Seattle Climate Rally & EPA Hearing
On May 21, 2009, the EPA came to Seattle to receive public comment on their findings that greenhouses gases pose a threat to human health. Three religious leaders testified at the EPA hearing in the morning and at noon 30 religious leaders showed their support for action on climate change in front of a crowd of 2,000 people - including many Earth Ministry/WAIPL members! Click above for photos, testimony, and media clips!
In early May 2009, the EPA announced that it would hold two hearings on its endangerment finding that global warming pollution is a threat to public health and welfare. On Thursday, May 21, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came to Seattle and the faith voice turned out!
Three religious leaders testified at the EPA hearing in the morning -- Lutheran Bishop Wm. Chris Boerger (ELCA), Rabbi Zari Weiss (Jewish Climate Challenge), and LeeAnne Beres (Executive Director of Earth Ministry/WAIPL). Climate Solutions Policy Director KC Golden also joined their panel. The testimony was well received by the EPA and they received a long round of applause from the audience.
At noon, a spirited crowd estimated at 2,000 people gathered outside the EPA hearing in Seattle urging the Obama Administration to take action on reducing global warming pollution. Rabbi Zari
Weiss offered a blessing for our shared work addressing the challenge of climate
change and called on those present to support efforts at the local, state, and
federal level. Rabbi Weiss was joined on stage by 30 religious leaders from a
multitude of faith traditions and religious denominations, showing the depth and
breadth of commitment in the faith community for action on climate change.
LeeAnne Beres' Testimony on behalf of Earth Ministry/WAIPL
Rabbi Zari Weiss' Testimony on behalf of the Jewish Climate Challenge
Rabbi Zari Weiss' Rally Invocation Text
Rabbi Zari Weiss' Rally Invocation Video
Religious Leaders in Attendance:
Robert
Beiser, Hillel UW
Rabbi
Olivier BenHaim, Temple Bet Alef
Rev.
Paul Benz, Lutheran Public Policy Office
LeeAnne
Beres, Earth Ministry and Washington Interfaith Power &
Light
Bishop
Wm. Chris Boerger, NW Synod of the ELCA
Rev.
Mary Brown, Snoqualmie United Methodist
Rev.
Woody Carlson, Wooden Cross Lutheran
Rev.
Marilyn Cornwell, St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral
Rev.
Lisa Domke, Presbyterian minister
Barak
Gale, Temple
Beth Am
Rev.
John Gienapp, University Lutheran
Rev.
Steve Grumm, Our Redeemer’s Lutheran
Rev.
Ann Hall, University Lutheran
Rev.
Carol Jensen, St.
John’s Lutheran
Sr.
Barb Kearney-Schupp, CSJP
Rev.
David Kratz, Fauntleroy United Church of Christ
Rev.
Rich Lang, Trinity United Methodist
David
Leslie, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Rev.
John-Otto Liljenstolpe, Rauschenbusch Center
Rev.
Carol McKinley, Unitarian Universalist
Rev.
Ron Moe-Lobeda, University Lutheran
Rev.
Jim Mulligan, Presbyterian minister
Sr.
Andrea Nenzel, CSJP
Rev.
Gerry Porter, Grace Episcopal
Rev.
Curtis Price, Wedgewood Community Church
Rev.
Hunt Priest, Emmanuel Episcopal
Rev.
Carla Pryne, Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Michael Schut, Episcopal Advocacy Center
Rabbi
Jonathan Singer, Temple Beth Am
Rev.
Jaco ten-Hove, Cedars Unitarian
Universalist
Rabbi
Zari Weiss, Rodef Tzedek and Jewish Climate
Challenge
