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2008 Yearly Meeting Representative Reports Baltimore Yearly Meeting The BYM Unity with Nature Committee is a small but enthusiastic group. The main focus is to be a highly visible presence at the Annual Session. This year the committee had a large poster of the 2001 minute on Global Warming printed with the question “How far have we come?” The poster was placed in the main meeting room and was on display all through Annual Session. In addition, the QEW display was in the Bookstore with displays from other Friends organizations. I offered two workshops this year. I did a presentation on greening your home. John Darnyl and I presented on workshop on environmental justice modeling as a way of solving social justice issues. We used Gandhi’s method as an example of solving both environmental and social justice issues. John is the energy expert for the Republican Congressman from Maryland. The Unity with Nature Committee showed a movie on how different faith communities around the world are working on environmental issues. As clerk, I presented a challenge from the Unity with Nature committee to all Monthly Meetings, schools, camps, and the BYM office to go green by the 2009 Annual Session. Each group received packed of information containing: the Greening Your Meeting House and the Star Rating System from QEW; a checklist for reducing the carbon produced by the Meeting House, home or office; and materials from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The committee will have an article in each quarterly issue of BYM’s Interchange reporting on how well the YM is doing and a “celebration” at the 2009 Annual Session, The BYM Annual Session is held in the mountains of western Maryland at Frostburg University, in Frostburg. This year, at BYM’s request, the dining hall used more locally grown and organic food – and ice cream, of course. We also requested brown rice – and ate all there was in Frostburg. The University has a recycling program and made sure that we could recycle all the papers necessary for Plenary Sessions. This year BYM sent advance reports out by email and did not print them for Annual Session. The Executive Director, Riley Robinson, is very conscious of environmental issues that need to be addressed for Annual Session. At the end of every fiscal year, the Unity with Nature Committee take the amount remain from budgeted amount and contribute it to an organization to offset the carbon produce as Friends travel to our Annual Session and meetings of other Friends organizations. I have served on the Unity with Nature Committee for six years and will now have to be off the committee for at least one year. In the coming year I will serve on the Peace and Social Concerns Committee and then return to the Unity with Nature Committee. I will continue to be the primary representative to QEW and Sue DeVeer, the new clerk of the committee, will be the secondary representative to QEW. John Hudson may take Sue’s position as secondary representative. —Barbara Williamson
Report from Great Plains Yearly Meeting – October 2008 Steve McConnell 1. Rod Zwirner, QEW steering committee member, and Steve McConnell, GPYM representative attended the 100th anniversary meeting of Great Plains Yearly Meeting which was sponsored by Central City Monthly Meeting in Central City, Nebraska. We spoke about the recent activities of QEW and ways of saving energy. One example was to use a push (reel) lawnmower - it isn’t that hard, saves gas and pollution, and gives one some exercise. We also mentioned the “greening” grant program for monthly meetings. The 100th anniversary was notable for the speakers present, Joe Volk, FCNL; Mary Ellen McNish, AFSC; Margaret Fraser, FWCC; Sylvia Graves, FUM; and Michael Wajda, FGC who spoke about Quakerism into the future. 2. Steve McConnell gave a presentation at a forum of the Citizens for Renewable Energy in Hastings, Nebraska to talk about how to plan a campaign. The group has been opposing the building of a new coal-fired power plant. Other speakers talked about a green building being built on the Hastings College campus, and things individuals could do to save energy. One example was to use a solar cooker. 3. Steve McConnell, speaking to Central City monthly meeting, mentioned the “greening” grant program. Instead of deciding to apply for a grant the monthly meeting donated $100 to the fund instead! 4. People and Quakers in the Great Plains tend to be modest about their accomplishments and lifestyles, one example of one family at GPYM that lives off the grid, using solar energy, and even uses an electric lawnmower from that source instead of a gas mower.
