2023 Legislative Update Briefing
March 21, 2023
Watch this recording of Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s 2023 Legislative Update Briefing to learn about where our priority bills and budget items are with about a month of the Washington State Legislative Session left.
2023 Faithful Advocacy Legislative Training
January 12, 2023
This is an event recording from Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s an online faithful advocacy training on Thursday, January 12, 2023. We gathered on Zoom to discuss the unique strengths of a faith-based approach to advocacy and show you what it looks like in action. Practical advice on how to tell your story to decision makers was shared, as well as an overview of the bills Earth Ministry/WAIPL will be supporting in the 2023 Washington State Legislative Session.
Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty: Where do we go from here?
October 4, 2022
Earth Ministry/WAIPL is honored to have co-hosted an interactive webinar regarding the Columbia River Treaty on October 4, 2022. Advocacy Director Jessica Zimmerle joined with DR Michel from the Upper Columbia United Tribes, Jim Heffernan from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and Joseph Bogaard from Save Our wild Salmon on a panel to discuss the ethics of how we move forward in relationship to the Columbia River and the diverse life it supports.
Environmental and Climate Justice Teach-In
March 30, 2022
Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s Environmental and Climate Justice Teach-In on 03.30.22 was part of a larger worldwide climate justice teach-in organized by Bard College and Open Society University Network. This workshop helped us all better understand how and why pollution, disruptive agricultural practices, and other environmental injustices in Washington state especially affect members of racial minorities and people experiencing poverty.
2021 Year-End Gathering
December 9, 2021
This is a recording of Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s December 9, 2021 Year-End Gathering. Together we reflected on what we accomplished this year, shared about Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s leadership transition, and looked forward to upcoming actions in 2022.
Tacoma Fossil Fuels Advocacy Workshop
September 30, 2021
We gathered to discuss the Tacoma Non-Interim Regulations, shared tools for faith communities to advocate at City Council this fall, answered questions, and planned a faith-based response for upcoming public hearing and community forum opportunities. For years, the Puyallup Tribe and Tacoma community members have been asking for the current protections to be expanded to include a ban on the expansion of existing fossil fuel facilities. We’re at a crucial point in this years long campaign to protect the tideflats, and the moral voice of the faith community is needed to make sure industry-written amendments don’t slip through!
Earth Ministry Earth Day 2021:
Braiding Sweetgrass
April 19, 2021
For Earth Day 2021, Earth Ministry/WAIPL encouraged our community to read the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. We gathered online to discuss the book and reflect together on 4/19/21. Kimmerer brings to her writing her identity as an indigenous woman and also her knowledge as a botanist. She offers a lovely perspective on how to enter into a reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world.
Understanding Yishuv ha-Olam, the command to sustain the world
March 14, 2021
Join Rabbis Avram Reisner and Nina Beth Cardin in this recorded webinar to learn about the most important mitzvah you never heard of: yishuv ha-olam, the command to sustain the world. This event was part of the Shmita Project Northwest’s speaker series.
Creatively Engaging with Shmita
March 2, 2021
In this webinar as part of the Shmita Project Northwest’s speaker series, Nigel Savage, founder and CEO of Hazon, provides a creative and engaging learning experience while examining core texts of Shmita and how they relate to our lives today.
Healing Washington through the HEAL Act
(Jewish Climate Fest)
January 27, 2021
Our climate crisis disproportionately affects poor, marginalized and BIPOC communities. During the 2021 legislative session in Washington State, lawmakers have the chance to pass the HEAL act, which advances a specific definition of environmental justice to state law and seeks to address health disparities. As part of the 2021 Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest, Rabbi Fine of Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Sameer Ranade from Front and Centered, and Jessica Zimmerle from Earth Ministry/WAIPL reflect on how the climate crisis affects disadvantaged populations, how the HEAL act would address these disparities, and how the Jewish community can help this important bill pass. EDIT: The HEAL Act passed the legislature in 2021!
Shmita 5782: How the Upcoming “Year of Release” Can Heal Climate and Community
(Jewish Climate Fest)
January 27, 2021
Shmita, also known as the Sabbath of the Land, obligates every farmer in the Land of Israel to let the soil rest every seven years. Fields are fallowed, ownership is relinquished, and all people and animals take part in the land’s abundance; also, financial debts are cancelled. With the next Shmita year right around the corner in 5782, Deirdre Gabbay, Earth Ministry board member, gathered folks as part of the 2021 Big Bold Jewish Climate Festival to reflect on what this ancient tradition offers to teach us about the challenges we face in the present day, and in particular, how bringing Shmita into the world would benefit our climate, culture, and community.
Salmon, justice, and community –
a perspective from Northwest faith leaders
October 15, 2020
Salmon are a Northwest icon, a species of great cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance. In this recording of a webinar as part of Save Our Wild Salmon’s speaker series, LeeAnne Beres and Rev. John Rosenberg of Earth Ministry/WAIPL explore the sacredness of salmon and how the faith community is bringing people together to restore the Lower Snake River for the benefit of all.
Stop GTN Xpress Coalition People’s Hearing
February 13, 2023
Earth Ministry/WAIPL Board member Naghmana Sherazi spoke at the Stop GTN Xpress Coalition “People’s Hearing” to tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny the GTN fracked gas pipeline expansion. Naghmana’s testimony starts around 24:05.
