Seattle Climate Rally & EPA Hearing
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
