We unite to heal and protect the Earth.
We act from sound ecological practices to protect and preserve the Earth for both present and future generations.
These are the words of the United Religions Initiative Preamble, Purpose and Principles, agreed to by 689 Cooperation Circles in 85 countries. Circles across the United States and Canada will live into this purpose on and around Earth Day 2015 (April 22, 2015). Read on to hear more about their activities and tell us if your event is not listed here.
Worldwide:
- During Earth Week, the Compassion Games, an initiative of the Compassionate Action Network Cooperation Circle is holding a special co-opetition, called "Love This Place! Serve the Earth Wee" from April 18-26 that, aims "to help us transform our love for those we care about and our love for this place into compassionate action for the Earth and all her inhabitants. It aims to uplift and rally our spirits to live into a positive vision of the future that works for the environment, all of life, and for seven generations of life to come!" Click here to sign up to play!
- The Charter for Compassion has produced an edition to their Words and Violence curriculum entitled, "Bullying the Planet." They have also released a video for Earth Day 2015 entitled “Love This Place.” It's "a collage of visual poetry that forms an homage and ode to the earth. Produced for Earth Day 2015, it’s designed and destined to take you places that will thaw the frozen grief you may not even know you have, bring you soaring to the heights of raw and painful beauty and leave you wrapped in the warmth of awe and love. Watch it at your own risk."
California:
- On Earth Day The Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County will launch ICAN - The Interfaith Climate Action Network to launch a new local multi-faith response to climate change. Register here to join the group from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- California Interfaith Power and Light has a compilation of resources from their national organization on the Preach-In on Global Warming website. There are also congregations and coalitions across California celebrating Earth Day.
- Sacramento: Sunday, April 19th, Trinity Cathedral's 9th Annual Earth Day Fair
- Contra Costa County: Earth Day Wednesday, April 22: Clergy and lay leaders from Contra Costa faith based organizations will gather to celebrate Earth Day and launch I CAN! — the Interfaith Climate Action Network of Contra Costa County, a new CIPL regional working group.
- San Jose: Earth Sunday, April 26th: First Congregational Church of San Jose will host a forum on faith, food and climate change.
- Fresno: Saturday, April 25th: Community United Church of Christ of Fresno is supporting Earth Day Fresno with volunteers.
- Los Angeles: Multiple events from various congregations, including the 7th Annual Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase supported and sponsored by Temple Isaiah.
- San Diego: EarthFair 2015 - A huge community event with activities, games and music from all sectors, including local San Diego congregations like St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral's Simpler Living Ministry.
New York:
- The Student Association for Interfaith Cooperation (SAIC) at the University of Rochester Interfaith Chapel Cooperation Circle will be hosting an Interfaith Cafe Conversation (a World Cafe-style event) on Thursday, April 23 on the topic of Religion and Environmental Sustainability. The interfaith student group and other student groups that work on environmental issues will come together to dialogue about the challenges facing our planet.
North Carolina:
- On the Sunday before Earth Day, URI of Henderson County organized a day-long conference with the morning session focused on inspiration with "A panel presentation on the spiritual foundations of our concern for the Earth by six representatives of faith traditions in our community." Then, in the afternoon ten leading environmentalists will share their how-to skills in four breakout session tracks with presentation such as "Going Native With Your Landscape", "5 Easy Steps for Cleaning up HVAC Systems" and "Food Preservation Made Easy." More details here.
If your Cooperation Circle will be celebrating Earth Day and is not highlighted here, please email Regional Coordinator Sari Heidenreich at [email protected]
Resources
We hope these resources will serve you as you plan for and celebrate Earth Day.
- The Green Rule: The Green Rules were chosen to demonstrate that each religion and spiritual philosophy has a long-standing tradition of ecological stewardship. Follow the link for posters and study guides!
- The Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding has several Earth Day and environmental resources for school-aged youth:
- An elementary-level lesson plan on "Beliefs about Caring for the Environment."
- An elementary-level service project that allows students to care for the environment in their own neighborhood.
- An elementary level reading list on Religion and the Environment.
- Student-centered curricula for all ages.
- LoveWater Video: Ta'kaiya Blaney, a member of the Cooperation Circle Protecting and Restoring the Sacred, talks about the importance of water in our world. Her Cooperation Circle also works extensively on protecting and restoring the Earth.
- California Interfaith Power and Light has a compilation of resources from their national organization on the Preach-In on Global Warming website.
