wfn.org | Interfaith Capitol Rally in D.C. May 22 on Environment

[Carol Fouke <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Rabinowitz Media 202-547-3577 or NCC News 212-870-2252

INTERFAITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO RALLY AT CAPITOL FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION
100s of Activists to Form Human Graph of Greenhouse Gasses
Rally follows release of open letter to President Bush, Congress

May 21, 2001, WASHINGTON, DC - Leading members of Congress will join more 
than 300 religious activists from across the country at an interfaith rally 
for energy conservation and climate justice, Tuesday, May 22nd  from 12:30 
p.m. - 1:30 p.m.  The "Let There Be Light" rally, which will take place on 
the Capitol East Lawn between the Senate and Supreme Court buildings, (near 
the Senate "Swamp" site) is open to the media and coverage is invited.  In 
case of rain, the rally will take place at the same time, but in the United 
Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave., NE.

More than 300 environmental justice ministry leaders from across the United 
States are meeting May 20-23 at Catholic University, under the auspices of 
the National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Working Group and 23 
participating denominations/communions.  Their conference features 
presentations on significant environmental justice issues, theological 
anchor presentations and working sessions on starting local and regional 
environmental ministries.

At the rally, sponsored by the National Council of Churches, conference 
participants and other activists from across the religious spectrum will 
form a human bar graph to illustrate the disproportionate amount of 
greenhouse gasses produced by the United States.

The rally and conference come at a strategic and moral crossroads with 
respect to energy policy, as President Bush embarks on a nationwide tour to 
sell his energy plan announced Thursday. Immediately following the rally, 
the religious activists - coming from nearly 40 states -- will fan out 
across Capitol Hill to urge their members of Congress to support energy 
conservation and climate justice.

Representatives from the American Baptists, Methodists and Episcopal 
churches also joined representatives of the various Jewish movements, among 
many others, on Friday (May 18) in releasing an open letter to President 
Bush, the U.S. Congress and the American public urging them to make energy 
choices that protect the global commons and future generations, in addition 
to meeting America's energy needs.

WHAT:	Interfaith Capitol Hill Rally for Energy Conservation
WHEN:	Tuesday, May 22nd, 12:30pm-1:30 p.m.
WHERE:	Capitol East Lawn between the Senate and the Supreme Court
		(near the Senate Swamp)
		In case of rain: United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave., NE
		First floor conference room

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