PA IPL Statement on Willow Decision

Pennsylvania – March 13, 2023

Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light laments the release of the Record of Decision today by President Biden and Secretary Haaland approving the multi-billion Cocono-Phillips oil project on public lands in Alaska. This project puts in place infrastructure designed to extract oil for 30 years estimated to produce up to 287 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. The science is clear that the time for transition to clean energy is now. While the Administration has taken important action on climate change, particularly through the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, this recent decision is a step away from climate progress and leadership.

Our Executive Director, Katie Ruth, notes:
It is very disappointing that President Biden & Secretary Haaland have approved a multi-billion dollar oil project on public lands. Our collective future does not depend on fossil fuels. The Willow Project is a disastrous choice that sends us further down the pathway of irreparable environmental harm. The climate crisis is a crisis not just of science and leadership, but morals. Who are we as humans, how do we live in right relationship with each other and the planet, and what kind of world do we want to live in? These are the questions that must inspire us to take strong action. We have a moral obligation to the wellbeing of our neighbors and earth.

PA IPL Board’s passed a resolution in 2016 on no new fossil fuel infrastructure. You can read the entire resolution here: https://bit.ly/3LjddSQ

Your voice on this issue matters. We invite you to share your concern with your elected officials, with your loved ones, or by sharing your response on social media with the hashtag #StopWillow

Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light inspires and mobilizes people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate change. We educate, we advocate, and we lead conservation efforts across the state. PA IPL is the Pennsylvania affiliate of Interfaith Power & Light, a national religious response to the threat of climate change. We see climate change as a moral issue, one that demands a response from people of faith.

Now Available: Video of PA IPL Environmental Education Series – March 2023

Organics & Human Health with Pastor Matt Lanahan

PA IPL 2022-23 Environmental Education Series: Caring for Creation
First Fridays 12-1pm
October 2022 through June 2023

March 03, 2023

TOPIC:
Organics & Human Health
with Pastor Matt Lanahan, an organizer with POWER Interfaith and the Director of Wittel Farm

PA IPL is offering a virtual Environmental Education Series that is generously funded by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The programs will be offered virtually along with our partner, First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG), and will be available to all of our members through this new, virtual environmental education series, Caring for Creation with PA IPL. Please join us during your lunch hour on First Fridays.

Now Available: Video of Main Line IPL Chapter’s February 27th Program!

Are PFAS Contaminating Our Water and Soil?

For our February 27th program, we had Dan Burnham speaking on: Are perfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) contaminating our water and soil?

Dan has been a member of Central Baptist Church since 1988, has a PhD in Psychology, and is a member of the Radnor Green Team, which promotes energy conservation and adoption of renewable energy (Ready for 100 goals). Dan has served on the Radnor Township Environmental Advisory Council since 2022 and is currently working with Radnor Township and the township’s Green Team to see that municipal buildings undergo comprehensive energy audits. We’re grateful to have Dan share information on PFAS and what to do about them.

Email us or sign up here if you would like to join Main Line IPL!

Now Available: Video of February 15 Meeting in Partnership with JEA!

What Can PA Hope to Achieve with PA IPL & JEA

This meeting, recorded Wednesday, February 15, 2023, is part of PA IPL’s ongoing partnership with Jewish Earth Alliance (JEA).

TOPIC:
What Can PA Hope to Achieve or Make Progress on Climate Issues This Year?

SPEAKER:
Flora Cardoni, Field Director at PennEnvironment

Flora oversees much of PennEnvironment’s climate and grassroots organizing work, directing staff, and mobilizing volunteers around the state to fight climate change and promote good clean energy policy in Pennsylvania. She has also directed several door to door canvass offices around the state on behalf of PennEnvironment and Work For Progress. She will talk about a range of topics from promoting more solar energy, changing legislation, increasing our alternative energy standard, and even RGGI.

JEA provides ongoing training and templates for monthly letter writing campaigns to local, state, and federal officials. The meetings provide a template, information, and guidance for all those who are interested in amplifying the message of Climate Justice.

Once you learn how easy Jewish Earth Alliance makes it, through their background information and template letter, for everyone to write letters to their federal officials, we hope you will write to your members of Congress now and for the next few months.

Now Available: Video of PA IPL Interfaith Spiritual Care 2023 “Journeying Through Active Hope with the Four Elements: Air, Soil, Fire, & Water”

Session 1: “Air”

This meeting, recorded Monday, February 13, 2023, was the first of four sessions of PA IPL’s 2023 Interfaith Spiritual Care series, “Journeying Through Active Hope with the Four Elements: Air, Soil, Fire, & Water.” Our 2023 series will explore each of the four elements through the lens of Joanna Macy’s Active Hope: Gratitude, Honoring Our Pain, Seeing With New Eyes, and Going Forth. The theme of our first program is “Air.”

PA IPL Interfaith Spiritual Care 2023: “Journeying Through Active Hope with the Four Elements: Air, Soil, Fire, & Water”
Session 4: “Air”
Monday, February 13th at 7:00pm

As in the past, we will use music, meditation, images, prayer, small group discussions, and Active Hope practices to explore this topic.

This Spiritual Care series provides space for our interfaith work and expressions of our traditions. Each event is designed to help us come together, reconnect, and seek hope as an interfaith community. Additionally, we will offer opportunities for PA IPL Board Members and Chapter Members to organize faith specific celebrations.

Now Available: Video of PA IPL Environmental Education Series – February 2023

Air & Water Pollution and their Effects on Human Health with Dee Kochirka, RN, MA

PA IPL 2022-23 Environmental Education Series: Caring for Creation
First Fridays 12-1pm
October 2022 through June 2023

February 03, 2023

TOPIC:
Air & Water Pollution and their Effects on Human Health
with PA IPL Board Member & Izaak Walton League of Allegheny County Vice-President Dee Kochirka, RN, MA

PA IPL is offering a virtual Environmental Education Series that is generously funded by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The programs will be offered virtually along with our partner, First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG), and will be available to all of our members through this new, virtual environmental education series, Caring for Creation with PA IPL. Please join us during your lunch hour on First Fridays.