2022 Year-End Gathering
December 8, 2022
Earth Ministry/WAIPL invited members to look back with us on 2022, celebrate what we have achieved together, and set our focus on what lies ahead. Slides are attached below.
Earth Day Solar 101 Workshop
with Sphere Solar Energy
April 26, 2022
At this event, Sphere Solar Energy presented their Solar 101 Workshop to provide those in attendance with more information on solar energy and why Washington is a perfect place to go solar! Sphere Solar Energy is dedicated to increasing the reach of solar technology in marginalized and under-served communities across the state and around the globe as they educate, encourage, and join different communities on their unique paths as environmental stewards. We are grateful to be working with a company that aligns with our JEDI Statement and look forward to sharing more about our partnership to spread clean solar energy in the Earth Ministry/WAIPL community. Learn more at https://earthministry.org/solar-refer…
2022 Faithful Advocacy Training
January 11, 2022
This is a recording of Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s online faithful advocacy training on 01.11.22. We gathered on Zoom to discuss the unique strengths of a faith-based approach to advocacy and show you what it looks like in action. Participants received practical advice on how to tell their story to decision makers and an overview of the bills Earth Ministry/WAIPL will be supporting in the 2022 Washington State Legislative Session.
Multifaith Greening Congregations
Toolkit Launch
November 18, 2021
Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s Multifaith Greening Congregations Toolkit is here! This first expansion of the toolkit adds content specific to the Jewish tradition and uses more inclusive language throughout. We plan to continue building out this resource to represent the increasing spiritual and cultural diversity of our community. This video is a recording of our November 18, 2021 webinar to share more with our community about our updates to this flagship resource. This event will also featured exciting happenings from existing Greening Congregations and information about ongoing Greening Congregations Gatherings starting this winter.
A Garden with No Owners: Growing and Sharing During the Shmita Year
April 28, 2021
In this session as part of the Shmita Project Northwest’s speaker series, Rabbi Jacob Fine highlights some of the core Shmita teachings that might guide how a gardener chooses to relate differently to their garden during the Shmita year. Drawing on these teachings, Jacob leads a discussion of some specific, practical ideas for Shmita observance in the garden and at home. (While this session is geared towards gardeners, the principles could apply to everyone).
The Shemitah Year and the Social-Theological Vision of the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy)
April 13, 2021
Rabbi Shai Held joined Shmita Project Northwest on 4/13/21 to discuss the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy). Despite our usual associations of Shemitah (the Sabbatical year) with land, Shemitah in Devarim is about something else: It is a year for remitting debts and liberating slaves. In this session, we do a close reading of Devarim 15 and explore such questions as: What kind of social ethic does Devarim seek to instill? How does it work to ensure that there will be no permanent underclass in the land of Israel? What strategies does it use to motivate people to treat one another generously? Along the way, we’ll see how Devarim radicalizes the social vision of Shemot (Exodus).
Earth Ministry’s 2021 Legislative Priorities Update
March 11, 2021
Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light shares updates on the 2021 Washington State legislative session, including on Earth Ministry’s priority bills. This recording is from 3/11/21.
Faithful Advocacy 101 (Jewish Climate Fest)
January 31, 2021
The religious community is an important constituency with a unique moral voice, and clergy and lay leaders are well known for working together for the common good. Yet advocacy can seem intimidating, and many people don’t know how to begin. Led by Jessica Zimmerle and LeeAnne Beres of Earth Ministry/WAIPL and Rabbi Zari Weiss as part of the 2021 Big Bold Jewish Climate Festival, this workshop demystifys the process of making your voice heard and provides hands-on training for communicating your values to elected officials.
Interfaith Advocacy Success Stories: Stopping Fossil Fuel Projects (Jewish Climate Fest)
January 27, 2021
Fossil fuel megaprojects across the United States threaten tribal treaty rights, sacred sites, and the health of our shared land, water, climate, and communities. At the request of Native nations, faith communities in the Northwest have been rising in solidarity with indigenous communities in opposition to coal export terminals, oil transport facilities, and fracked gas projects. This workshop from the 2021 Big Bold Jewish Climate Festival presents case studies of successful interfaith collaboration to stop these climate-wrecking projects and provide best practices for how to be a responsive ally to Native tribes. LeeAnne Beres and Jessica Zimmerle of Earth Ministry/WAIPL and Rabbi Avi Fine of Temple De Hirsch Sinai present on which tactics are the most effective and replicable to organize the interfaith community for climate action in your region.
Faithful Advocacy on PFAS Chemicals
November 11, 2020
This Earth Ministry/WAIPL online event discusses PFAS non-stick chemicals and why people of faith are speaking out for stronger PFAS protections. Jessica Zimmerle and Maddie Smith share how Washington State is leading on PFAS reform, and touch on the State Department of Ecology’s draft Chemical Action Plan for PFAS.
The Holy-ness of Salmon
September 22, 2020
Author Timothy Egan once defined the Northwest as “wherever the salmon can get to.” Our regional identity is steeped in mighty rivers and the fish therein, and the connections we share run deep. Salmon are an indelible icon, a species of great cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance. Explore the holy-ness of salmon in this recording of an Earth Ministry webinar specifically for Inland Northwesterners: folks in Central and Eastern Washington.
Earth Ministry board member and river guide, Jacob Schmidt, shares a short presentation about the importance of salmon to the fabric of our region, and specifically to people of faith. He also covers the status of Columbia/Snake River Basin salmon today, answers questions, and provides action opportunities.