2008 Annual Illinois Yearly Meeting Report For Quaker Earthcare Witness The Environmental Concerns Committee of Illinois Yearly Meeting (ILYM) continues to thrive under the capable leadership of Roy Treadway and the active participation of all of its 14 members, many of whom are also active in QEW. During this past spring, the committee and others gathered on the Meeting House grounds in McNabb, IL and planted 22 new trees, some purchased and some transplants from committee members’ yards. In addition, during the Memorial Day Work Weekend, we cleaned up piles of timber and lumber, trimmed trees, recycled branches into wood chips and removed undesirable plants from around the meetinghouse foundation. ILYM was held in June this year rather than in August, which has been the practice. After two summers of extremely hot August weather, we decided to meet in June to (1) hopefully have cooler temperatures, (which we did), and (2) avoid the possibility and pressures of installing air conditioning. The ECC sponsored a 5:45 am Nature Walk Adventure to the Putnam County Nature area in which 23 people participated, returning to the Meeting House in time for breakfast and Meeting for Worship. During ILYM Roy Treadway led a workshop on Sustainable Building and Steve Walsh led one on Money and Friends. There was a lot of lively discussion in each. For 2009 we decided we would focus on the natural features on the yearly meeting grounds. This year, Sarah and Noel Pavlovich, with artwork by Nancy Halliday, developed an impressive brochure that people can use to take a quiet, worshipful walk around the grounds. It was suggested that we offer a workshop on the natural, cultural, and possibly the soil history of the area during YM in ’09. We agreed to review the cleaning supplies, paper products, and other goods used at the yearly meeting grounds for environmental issues, such as their ability to be recycled, presence of volatile organic compounds, and so forth. ILYM is in the process of developing plans for some new buildings on our grounds, and our committee is having input on sustainable building practices. Roy Treadway is taking the lead on researching possible contractors for geothermal, photovoltaic, and other sustainable supplies and materials. We will be meeting again Oct. 17-19 (Fri-Sun) at McNabb. Some of us will also be attending the QEW annual meeting the week prior to that, near Atlanta, GA. —Submitted by Alice Howenstine
Iowa Yearly Meeting (conservative) representatives report, September 2008: In addition to being IYMC representative to QEW, I am also clerk of the yearly meeting’s Earthcare subcommittee. As both groups share most of the same goals, most of my energy and time over the past year has gone to work with the Earthcare subcommittee. My sense is that concern for environmental issues has become much more widespread in society in general and in our yearly meeting over the last year. Our Earthcare subcommittee prepared a minute on sustainability, with an emphasis on the problems caused by driving cars and urging Friends to consider giving up driving. I expected this minute to be quite controversial, but it was approved by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee and again by the Yearly Meeting with very little discussion. (Minute on next page) More people than I expected spoke to me during yearly meeting sessions about environmental concerns and the challenges we face. Our task now is to help keep these concerns in peoples minds and help us all find ways to act on our concerns. Scattergood Friends School, which is the largest outreach supported by our yearly meeting, is making a significant effort to reduce their environmental impact and reduce energy use. Our yearly meeting is small in numbers but large in geographical area, making visitation among monthly meetings challenging (particularly if we want to avoid driving cars). Our Earthcare subcommittee has worked at doing our business electronically, in part to avoid the environmental impact of driving long distances to meetings. This has worked for us, but we could no doubt find ways to make it work better. —Ken Lawrence
Approved at Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) Annual Sessions Eighth Month, 2, 2008 The following minute is a statement of concern and suggestion for action about a set of issues that are affecting us now and will increasingly affect all of us in the future. Friends are encouraged to prayerfully consider how they will each respond as individuals, families, and meetings. Minute Humanity is no longer in a right relationship with God's creation. Because of our numbers and the way many of us live, we are using resources and impacting the environment in ways that cannot be sustained, the primary example being our dependence upon fossil fuels. Society’s consciousness of this has recently been heightened by rapidly increasing oil prices. People are becoming aware that the way of living that we have become accustomed to cannot continue. If we don't make changes voluntarily, they will be forced upon us. There has been an unspoken assumption that it is acceptable for developed countries to use a disproportionate amount of resources compared to underdeveloped countries. As oil supplies dwindle and prices soar, there is a growing potential for conflict to arise world-wide over remaining oil supplies. Vast resources are required, not only to produce personal automobiles, but for the infrastructure to support them, including highway systems, parking, car washes, supply stores, repair shops, auto insurance, licenses, sales lots, highway patrol, and gas stations. Exhaust from all types of vehicles contributes to greenhouse gases and global warming. Our communities are built on the assumption that we all have the means to travel great distances to get food, go to school, work, and meeting. This has an enormous impact on oil supplies. Friends could help provide leadership by redesigning our communities and lifestyles in such a way that we can forego automobiles. Improved systems of inter- and intra-city mass transportation will be one key to this. There are organizations working to expand and improve rail passenger transportation. Creating more bicycle trails and encouraging the use of bicycles is important. The challenge of giving up automobiles is much greater in rural than urban areas but the factors at work are the same. If those who do have alternatives to personal automobiles would use them, it would help those who need more time and resources to develop their own alternatives. The ease and relatively low cost of long distance travel by air has led to a sense that rapid travel over long distances is normal and acceptable. This has made the air travel industry a major contributor to global climate change. Friends are encouraged to avoid air travel and to work to reduce the need for long distance travel. We need to explore ways to do business remotely. This is a new area that will require trial and error to see what does and does not work for us. Our eating habits also should be considered. It is estimated that the food for an average American meal travels 1500 miles from the farm to the consumer. Studies have shown that the livestock industry contributes more to greenhouse gas emissions than transportation does. We need to eat locally grown food whenever possible. Community garden plots, community supported agriculture, and re-learning how to preserve foods will help, as will reducing meat consumption. Friends are encouraged to work with the Friends Committee on National Legislation, and their local, state, and national representatives to help pass environmentally responsible legislation, including government support for improved mass transportation, and blocking construction of new coal and nuclear fission power plants. We have seen the unintended side effects of legislation promoting the increased use of ethanol. We encourage Friends to be examples as we explore creative ways to promote renewable energy, reduce energy consumption, recycle, and facilitate the use of local foods and products. There is an urgent need to curb oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, right now. Until some of these physical and social changes occur, it may be difficult for some Friends to give up their cars. Doing so as soon as possible is our goal, and could be a catalyst for change of the magnitude needed to reduce the current rate of environmental damage.
