wfn.org | Capitol rally draws environmental justice advocates

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May 23, 2001   News media contact: Joretta Purdue ·(202) 546-8722·Washington
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WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The concept of human beings as stewards of God's
creation united about 200 people who rallied for environmental justice on
the east lawn of the U.S. Capitol building May 22.

"We know that we as human beings are responsible for the ways in which we
use and abuse [God's creation]," said Bishop Melvin Talbert, ecumenical
officer of the United Methodist Council of Bishops. "Because we know so much
is at stake, we dare not remain silent."

Most people in his audience were participants in a four-day environmental
justice ministry conference sponsored by the National Council of Churches.
Other registrants were conducting visits with their senators and
representatives. 

About 50 of the rally participants formed a human bar graph illustrating the
disproportionate carbon dioxide emissions among three areas: the United
States with 4.5 percent of the world population puts out 25 percent of the
emissions; the European Union with 6 percent of the people emits 15 percent
of the carbon dioxide; and China with 21 percent of the world population
creates 11 percent of the emissions, based on the World Resources Institute
figures for 1999.

One of several speakers, Talbert called on the president, Congress and the
American people to seek the common good; to be good stewards of God's
creation; and to do justice and what is right for future generations."

He noted that he had joined 38 other religious leaders May 18 in addressing
an open letter to these parties to lift up some core values as the nation
makes national policies related to energy and the environment. He cited
three moral obligations from the letter:

·	"We as human beings are stewards of God's creation. We have the
moral obligation to choose safe, clean and sustainable sources of energy to
protect God's creation."
·	" We are responsible for future generations. By depleting energy
sources, causing global warming, fouling the air with pollution, and
poisoning the land with radioactive waste, proposing a policy that stresses,
only, more fossil fuels and nuclear power diminishes the health and well
being of our children and grandchildren."
·	 "We call for an energy policy that will be an investment in social
and economic justice here and around the world. ... Price gouging is not
justice." 

Talbert decried the administration's announcement that it will not keep the
Kyoto Protocol dealing with climate change and Bush's proposal of tax cuts
"as the primary means for addressing the current energy crisis without
confronting the outrageous actions of oil companies."

In a surprise appearance, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) said that energy
and environment are not just politics but are principles derived from faith.

"If we believe in God the Creator, we have a special responsibility toward
the natural environment and toward each other as well," he remarked.

President Bush's recently announced energy plan is "production driven,"
Lieberman objected. He asked that the administration apply the basic
principles required by religious faith instead of "relaxing regulations so
more and more junk goes in the air" and urged investing in "a moon-shot
technology" to produce and use clean forms of energy.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Me.) said, "Our best strategy for dealing with our
energy crisis, particularly in the short term, is to increase conservation.
If every American household were to replace just four 100-watt incandescent
light bulbs with compact flourescent bulbs, we'd eliminate the need to build
30 new power plants." In her statement read to the rally, Collins said she
believes conservation can save consumers hundred of billions of dollars
while protecting the planet for future generations.

Scott Anderson, chief executive of the California Council of Churches, said
the congregations of California are pledging to reduce the energy
consumption of their houses of worship by at least 20 percent, to advocate
for low-income families so they do not have to choose between food and
lights and to work with state and federal governments in moving the nation's
energy policies toward renewable energy sources and away from fossil fuels.

Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform
Judaism, commended the president for the parts of his energy plan that would
offer some new investment in conservation, new technologies and energy
assistance to low-income families. But he objected to its expanded "reliance
on oil, coal, and nuclear energy, which destroy land, pollute the air, and
harm or threaten public health.

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United Methodist News Service
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