Green Living Committee
The Green Living Committee usually meets on the first Sunday of each month to discuss how to promote Climate Justice Action in our homes, our church, our community and beyond. UUSM became a Green Sanctuary Church on March 17, 2017. We integrate promote green living practices, from conserving energy, water and resources to urging government actions to address climate change and reduce our collective footprint on the earth. All are welcome at our meetings and events, which are generally right after the first Sunday service of the month. Please contact greenchair@uusm.org to verify time and date.
We join with other UU communities across the world in engaging in Climate Justice Month, beginning in March and concluding with Earth Day in April. At the 2016 UUA General Assembly, we made an Action of Immediate Witness to support the campaign "Commit 2 Respond" The world's nations pledged to address Climate Change with the Paris Agreement in December, 2015. Our Green Living Committee works closely with the City of Santa Monica, Climate Action Santa Monica, regional, state-wide and national environmental organizations to promote action to address Climate Change and promote the health and wellbeing of all Earth's inhabitants and ecosystems.
We ascribe to and are inspired by the Unitarian Universalist Association's 2006 Statement of Conscience on the Threat of Global Warming/Climate Change, which states in part:
Earth is our home. We are part of this world and its destiny is our own. Life on this planet will be gravely affected unless we embrace new practices, ethics, and values to guide our lives on a warming planet. As Unitarian Universalists, how can our faith inform our actions to remedy and mitigate global warming/climate change? We declare by this Statement of Conscience that we will not acquiesce to the ongoing degradation and destruction of life that human actions are leaving to our children and grandchildren. We as Unitarian Universalists are called to join with others to halt practices that fuel global warming/climate change, to instigate sustainable alternatives, and to mitigate the impending effects of global warming/climate change with just and ethical responses. As a people of faith, we commit to a renewed reverence for life and respect for the interdependent web of all existence.
Useful "Climate Justice" link:
Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth - UU Ministry for Earth (formerly the Seventh Principle Project) is an affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Our mission is to facilitate and support the work of Unitarian Universalists by affirming and promoting the Seventh Principle of the UUA, "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Our members believe that the Earth is in peril from human activities, and for us as people of faith, this is a moral and spiritual crisis of utmost importance.
Take our Green Building Education Tour
Throughout our campus we have greatly invested in becoming more Sustainable. We vote for climate justice with our dollars. Take our Green Building Tour and see our creative and innovative green building features.
The Ten Commandments of Our Mother Earth
1. Thou shalt love and honor the Earth, for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival.
2. Thou shalt keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the turning of its seasons.
3. Thou shalt not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction.
4. Thou shalt give thanks for thy food to the creatures and plants that nourish thee.
5. Thou shalt limit thy offspring for multitudes of people are a burden unto the Earth.
6. Thou shalt not kill nor waste Earth's riches upon weapons of war.
7. Thou shalt not pursue profit at the Earth's expense, but strive to restore it's damaged majesty.
8. Thou shalt not hide from thyself or others the consequences of thy actions upon the Earth.
9. Thou shalt not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.
10. Thou shalt consume material goods in moderation so all may share Earth's bounty.
Green Living News
Exploring Healthy Food in South LA
The Green Living Committee and children in the Religious Exploration program took an August 18 field trip to the Paul Robeson Community Wellness Center in South LA. The group of 13 adults and five children explored the brightly painted building, which includes a produce market, catering kitchen, and community center. Offices for Community Services Unlimited and From the Ground Up (their youth internship program) are also located here. We also toured the Veggie Bus, a school bus which now houses a classroom and seed library. UUSM volunteers helped recycle the bus a few years ago. Kids and adults enjoyed helping to harvest fragrant fennel seeds for the Seed Library and Market. We then enjoyed an excellent lunch of Beyond Organic food from CSU’s Expo Park Urban Farm, which included portobello mushroom burgers, quinoa salad, hummus, almond cookies, and strawberry watermelon lemonade. This was a great chance to learn about the history of CSU, their work on healthy food and wellness, and their outreach and internship programs.
(For more photos from the trip, see http://news.uusm.org/exploring-healthy-food-in-south-la/ )