Call for a New US Policy Toward Haiti
Please urge the Biden Administration to prioritize human rights and the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people in its policy toward the Caribbean nation amid the violence that has been all too prevalent both prior to and after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Adding your personal experiences of Haiti and the Haitian people will give your message additional weight.  Click here to sign the petition from the Sisters of Mercy.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
July 30 is the United Day World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. In keeping with our Congregational Commitment to stand with the marginalized, including those who are enslaved, we offer this podcast from A Nun’s Life featuring Sr. Anne Victory, a founder of the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. Click here to listen on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop.

Support an Infrastructure Plan that Tackles Climate Change!
Rebuilding America will take a transformational investment plan that delivers jobs, justice, and clean energy to communities across the country and curbs the carbon pollution that is driving the climate crisis. Ask your members of Congress to support investments that create new jobs and a just, equitable, and sustainable economy. Click here to sign the petition from Interfaith Power and Light.

Sisters Work for Detained Immigrants
A recent episode of The Spiritual Edge podcast features Sisters Joann Persch and Pat Murphy of the Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants. Click here to listen to the podcast or read the transcript.

Plastic Free July
Reducing our use of plastic, especially single-use plastic, is an important way that we can help care for Earth. Click here for 10 great ideas to reduce your plastic use from the National Resource Defense Fund.

HONORING EARTH

1. Summertime means spending even more time outdoors.
2. Become an EARTH advocate by encouraging others to honor, celebrate and care for EARTH—organize a picnic, outdoor games, creek or roadway clean-up
3. Journal some experiences you’ve had with God’s good EARTH
4. Spend some time outdoors on a regular basis: to see and soak in the beauty of Nature and find the deepening motivation to care for and defend this one precious planet that we share.

ACTIVITIES

When summer arrives at its Earth location, the sun’s heat means changes for the area’s inhabitants. Psalm 104, just one of the psalms celebrating Creation’s Wonders, speaks of the movements of the waters, heavens and all life. It is time for us to move outside to see, enjoy Earth’s wonders. What are some activities outside for us—the usual of walks in the woods/parks, a day at the lake or seaside, bike rides, having a flower or vegetable and herb garden or create one in pots/utensils for patio or porch, keeping an area free of litter—a good engagement for youth.

Here are some others for building awareness of your environment:

1. What kind of artwork can the children create from clean boxes, toilet paper rolls, plastic bottles with scissors, tape, and imagination using Haiku to express the item created?
2. Identify the trees with names as maples, beech, etc. which provide a cool escape from cement heat/macadam on a sunny day.
3. Identify the trees growing in your neighborhood and in the parking lots.
4. Do you know some of your weeds [those non-grass types in your lawn perhaps?] may be edible besides being colorful. Look up your state’s edible weeds—examples are dandelions, garlic mustard, violets, chickweed, pawpaw, purslane.
5. Identify those “weeds” which sustain butterflies or control other insects; invite the children to learn about and observe plants of your environment.
6. Identify the weeds which grow abundantly in your yard—they reveal your soil quality. Why waste money to eradicate them?
7. Remember all weeds help to keep soil in/on the ground when the wind blows and can build up your soil.
8. Promote children’s creativity by encouraging their creation of stories or skits about plants and animals like raccoons, woodchucks, squirrels
9. Ask them and yourself: what times of day are birds singing and why our roots are forever intertwined in the tree of life.

July 4th is right around the corner …. here are some ways to honor Earth in your celebrations.

MEALS

1. As you say grace before and after meals include thanking not only God but the EARTH and all who till and care for her, for the food you have.
2. Use a cloth napkin and remember why you do so. Be grateful for the trees saved by not using disposables.
3. Choose locally-grown foods whenever possible—shopping at Farmers’ Markets, or buying through a CSA or buying club. Buy responsibly grown fruits and vegetables, ethically raised meat, chicken, eggs, and fish.
4. Plan your meals ahead. Increase plant-based items and reduce meat. Reduce processed foods, use leftovers.  Compost food waste.  Animal products use massive amounts of energy as do processed foods and foods shipped around the world.
5. If you eat meals prepared by others—whether a food service, in-house cafeteria, or even a local restaurant, ask kitchen staff/manager to utilize fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Be sure to compliment them when they do—and eat heartily!
6. Read labels—note country of origin, number of long-syllable chemical ingredients, whether it contains GMO ingredients (or proclaims that it doesn’t since the US doesn’t demand fair labeling), as well as looking for Organic items.
7. Don’t buy products with excess packaging (eg. wrapped “single-serving” items) or use single-use paper and plastic ware, etc. Avoid Styrofoam always. If you must use disposables, take the time to locate recycled and compostable products—then do it!
8. Barbecuing – Use propane which burns cleaner than wood or charcoal. a. If you’re wedded to charcoal try a more natural charcoal product. b. When you’re done grilling, use natural cleaning products such as an organic grill cleaner
9. Perhaps consider a solar oven.
10. Never use hot, running water to defrost frozen foods. Plan ahead and place frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or use the microwave oven.
11. Rinse vegetables and fruits in a sink or a pan filled with water instead of under running water.
12. Share your meals and celebrate the gifts of the Earth.