Lake Erie Yearly Meeting Earthcare Committee Report: 2008 Lake Erie Yearly Meeting’s Earthcare Committee hosted a workshop at yearly meeting on “Knowing Your Watershed.” That was part of the committee’s theme< “Preserving Your Bioregion.” Workshop participants broke into small groups according to the watershed they live in. Then they located on a map of the watershed where there house is located and noted the natural environmental features-wetlands, woodlands, parks, undeveloped openspace--near and around the area in which they live. They were then encouraged to discuss what they might do to (1) preserve desirable features of their watershed environment and (2) help regenerate or cleanup some aspects that have been polluted in various ways. One watershed, the Maumee in Northern Ohio and its tributaries has been contaminated by runoff from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Some of Southern Michigan’s subwatersheds native flowers and grasses are being squeezed out by invasive species such as purple lose strife. Friends can join local non-government organizations that work to eliminate or at least ameliorate those problems. A booklet written and produced by Judy Goodman, one of the committee’s founding members, entitled, “Getting Started! Growing our sense of Spirit-home the Bioregional Way” was used to get Friends started thinking about what they might be able to as part of a group and individuals to help preserve their bioregion and make it more sustainable than it is now. The films “Renewal” and “The Future of Food” were shown at free times for attenders to view and discuss. Jim Crowfoot hosted those viewings and discussions. Conservation titles that were being considered for the 2007 Farm Bill—which due to veto attempts by the President became to 2008 Farm Bill—were discussed. The committee is still working on developing communications contacts with each monthly and preparatory meeting and worship group in yearly meeting so they can communicate their local concerns to the committee and so the committee and LEYM can provide appropriate support and assistance when needed. The Hogans continue to hold their educational and outreach retreats and Greenfire eco-village. —Respectfully Submitted, Alan N. Connor
New England Yearly Meeting 2008 NEYM is blessed with many individuals and several Monthly Meetings whose knowledge and actions can be seen as progressively working toward an improved relationship to the Earth. The Yearly Meeting also has a committee that specifically addresses Earthcare concerns, the Earthcare Ministry Committee. As I look back over the past year I am disappointed that more was not done by this committee. There were mitigating circumstances, like severe weather at the wrong time and unavailable leadership, yet with a more comprehensive strategy these might have been overcome. Two positive efforts were Ruah and Louis, who happen to be members of NEYM as well as of Earthcare Ministry, walking all the way down the West Coast, and our workshops at YM Sessions in August. Of course we cannot take credit for their Peace for Earth Walk, but in the mists early in this decade NEYM did publish /"John Woolman and the Global Economy"/ which was widely discussed pre 9/11. Our two, 3-day YM workshops (Global Climate Change and War, and Earthcare Changes at the Personal, Community and Societal Levels) have short reports that are available to those interested. What did not succeed was our intention to set up intervisitation for the purpose of listening to concerns, frustrations and successful efforts related to Earthcare around the Yearly Meeting. Of course, weather and the price of gas were factors, but I think that focusing more on Quarterly Meetings would be useful. I sense that through listening we could form a more comprehensive strategy toward deepening our spiritual connection to Creation and living our lives accordingly. My strongest personal frustrations center on the fact that at YM sessions other issues predominate. Yes, NEYM does not like FUM’s personnel policy and we have aspects of homophobia that need attention. But what about the Gaia-phobia that is destroying the very sources of our existence? Yes, there are still forms of racism and white privilege amongst us. But what about the American privilege that allows even the poorest of us to consume well beyond the earth’s means? Yes, there are many wars, on Muslims, on our consciousness, on germs, etc., none of which ever really succeed until time is taken to connect the dots concerning the factors that precipitated the condition. In 1996 Ted Bernard’s keynote speech to NEYM was “Earth Despoiled, Earth Restored: What God Requires of Us”. It is time to revisit this theme and its multiplicity of concerns. —Rod Zwirner for Mary Gilbert For an example of our members' ecumenical work see the website for Maine Council of Churches in environmental justice.
