy relates to local and global issues. The event will be held on May 24th, from 7-9pm at the Louden Nelson Community Center.