LAWN/YARD CARE

1. Use EARTH Friendly products on your lawn and garden. Run-off water with fertilizers contaminates the rivers.
2. If installing a lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
3. et lawn mower blades one notch higher since longer grass reduces evaporation. Leave grass clippings on your grass because it cools the ground and holds in moisture.
4. If you’re still using an old mower that is spitting harmful gasses into the environment, it’s time to upgrade to a newer model, such as an electric mower, that spews fewer or no emissions and benefits the earth and increases safety and performance.
5. Put water hoses in lawns, gardens, and orchards on timers and be sure they are in good working condition.
6. Avoid using sprinklers if possible. If you must, adjust them so they don’t spray on sidewalks, driveway or street.
7. Don’t water the lawn on windy days. There’s too much evaporation.
8. Never hose down your driveway, sidewalk, patio, or balcony, always use a broom or blower.
9. Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back, when you lift your foot, it doesn’t need water. So set your sprinklers for more days in between watering or avoid watering it.
10. Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller water drops and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
11. Cut down watering on cool and overcast days and don’t water in the rain!! Adjust or deactivate automatic sprinklers.
12. Use a rain gauge, or empty tuna can, to track rainfall on your lawn. Then reduce your watering accordingly.
13. Let your lawn go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains.
14. Aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
15. Best of all, convert all of your lawn (except areas used for playing, walking, or other outdoor activities) to native vegetation such as ground covers, shrubs, trees, and flowers.
16. Buy solar lights for outdoor lighting of pathways or other areas.
17. When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
18. Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs it the most.

Act Now to save the  “For the People Act”
With more than 20 state laws already enacted this year making it harder to vote, it’s urgent that the Senate follows the House’s lead and passes the For the People Act (S.1) immediately. Inaction is not an option. Without the For the People Act, the future of our democracy itself is on the line.

If you haven’t done so already, please take a few minutes to sign NETWORK’s Sister Letter (see below) in support of the For the People Act. Catholic Sisters are powerful moral voices. As people of faith and as Sister who promote justice for all people, we must call on the Senate to Bypass the Filibuster and Pass S.1

Once you have done so, please share it with others in your congregation and encourage them to sign.

Click here to sign the letter.

Driving Clean will Help Save Earth
The transportation sector is the biggest source of global warming pollution in the United States. That means we’ve got to reduce pollution from cars and trucks to solve the climate crisis. Vehicle pollution also disproportionately affects low-income communities and people of color who are more likely to live near heavy transportation corridors. By cleaning up our vehicles now we can save lives, protect the health of the most vulnerable, and cut climate pollution.

Let’s get back on track to protect clean air in our communities and curb climate pollution. Tell the Biden administration that we need stronger safeguards that truly consider those in frontline communities. And that cleaning up our transportation system is critical for reaching both our domestic and international climate goals – there is no time to waste.

We need cleaner cars to ensure cleaner air and water, and a liveable future for our children and grandchildren. Each message from us can help strengthen the Biden administration’s resolve to support stronger state and federal clean car safeguards. Add your voice today!

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT CLEANER CAR STANDARDS

The Interfaith Power & Light Film
Interfaith Power & Light will be sharing Other Side of the Hill, a hopeful, inspiring look at local leaders in rural America who are leading climate action in their communities.

This 30-minute film will be available for free online viewing July 10 – 25. Registration opens July 1.

You can watch the trailer and sign up to get a registration reminder here.

A screening kit from Interfaith Power and Light will be available on July 1.