New York YM Earthcare Working Group Report to QEW Fall Sessions—October 10 – 13th, Atlanta, Ga. Kristina Keefe-Perry and Janet Soderberg After last year’s passage of the Earthcare Minute, activity in NYYM – on the level of the Yearly Meeting – was relatively low. While there were events and successes in raising awareness of Earthcare in the YM, there were challenges too. Most notable as event was the Earthcare Series of workshops held at Powell House, NYYMs retreat and conference center in Old Chatham, NY. Workshops considered eco spirituality, the work of Friends and Permaculture. In addition to these workshops, the Farmington Scipio Region devoted its Spring Gathering agenda entirely to Earthcare issues. (See the article in BeFriending Creation by Maeve Cullinane) However, energy for Earthcare at the YM level was flat. Last summer, NYYM approved the “Eco-spirituality and Action” minute. This was sent to the clerks of all the monthly meetings with a “call to action.” Meetings were asked to worship-share on four queries. With the minute, a cover letter invited meetings to develop action plans and to share these actions plans with the Earthcare Working Group, who would compile them and present a report to the gathering this summer. The following draws from that report put together by EWG Co-Clerk, Janet Soderberg of 15th St. Meeting. The committee received 10 reports—a little over 10 percent of all the meetings in NYYM. Why so few? “It’s hard to do one more thing.” “We are already so busy.” This is usually [the] answer. Actions, Concerns and Suggestions:
Individual: doing personal carbon footprints, eating lower on the food chain, purchasing wind energy through one’s local utility, disposing of electronics wisely, minimizing energy for lighting, reducing one’s garbage through composting and recycling, refraining from taking any more plastic bags, and reducing junk mail. These actions have been publicized in monthly meeting newsletter articles, meeting minutes, and on posters. Meeting-level: energy audits, coffee hour actions to use Fair Trade coffee, green cleaners, and biodegradeable cups, plates, etc., energy-efficient lighting and heating, better insulation, using less lighting, less heat, less AC, less paper, peace vigils and other anti-war actions (to preserve eco-systems and human lives), Community: Earthcare weekends at Powell House, buying local produce at Farmer’s Markets, subscribing to community-supported agriculture programs at nearby farms, growing your own organically (in cities too, e.g. “Grass Roots Gardens of Buffalo”!), National: Working with FCNL; getting their e-mails on earth bills before Congress and writing letters. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ At Summer Sessions both co-clerks stated their desire to step down from clerking the committee. No one was clear to step into this role, at this time. Instead, the working group will remain Clerk-Free for the duration and energies will be focused on the Monthly and Regional Meeting level. Kristina Keefe-Perry – the QEW Rep, offered to start a Google Group for sharing of stories, resources and information. The Google group will also be a forum for scheduling Working Group Meetings at Fall, Winter and Spring Sessions of NYYM. From our former co-clerk: Those of us at Silver Bay—after no one was willing to be clerk for the coming year—came to a very interesting solution to this. We decided to become an active Google group in which business would be determined by the needs of the overall group. Issues would come to light through emails in the group. We realized that earthcare actions can often be most effective on the local level. Our mission in the group would be to provide support to those of us working on action in our communities and to share information, problems, and successes. Pacific Yearly Meeting is doing this very effectively after no one came forward to be clerk in 2006, and the formal committee was laid down. See the Sept-Oct 2008 issue of Befriending Creation: www.quakerearthcare.org/Publications/BeFriendingCreation/index.htm The decision was to focus on regional work. We’ll see what happens next. —Respectfully Submitted, Kristina Keefe-Perry, Rochester, MM, NYYM
Report From North Carolina Yearly Meeting (FUM) Representative 2008 As with any large organization, North Carolina Yearly Meeting (NCYM) can be difficult to work with, and with many committees and approvals to be had, slow. This is also the case for the past year. I have gathered and created information for the Meetings in NCYM to be distributed by the Yearly Meeting. This first had to go through the Peace and Social Justice Committee. Since committee meeting schedules vary in time between meetings this was done through e-mail. The information I provided consisted of information about me, QEW and ways I could assist or help other meetings. This included finding information, a list of pamphlets available, and offers to assist in planning a workshop or attending their meeting to discuss Earthcare issues. A few weeks later, an envelope with the information I submitted for approval arrived at my house. When I asked if this was just for me, or if it had gone to all the meetings was not answered. Questioning the pastor of another two Meetings, neither recalled having seen it, although one does not directly handle the mail. I kept an eye out for e-mails that may be from Meetings, but have seen none. I'm not entirely surprised, but at our Annual Session last year various members of Meetings attended my workshop and showed interest in Earthcare. This year at our Annual Session I was only able to stay for two days. Through a misunderstanding with registration, was unable to eat lunch in the location I had thought, cutting the time I wished to talk about Earthcare and QEW to Louis Cox and others. I met a few others that showed up last year, but was pressed for time and was not able to talk or discuss to the lengths I wished. I know that it can take quite a while to catch the ear of Meetings and a Yearly Meeting - it also takes persistence. I feel that this year time and energy has been even more scarce than previous, and have not been able to fill my duties as I should. I must do some examining to determine my proper place with both QEW and NCYM. —In Peace, Alan Baker North Carolina Yearly