Earth Day began in 1970 after Wisconsin Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson witnessed a horrifying oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. He recruited California Republican Sen. Pete McCloskey and on April 22, 20 million people across party lines demonstrated in support of a healthy environment. Since then, thousands of Christians have honored Earth Day, and 50 years later the concern that inspired the first Earth Day observance is still a priority issue before us today.
Our reliance on unjust energy from fossil fuels is disproportionately harming communities of color and economically marginalized persons. As women of faith, we believe that we have an urgent responsibility to love the Earth and all her communities, and that is why we are working to advance just energy that is centered on justice and equity.
We hope that you will join us throughout the spring to follow God’s call in advancing just energy for all.
Here are ways you can participate in Earth Day 2021:
1 - Learn
- Join United Methodist Women’s Just Energy For All Capacity Building Sessions every third Wednesday of the month. Our next session is April 21 at 3 p.m. ET and will focus on the concerns of biomass around a just energy for all future. View previous sessions and sign up to register here.
2 - Advocate
- Contact your members of Congress and urge them to enact legislation that prioritizes climate justice through a just and equitable transition.
- Join the World Methodist Council’s Climate Justice For All campaign. Hear stories from around the world and commit to climate justice.
- Contact your members of Congress and urge them to implement a moratorium on water and utility shut-offs.
- Urge your local and state governments, public utility commissions and utility companies to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy. Advocate for your local school district to transition from diesel to electric school buses.
- Join United Methodist Women in our third letter writing campaign to the CEO of Chevron, urging the company to take greater action in reducing its emissions of methane, a harmful pollutant. Urge Chevron to #CutMethane waste.
- Print out our Just Energy for All posters and display them in your home, office or car window.
3 - Bible Study, Worship and Prayer
- Deepen your understanding of why caring for God’s creation is fundamental to our faith:
- Purchase the mission study for Kindle: Climate Justice: A Call to Faith, Hope and Love in Action
- Listen to the podcasts:
- Faith Talks with Liz Lee: Creation Care, Sustainability, and Climate Justice
- Faith Talks: Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle
4 - Stay Connected with United Methodist Women
- Join the monthly Just Energy for All strategizing webinars to build a team within your unit, district or conference and sign up to receive climate justice updates.
- Connect with our Be Just. Be Green. Jurisdictional Guides.
We want to hear from you! Let us know how you are honoring Earth Day this spring by sharing updates and photos with us via facebook or e-mail: climatejustice@unitedmethodistwomen.org.