February 2015 Newsletter. The Pachamama Alliance

Transcription

1 The Pachamama Alliance February 2015 Newsletter "Building a critical mass of committed global citizens to create a human presence on the planet that is environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just. PACHAMAMA OF GREATER ROCHESTER OPENING SACRED SPACE Take a moment before reading on to bring your awareness to your breath. Let this awareness deepen to focus on your heart. You could allow an image of the planet Earth to form in your heart as a pearl forms in a shell. Holding the whole of the planet in the space of your heart, feeling love and compassion for all beings, allow a deep blessing to flow. When this feels complete, take another breath and return. AWAKENING THE DREAMER SYMPOSIUMS! March 1, PM. (12:45 check in so we may start promptly) First Presbyterian Church of Wolcott, NY, West Main Street, Wolcott, NY FREE, but registration required: Questions? Call (315) March 28, PM. (12:45 check in so we may start promptly) A Symposium will be held at the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, 929 Plymouth Avenue South, Rochester, NY; FREE but registration required: April 19, 2015 from 12:45-5:00 PM 1-5 PM. Nazareth College Of Rochester s Otto A. Shults Community Center located in the Forum. (12:45 check in so we may start promptly) FREE, but please register at: Questions? Contact Nancy at (315) ; We give thanks to our co-sponsors; to those who helped make this event achievable: Interfaith Alliance of Rochester; Interfaith Forum of Rochester; Center for Spirituality of Nazareth College; The Pachamama Alliance of Rochester FOLLOW UP MEETINGS TBA SAVE THE DATES! SHARE WITH OTHERS! FORWARD ATTACHED FLYERS!! SEE THE TRAILER: sium PLEASE let us know of other groups who might like to host symposiums! We need your contacts to help spread this vision and empowering experience! 1

2 NEWS FROM PACHAMAMA ALLIANCE Hear the origin story of Pachamama Alliance beginning with the call from the rainforest that started it all: MA&utm_medium= &utm_campaign =New%20Moon%20Actions Deepen your commitment to building a world that aligns with your values as 2014 draws to a close. 5 Ways to Recommit to Your Values in 2015: The Game Changer Intensive The online course that is the follow-up to the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium is already underway. This is THE course to take if you are a committed activist or want to become one. Join a powerful community dedicated to changing the game. Get more information and register now. Follow this link for information about the next session. e/apply Pachamama Alliance Symposium Update: Check out the Facilitator Hub ( Sign up to receive inspiring and informative PA Facebook messages. Alliance GENERATION WAKING UP Please help us connect with colleges, high schools or youth groups to bring this engaging and enlightening program to the next generation! Community Calls Check the site: COMMUNITY CALENDAR: RPCC: Open Meeting on Thursday, February 5th, from 7:00-9:00pm, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2000 Highland Ave, Rochester At this meeting, we will answer questions about what coalition membership means for participating organizations and offer opportunities for meaningful engagement. For those who are relatively new to climate activism, attending this meeting will give you a sense of how different organizations in town are working to address climate change, thereby helping you find a group that fits your style. Please RSVP to rocpcc@gmail.com and bring your friends along. CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY GROUP Meetings are on the 3 rd Monday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Next Meeting: February 16 th 2015 at 1600 East Ave For more information Contact Tim McGowan at tdmcgowan@frontiernet.net Also check out the website: What s missing to stop global warming? Citizens like you. Get in the game. SAVE THE DATE: April 21, 2015: James Hansen to Speak at 17th Annual Environmental Forum sponsored by the Sierra Club of Rochester, NY TIPS FOR SHARING AND LIVING THE VISION: Share these with your friends by , on Facebook! Please let us know if you have information to share with others about projects you re involved with or information of interest! Where is away? 2