Meeting Conservative (NCYMc) Fall 2008 Report to QEW Steering Committee from Cheryl Fetterman, appointed representative to QEW Significant activity with concern for earth care has taken place in the North Carolina Yearly Meeting in the past year. During our annual sessions in July 2007 we agreed to form an Earthcare Committee and there was a healthy amount of interest in involvement on that committee. Since that time the committee has been in touch via email between meetings and Quaker process has been slow as we discern our purpose. After a series of mealtime meetings during our annual sessions in July 2008 one member, Richard Miller, tried to sift through and sum up where we are at this point. Excerpts from his words follow here: “I think there is an emerging sense that each individual has a responsibility to be aware of nature. Second, when you have real contact with nature then you feel a concern. Third, don’t feel guilty about the fact that your personal efforts alone won’t be enough to save the planet. Fourth, don’t try to make others feel guilty about not following your leadings. Finally, there is always a sense of joy and lightness that comes when we are faithful. “ The Greenville monthly meeting, of which Richard Miller is a member, has invited our Earthcare committee to meet quarterly on fourth first days in Greenville. The committee’s clerk, Nan Bowles, has submitted two inspirational earthcare messages for inclusion in newsletters published by NCYMc monthly meetings. This is a practice the committee hopes to continue. The most recent issue of the Journal of the North Carolina Yearly Meeting Conservative has as its’ theme “Caring for Creation”. This journal is a collection of writings by members and friends of the yearly meeting. The Journal is available at http://ncymc.org/jounral/index.html. Caring for Creation is issue number 5, summer 2008. This Journal issue follows annual sessions in which Carl Macgruder was invited to attend and speak one evening and much interest was expressed toward environmental concerns. Monthly meetings within our yearly meeting have continued their efforts to act on their concern for the environment. A listing of some of their projects and actions during the past year follows:
North Carolina Yearly Meeting Conservative Query #10 asks Friends to consider their relationship with the nature. The query follows and with some responses. Normally, query responses from monthly meetings are collected in a report and read aloud at annual sessions in July. Since our annual session minutes have not been published by the time of the writing of this report some responses are missing.
Query #10 Do we endeavor to live in harmony with nature? Are we careful in our stewardship of the world’s irreplaceable resources?
Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting Representative Report 2008 Earthcare at OVYM has encouraged Earlham food services to provide receptacles for recycling in the cafeteria during Yearly Meetings. We are also encouraging them to buy local produce to be served at meals served during Yearly Meeting. I participated in conference calls for OVYM Earthcare committee. attended and participated in our Monthly Meeting's QEW committee meetings. I set up QEW display at OVYM and a gave report on QEW's Annual and Steering Committee Meetings, also to my Monthly Meeting. Attended Earthcare queries at OVYM led by Bill Cahalan, and he brought me up to date on Earthcare committee at OVYM I was unable to attend. At our last QEW committee meeting at the Meetinghouse, a representative of 1Sky, who has moved to the Bloomington, Indiana area, attended our meeting. I plan to attend the 1Sky "kick-off" for Global Warming on September16, 2008. —Respectfully submitted, Marci Ankrom
Pacific Yearly Meeting Report Earthcare Flourishes Among Western Friends (report given at PacYM this summer) Joe Morris, PacYM representative to QEW (Santa Monica Friends Meeting) This past year has again brought bad news for our planet: glaciers melting ever faster, the cyclone in China, the paralysis of international agreements over reducing greenhouse gas emission, and, here in California, the over 2,000 wildfires that have burned since the beginning of summer. But for the involvement of Quakers in Pacific Yearly Meeting for Earthcare, the story is quite different. Those attending the 2006 Annual Gathering will recall the widespread anxiety and confusion expressed about our lack of response to environmental issues. Things were in such disarray that the Clerk then of the Unity with Nature (UWN) Committee even came forth at a special plenary to recommend that the committee be laid down. No unity was found on this matter. Over the following year, 2006-7, UWN came vigorously back to life. It held seven committee meetings and set up over 30 liaisons in virtually all of the monthly meetings, who would relay communication. The committee then took on its major task for the year: encouraging discussion and possible minutes from monthly meetings in response to climate change. After the initial minute approved by Santa Monica Meeting in October 2006, 16 additional monthly meetings (about half of all PYM Meetings) went on to approve their own versions of a minute. This impressively broad support exceeded that for any other issue over several decades. Inspired by this, UWN brought forth a "Responding to the Global Climate Crisis" minute at the 2007 Gathering, which was strongly approved with no revisions. From that plenary, UWN was charged with two tasks: the gathering of reports from monthly meetings on their actions regarding global warming over the coming year and a request to commence the formulation of a new testimony on "Harmony with Nature," in cooperation with the PYM Discipline Committee. This rest of this article describes the action on these two commissions. But first, deserving mention are four other events that made this past year an extraordinary one for Earthcare:
