July 8, 2015 
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In California, residents are feeling the intensity of their continued drought and subsequent state-sanctioned fines for over-using water. One of the avenues Californians are using to enforce strict water use rules is “drought shaming.” Drought shaming is the practice of publicly tweeting, blogging and sharing images of neighbors and friends “carelessly” using water.
July 6, 2015 1 Comment
By Talia Berniker
Though skeptics will argue if it’s scientifically true, and politicians will argue about whether it’s relevant, climate change is a threat to our environment, health and economy. When confronting an international issue, like climate change, it is imperative that the United States be at the forefront of creating innovative policies. By refraining from acting on this increasingly time-sensitive issue, our government is ignoring the repercussions of America’s contribution to greenhouse gasses—endangering not only our livelihood, but the well-being of people around the world. In a nation categorized by its wealth and opportunity, it is unjust that the effects of climate change are impacting those in developing countries who leave a much smaller carbon footprint as a result of their inexistent spending power.
July 1, 2015 0 Comments
This week, the Supreme Court issued a decision in that obstructs further implementation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard rule. The regulation, put forward by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2011 and authorized by the Clean Air Act, required electric and energy industries to reduce mercury pollution. The decision in the case Michigan et al v. Environmental Protection Agency centered on the question of whether the EPA unreasonably disregarded the costs to industry of regulating hazardous pollutants. The Court ruled 5-4 that the industry did not have to follow the rule.
June 30, 2015 1 Comment
Summer is when we most often have a moment to examine the beauty of our natural surroundings. But remember when summers weren’t as hot? For many of us, summer is when we bemoan the extreme heat associated with rising global temperatures. Read more…
June 25, 2015 0 Comments
By Jenn Queen
Combating climate change is a moral imperative. Faith leaders have been calling for better policies and encouraging better personal practices to turn the tide of climate change for years. This week, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ latest encyclical (a papal letter sent to all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church stating the Vatican’s position on a particular issue), which details a strong connection between faith and environmental stewardship.
June 24, 2015 1 Comment
Today, the Vatican released Pope Francis’s encyclical titled Laudato Si, which roughly translates to Praised Be. The encyclical details a theology of “integrated ecology” – connecting care for the poor with environmental stewardship – leading many to call this an eco-encyclical, and Pope Francis the Green Pope. The document details specifically the human causes of climate change and our sacred obligation to care for our earth and combat climate disruption.
June 11, 2015 0 Comments
Today the House Appropriations Committee will be voting on state and foreign operations funding allocations for the fiscal year 2016. Currently, House appropriations bills do not include allocations for the Green Climate Fund and may carry rider amendments that would restrict Congress from funding the Green Climate Fund or other climate change-related initiatives at all. The Green Climate Fund is both an important symbol of global unity and a pressing environmental justice matter. We must urge our Representatives to support the Green Climate Fund.
June 9, 2015 3 Comments
Summer is finally and fully upon us! This is the time of year when many of us most appreciate the natural world around us, either by simply spending more time outside in the sun or in home and congregational gardens, hiking, swimming and generally exploring. With summer here and the school year ending, camp season is also by now well underway. For many of us, including me, Jewish summer camp was an amazing opportunity to deeply connect both with the natural world and with our Jewish identities.
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