Stories of Change

Picture courtesy of livingthechange.net

Stories of Change is a compilation of people from all different religions who have chosen to “live the change.” This page, from Living the Change, showcases inspiring stories of people and the changes they have made with a short description and video for each person. To read more on the Stories of Change, click here.

Time for Living the Change

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Picture courtesy of livingthechange.net

Time for Living the Change is a global initiative between religious and spiritual communities to encourage local sustainability events and celebrations around the world. The goals of this event are to:

  • align with faithful values
  • allow a future for all by taking care of the Earth
  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent waste and harm
  • send a strong message to communities, decision-makers and businesses and governments
  • share and celebrate the decisions people make in their own lives to allow a flourishing world for all
  • share stories of change
  • lift up leaders and sustainable solutions in our own community
  • learn from one another
  • offer guidance around transitioning towards sustainable living

To read more about Time for Living the Change, click here.

Living the Change

Picture courtesy of livingthechange.net

Living the Change is an organization that is committed to sustainable living through choices in transportation, energy use, and diet. These are choices that people make on a daily basis, and by choosing to change your lifestyle, you can help change the world. Living the Change believes that it is every faithful person’s responsibility to make these choices for a flourishing world. To read more about Living the Change, click here.

The Giving Tree: Fighting Climate Change and Strengthening Communities in Nicaragua

Picture courtesy of crs.org

The Giving Tree: Fighting Climate Change and Strengthening Communities in Nicaragua is an initiative from Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere with one of the worst rates of deforestation in the region. CRS is engaging rural Nicaraguans, who have an average employment income of $3/day, in planting 310,000 indigenous trees in land on or near their small farms. These trees will remove from the atmosphere approximately 67,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, over their full lives. Farmers will be paid annually for a 10-year period to maintain and nurture these trees, and additional investment will be made in the communities.To read more on The Giving Tree and the work that CRS is doing, click here.

Creation at the Crossroads

Picture courtesy of renewintl.org/

Creation at the Crossroads is a collaboration between RENEW International, GreenFaith, and Catholic Climate Covenant. They aim to share faith related resources for small-groups that respond to Pope Francis’ call to action in his encyclical Laudato Si’. To read more on Creation at the Crossroads, click here.

10 Things in Your Home Linked to Climate Change

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10 Things in Your Home Linked to Climate Change is a resource from Catholic Relief Services on simple ways your house could be contributing to climate change. The resource offers facts on 10 simple things, such as fish and coffee, that can have major impacts on the environment. To read more about 10 Things in Your Home Linked to Climate Change, click here.

Permaculture Extension Initiative

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Picture courtesy of ecofaithrecovery.org

Permaculture Extension Initiative is a project from EcoFaith Recovery. The project is meant to build ecological and biblical literacy in faith communities while engaging in practical and transformative projects. The pilot project offers faith communities the opportunity to engage in: weekend workshops on the themes of permaculture, gardening, or watershed discipleship and biblical ecology; design and implement a food-bearing, pollinator friendly, or native habitat landscape and garden; permaculture/eco-biblical literacy mentoring of interns as opportunities present themselves. To read more on the Permaculture Extension Initiative, click here.

Beyond the Steeple: New Life in Texas

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elca.org/

Beyond the Steeple: New Life in Texas is a video on New Life Lutheran Church in Dripping Springs, Texas. Every Sunday, rain or shine, they hold their worship outdoors under the live oaks on their property. The short video shows an average Sunday at the church and also talks to members about their experience attending a church with no building. Pastor Kara Stewart stated, “I love that in order to come to worship I need to know what’s going on in the world, like the actual creation world not just world events; that we pay attention to what the land will be experiencing when we’re here.” To watch the video on New Life Lutheran Church, click here.

EcoFaith Recovery Carbon Fast

EcoFaith Recovery

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EcoFaith Recovery has created a resource for carbon fasting. They explain what exactly a carbon fast is, why engaging in one can be beneficial, and how to involve an entire community in a carbon fast. They also offer a carbon fast report form to help keep track of weekly carbon fasting activities. To read more, click here.

Grounding for Action (Beyond Fossil Fuels)

EcoFaith Recovery

Picture courtesy of ecofaithrecovery.org

Grounding for Action (Beyond Fossil Fuels) is an initiative from EcoFatih Recovery that focuses on moving beyond fossil fuels. This project hopes to engage faith communities in courageous, creative public action toward a sustainable future. They have monthly meetings to discuss coaching and upcoming projects. The current project is focused in Portland with the Portland Just Energy Transition initiative, which is a city-wide faith-based strategy. To read more on Grounding for Action and the ongoing project, click here.