Admittedly, this is a bold statement. Is this optimism warranted? Before receiving these reports, no one in PYM could know the extent of environmental involvement among meetings, and some assumed it was minimal. Here are the findings: First, over 75 percent—29 meetings and 3 worship groups—did send a report, an impressively high proportion. This number gives us some real confidence that the overall findings are representative of the yearly meeting as a whole. Second, about 85 percent of meetings and worship groups, the overwhelming majority, stated that they had considered and taken significant steps to respond to the environmental crisis. Of the 32 returns, only 4 indicated that involvement was minimal. Naturally, some meetings are much more involved than others. But we can now say with confidence that Earthcare is not only alive but flourishing among PYM Quakers. Finally, the activities reported are not merely conventional ones like using florescent bulbs or cloth bags, but show an impressive and creative variety of approaches. For example,
Dozens of other activities are too numerous to mention here, including some that were a bit provocative, e.g., a worship group whose members "dumpster-dive" for reusables! Anyone with lingering doubts about the widespread activism can examine the meeting reports for themselves. (An interest group where representatives of four especially innovative meetings—Central Coast, Orange Grove, Grass Valley, and Sacramento, was given at the '08 PYM.) The second charge for the UWN Committee this past year was to begin work on drafting a new testimony on "Harmony with Nature." The committee conferred about this for several months and contacted the Clerk of Discipline Committee to begin work together. Since February, an environmental working group composed of members of Strawberry Creek Meeting (but with no official ties) has worked since February on a draft, which is now available in an initial form. It broadens our definition of community to include all of life and challenges us to consider our place in a society that routinely consumes the diminishing resources of an ailing planet. (An interest group on this was also offered at the '08 PYM.) Conclusions and reflections From relative quiescence two years ago, Friends Meetings of PYM seem to be experiencing a collective shift in a spiritual connection to the planet. Witness the climate-change minutes, the activism among meetings, the walks of Rolene and Ruah, and the work toward a new testimony. Maybe this energy has become contagious. In July, the North Pacific Yearly Meeting also approved a climate change minute, drawing on our minute and using some of the same wording. What might all this mean? Things are happening so fast that it is hard to define the pattern -- akin to drawing the shape of a cloud that changes from moment to moment. As Quakers are wont to say, "Proceed as way opens." Certainly more surprises await us. As Earthcare becomes part of our spiritual lives, several new personal challenges seem to be emerging among us. A critical one is the place of environmental justice. Most all of the meeting activities are focused on care and respect for other species. Yet our current testimonies urge us to minister to the poor and disadvantaged of the world. Pointedly, these are the very ones most harmed by the exploitation of the environment, whether they are inner-city children in L.A. developing cancer from the fumes of diesel trucks, impoverished families who must live near toxic waste sites, or the millions in Africa facing famine or starvation due to the prolonged drought. We Quakers still are learning that care for the planet must include care for its people. If, for instance, we don't address the poverty of people in Brazil, they will continue to cut down rain forest and further impact us all. As oil consumption grows, it not only increases global warming but also the odds of war over scarce resources. We cannot ultimately separate environmental activism from social activism. A positive example is the work of the Right Sharing of World Resources project. A second challenge is work with other groups—both interfaith and nonreligious—for Earthcare. Only four meetings mentioned such activities, yet it is linked to our testimony of community. We will never be able to do this work alone. We need other people, the 99.9 percent who are not Quakers, to widen our vision and the impact of our actions. In this, we are significantly behind many churches, who have many interfaith alliances for the environment. This now includes both liberal and evangelical denominations. A powerful positive example is Interfaith Power and Light, which began in the San Francisco Peninsula and now has branches around the country. Why not have non-Quakers like Sally Bingham, the founder of Interfaith Power and Light, who lives nearby, speak to us at PYM? The need for collaboration demonstrates that the job of Earthcare is not to move away from the age-old Friends testimonies of equality, simplicity, and community, but to build on them, revealing new meaning in them for the 21st century. Our Quaker ancestors would probably agree. In 1693, William Penn wrote, "And it would go a long way to caution and direct people in their use of the world that they were better studied and knowing in the creation of it. For how could men find the conscience to abuse it, while they should see the great Creator look them in the face, in all and every part thereof." A final challenge is dealing with our negative feelings—anxiety, discouragement, guilt, and powerlessness —about the planetary crisis we now face. These feelings (sometimes called "green fatigue") seem to be growing in our country, and they can paralyze any effort. An objection raised at the recent North Pacific Yearly Meeting was why we should bother about global warming. Can we make any difference? Don't the corporations or the government or China really call the shots? Quakers voice these doubts here as well. Discouragement easily becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Ultimately, the ethical rightness of an action is separate from its hoped-for effects. I am reminded of the Vietnam protestor, standing alone on a street corner in the seventies, who was confronted by a sarcastic driver. "Do you think you can really change the generals in the Pentagon?" He replied, "I'm doing this so they won't change me." The writer Nelson Henderson also expressed it well: "The meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." What we do today to heal the planet may not be noticed in our lifetime or even in our children's. Maybe our grandchildren will benefit. It will take