A report from Washington IPL on the second of two EPA hearings. The first hearing was last week in the DC area. This article is crossposted from EarthMinistry.org:
On May 21, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (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 — 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. Â 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
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