3 DID YOU KNOW ABOUT UTZ? The UTZ program enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improve working conditions and take better care of their children and the environment. UTZ Certified wants sustainable farming to become the most natural thing in the world. And its on the right track because an increasing share of the world s coffee, cocoa and tea is grown responsibly. In fact, almost 50% of all certified sustainable coffee is now UTZ. UTZ works with companies like Mars, Ahold, IKEA, D.E Master Blenders 1753, Migros, Tchibo and Nestlé. Coffee, cocoa and tea products do not get the UTZ label easily. Compliance with strict requirements by UTZ certified farms and businesses is closely monitored by independent third parties. These requirements include Good Agricultural Practices and farming management, safe and healthy working conditions, abolition of child labor and protection of the environment. UTZ offers brands the possibility to track and trace the coffee, cocoa and tea, from the shelf in the store to the farmer. The UTZ logo on your product ensures that your favorite brand supports sustainable farming Action To Protect Seneca Lake The Work continues: Taking a stand to protect our land, air and water... On January 31, 2015, over 300 people gathered for the first time at the north end of Seneca Lake to voice their opposition to LPG storage at Seneca Lake. people-at-we-are-seneca-lake-too/ See the link to learn more and find ideas on how you can make a difference. and from the Finger Lakes Times: Backed by We Are Seneca Lake, the group that has been leading the protests at the Crestwood site near Watkins Glen, over 300 marched and attended the lakefront rally that preceded it. The event was dubbed We Are Seneca Lake Too. The protesters walked from Lakefront Park to Castle Street and then made a tour of downtown via Exchange, Seneca and Main streets in Geneva Saturday. Please consider taking the pledge: Please consider signing the petition to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman at ate-the-crestwood-gas-storage-ex pansion-on-seneca-lake.html OP EDs AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR One way we can spread the ATD message in our communities is to write letters to the media about our concerns, hopes, vision, etc. Notice your response to articles you read and consider expressing your viewpoint to help awaken others! And let us know if you re interested in joining with others who want to support each other in writing and sending messages to legislators and the media! See below we ve been published! You can do it too! /opinion/guest-column/2014/12/27/protectseneca-lake-life/ / THE GREAT TURNING CHANGE IS HAPPENING: CHECK THIS OUT Harry Potter fans are awesome! Scotland Takes Lead in Race for the World s First Fossil-Fuel-Free Electric Grid. Like Denmark and Germany, Scotland now gets more than a quarter of its electricity from clean power. 3

4 scotland-germany-renewables-wind-powersuccesses?cmpid=ait-fb MONTHLY REFLECTION: Dear Sisters and Brothers in Sacred service, If God called, would you answer? If God called inviting you to dance in a new way, a truly big, creative and evolutionary way, would your faith give you courage to accept? Well it's time to face the music. God's calling us, specifically leaders of Faith, to step up our game, move more powerfully into service to creation, to earth and life, and it's urgent. The sacred nature of our very own beloved Seneca Lake life community is facing the threat of destruction by the fossil-fuel industry's intention to turn it into "the natural gas storage and distribution hub of the northeast". Will we allow that to happen? This beautiful planet, God's creation and our Earth-Eden will not survive the continued onslaught of industrialization and commodification of nature. Human activities have already severely altered conditions for life on earth, compromising the larger life systems that sustain us all. Continuing on this path of greed, consumption and destruction will lead to its total collapse, leaving a wasted earth for our children. That dishonors God and would be a disgrace for humanity. There are better ways. Are we willing to lead the way to new possibilities? Are we willing to step into our higher power to cocreate a more loving and sustainable world? Are we willing to step into loving action now? Do you want to participate in miracles? Then come join the growing community of people of Faith on the leading edge of evolutionary change willing to put themselves on the line in defense of our sacred ground and waters, and for life. Seneca Lake needs us now. Future life is calling us to sacred activism and highest purpose. Add the power of your loving action to the Seneca Lake Defenders committed creating a more just, sustainable and fulfilling world. Sounds like heaven on Earth. Join us. wearesenecalake.com In loving purpose, Rev. Nancy Kasper Seneca Lake Defender Agent of Change I Dream A World by Langston Hughes I dream a world where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn I dream a world where all Will know sweet freedom's way, Where greed no longer saps the soul Nor avarice blights our day. A world I dream where black or white, Whatever race you be, Will share the bounties of the earth And every man is free, Where wretchedness will hang its head And joy, like a pearl, Attends the needs of all mankind- Of such I dream, my world! This is your moment to take a stand 4

5 hester (please Like our site and share with friends!) CORE TEAM: Lila Bluestone - lbluestone@rochester.rr.com Kimberly Burgess burgessk6@gmail.com Kathleen Fitzpatrick zaynab@frontiernet.net John Frank - jfrank2@rochester.rr.com Joyce Herman - jherman@rochester.rr.com Nancy Kasper -chante.ishta2012@gmail.com Padme Livingstone padmelivingstone@gmail.com Theresa McGowan -mcgowan4@frontiernet.net Tim McGowan -tdmcgowan@frontiernet.net Tony Perri - Rtony13@aol.com Lee Riddell riddell.lee@gmail.com Sue Staropoli - suestar1@rochester.rr.com (H), (C) Pat Woehrlen - padricial@gmail.com