generations, many scientists say, for our planet to noticeably heal. And some damage is irreversible. Extinct species are gone forever. Earthcare may then be the most unselfish social movement in our history. That is why care for the Earth must be a spiritual matter! And that is why, in this ailing world, we in particular are needed and called. *Joe Morris is a member of Santa Monica Friends Meeting. He has been Clerk of the Unity with Nature Committee of Pacific Yearly Meeting since 200 2007-08 Annual Report to QEW from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Ed Dreby and Hollister Knowlton After more than 12 years of leadership, Ed Dreby stepped down as clerk/project leader of Philadelphia Yearly meeting’s Earthcare Working Group in the summer of 2007. Hollister Knowlton, who has served on the committee since 1996, agreed to take over the role of clerk. Monthly Face to Face Meetings replaced by Conference Calls - Membership Both to lower our carbon footprint and to enable more distant Friends to join the group, we began to meet by conference call in December 2007. We are fortunate in being able to utilize AFSC’s conference calling system, which makes the calls free for participants. We now have six new members, five “old timers” who continue to be active, and at least three others who serve on the Climate Action Project (see below). We reluctantly said farewell to Keith Helmuth, who, with his wife Ellen, returned in mid 2008 to their family home in New Brunswick, Canada. We have so appreciated his service with EWG. PYM Annual Sessions—At the QEW/EWG display, we distributed Quaker Condoms (quite a hit), QEW’s Household Carbon Calculator, the 3 volumes of Seeds of Violence/ Seeds of Hope, and QEW trifolds, many of which were picked up. Three members of EWG attended annual sessions and one new person joined there. Taylor Lamborn gave a workshop on Taking Legislative Action on Climate Change, and Hollister Knowlton gave two workshops, one one ecological/carbon footprint and the other on Gaviotas and ZERI. Traveling to Meetings and Quarters and other groups – 1. Ed Dreby (Mt Holly MM)
7. Hollister Knowlton (Chestnut Hill MM)
Friends Testimonies and Economics (FTE) —EWG continued to provide active oversight of this joint project with Quaker Earthcare Witness. FTE became the project through which EWG continued the exploration of “fueling our future,” the report which will hopefully inform QEW’s consideration of energy policy. (See FTE Report, sent separately) Launching a Listening Survey—the EWG is launching a listening survey to contact MMs in the YM (there are 104 MM’s in Philadelphia YM). It’s goal is to listen to what MM’s have been and are doing in response to climate change (both in the MM and in schools they may oversee), to check to see if our EWG/QEW contact is still interested in serving, and to identify Friends who are interested in Earthcare matters who might want to be part of our growing e-mail list for receiving news of events, etc. —Submitted by Hollister Knowlton and Ed Dreby, Reps to QEW from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Environmental Concerns of Chapel Hill Friends Meeting of Piedmont Friends Fellowship Ruth Hamilton Ruth Hamilton helped form the Environmental Concerns Committee at Chapel Hill Friends Meeting in Feb., 2007. The environmental group became very involved in the No Outlying Landing Fields project in Washington County, NC. The Navy was attempting to build a landing field through the center of the Atlantic Flyway and to displace 150 farm families for landing strip. The bi-partisan organizational efforts were successful in that the Navy pulled out in Jan. 2008. The ECC is now involved in community gardens and in planning a meeting garden that will also serve the Carolina Friends Early School . On Aug.16, 2008, Ruth Hamilton organized a field trip to an organic blueberry farm and to Antioch Community Garden in Cedar Grove, NC. The group got to see how the Methodist Church successfully operates a large community garden in a small rural community. The ECC presented a forum on “Eco-justice” to the CHFM on Aug. 3, 2008. Ruth Hamilton clerked the forum which presented several NC areas that are environmentally threatened. The Neuse River, the watershed for the surrounding area, was discussed as one of the ten most endangered rivers in America. This river has been the victim of rampant hog farming and massive land development. A pilot conference on green jobs for minorities was held at North Carolina Central University on Sept. 21. Members of CHFM were active on the planning committee. Ruth and several members of Chapel Hill Friends meeting attended the very successful conference which drew over 300 attendees. The keynote speaker was Mijora Carter of Sustainable South Bronx. Ruth Hamilton was in Magdalena, N.M., from Nov. 2007-April, 2008. During that time, she visited the Albuquerque Friends Meeting in Albuquerque, NM. As a visiting ambassador of Quaker Earthcare Witness, she told the meeting about the mini-grants that are offered to meetings. Soon this meeting created an environmental concerns group and created a project to protect the Cibolo Springs in NW New Mexico. Albuquerque Friends Meeting was a recipient of a QEW mini-grant. Ruth also attended the Inter Mountain Yearly Meeting at Ghost Ranch, NM June 11-15 as a QEW representative. She conducted a workshop that used the expressive arts to help Friends explore their commitment to the environment and spirituality. The workshop had 15 attendees, all of which supported IMYM joining QEW. An affiliation with QEW almost happened except that the business meeting ran out of time. By 2009, Intermountain Yearly Meeting is expected to affiliate with QEW. A representative from Tucson Friends Meeting has requested that Ruth come to the meeting and present a workshop for QEW. Ruth plans to arrange this when she returns to New Mexico in Nov. 2008. Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association (SAYMA) 2008 Report to QEW Each year, Friends in SAYMA work to increase awareness of ecological issues through the Ecological Concerns Network. While some activities continue through the year, like our e-newsletter, Befriending Creation, and occasional inter-visitation, most organized activities occur at our yearly meeting at Warren Wilson College in June Ecological Concerns Network continues to provide support to green Friends in monthly meetings and worship groups throughout the large geographical dispersed Yearly Meeting. We have encouraged responsible car pooling in our YM, an area poorly served by public transportation systems. ECN irregularly publishes its newsletter announcing environmental and sustainability news that Friends are moved to share with the YM. This year's Yearly Meeting has brought about a change of focus that we are still finding our feet with. This year ECN had a table with literature and promoted continued green activities at YM. In addition, QEW Director, Ruah Swennerfelt, visited yearly meeting, spoke to Business Meeting, and presented a workshop. ECN held regular lunches during YM to discuss ecological concerns. ECN desires to be more proactive and involved which means it needs to take on a larger advocacy role. It has been determined that this needs to happen through promoting legislation at the local, regional and state levels of government. We need to get to know our local city council people, county commissioners, and state representatives to encourage them to vote in a manner that supports ecological concerns in our local areas. Contact People: Roy Taylor, David Ciscel, Carol Ciscel
September 2008 This past year in Southeastern Yearly Meeting saw the creation of an Earthcare committee at the yearly meeting level. We have met once and begun to define our work together. The creation of this committee is an acknowledgement of growing concern for the earth in our Yearly Meeting. Our committee initiated a tree-planting project to offset our carbon footprint for our gatherings at the camp where the Yearly Meeting gathers. In spite of rain and mud, we were helped by the teens to plant two crepe myrtles, and look forward to this being the first of many such plantings. We were invited by the teens to talk with them about QEW and concerns for the earth. We were gratified by the sophistication of their knowledge and the depth of their care for the earth. SEYM continues to have QEW workshops at our YM Gathering. We welcome the annual presence of a QEW representative at our Gathering, and look forward to QEW's presence in the future. Southeastern Yearly Meeting is working on a revision of our Faith & Practice. The YM reps have asked to be involved on the section on testimonies, to strengthen the section on the spiritual basis of our love for the Earth. Below we are including in this year's SEYM annual report to QEW the following report.
Yearly Meeting 3/08 In attendance: Tommie Gipson, Rod Zwimmer, Al Geiger, Eduardo Diaz, Karen Arrington, Mary Jo Klingel, Jack Bradin, and Barbara Letsch The meeting opened with a period of silent worship. 1. Minutes from the Winter Interim Business Meeting ad hoc committee meeting were read, corrections were made, and they were accepted. 2. An introduction to the Earthcare Working Group was made for the new attendees. The relationship with the committee and Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) was described as one of a resource and support. 3. The e-mail letter that was sent to Monthly Meeting clerks introducing the committee and requesting committee members was distributed. It was noted that there were no replies. A follow up letter will be sent out. 4. The tree planting program to offset our carbon footprint for travel to YM and IBMs via donations for tree planting and for our Youth Program is underway. Two of three donated trees were planted at LEC as of this writing. The Youth are scheduled to plant the third Friday afternoon. The committee recognizes that this program needs to be fully developed with appropriate locations to plant and care for the newly planted trees. Informing YM and IBM attendees of the program and donation collection needs to be done in an effective manner. 5. The QEW Mini Grant Program for greening Monthly Meetings was described. Committee attenders were asked to share this information with their Monthly Meetings. 6. MINUTE: 0108 (March 20, 2008) The SEYM Earthcare Working Group Committee unites with Gainesville Monthly Meetings' concern that there be a separate Friends Testimony on Stewardship. The committee will work on preparing a draft testimony for Yearly Meetings consideration. In the meantime, the committee recommends that Monthly Meetings review what has been prepared by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. 7. Responses to querying the committee on the role of the EWG and how we are led at this time include: a)Role: shining a light on issues to share with MMs; to educate ourselves on Earthcare; to nurture the spiritual connection between humans and the earth; and to act as a conduit to reach out to the larger community. We are led in seemingly different ways: to start slowly as so many of us already are heavily involved in our commitments. We must remember, however, that Florida is a fragile ecosystem. We must promote and support renewable energy so further damage is not done its ecosystem. New Business: 8. A structure for QEW MM reps is being developed by Mary Jo Klingel. The meeting ended with a short period of silent worship. —Prayerfully submitted, Barbara Letsch We continue to seek the guidance of the Spirit in our work. Submitted by, Jack Bradin, YM Representative
I attended three Peace and Social Concerns Committee meetings at Western YM. Committee distributed two cloth grocery bags with at least two QEW brochures in them to each monthly at Yearly Meeting Sessions in August. I had a display and brochures at Western YM. I have not yet been able to directly approach MM committees regarding QEW and Earthcare. They are hard to find, and a new list should be published soon. I also attended Wilmington YM with display and brochures and talked with various people, including the president of Wilmington College and the worship leader (pastor at Wilmington Monthly Meeting) about Earthcare and QEW. And I spent a day at Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting to participate in a committee meeting with Bill Cahalan and Marcie regarding Earthcare and QEW, and agreed to present a workshop next year on the spirituality of Earthcare. —Grace, peace, joy, blessings, Marshall Gibson |
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