National Letter to President Concerning Environmental Roll Backs

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In October 2018, 132 faith communities, including seven Ohio-based faith communities, signed a letter to President Trump, EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler, and Secretary Ryan Zinke to implore them to maintain the environmental protection measures, including the clean water rule.

You can access the letter here.

InterReligious Task Force on Central America Environmental Human Rights

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The Cleveland based organization The InterReligious Task Force on Central America holds Environmental Human Rights as one of their primary issues. Throughout Central America, large companies are forcing native communities out of their land to exploit it for natural resources. This group works to fight against this attack which often results in negative consequences for the land and the people.

To access IRTF’s resources on Environmental Human Rights click here.

The InterReligious Task Force on Central America

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The InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF) was founded in Cleveland in the 1980s after four US women were killed in El Salvador. They gather across religious denominations and traditions to work for peace and justice in Central America. They expose the negative realities of globalization including the ecological destruction that has occurred in Central America. They advocate for human rights and in sponsoring fair trade they also support environmental stewardship.

In May 2019, they held two Food Action Forums, one on alternative food systems and another on alternative trade organizations.

 

To learn more about IRTF click here.

Ohio Fair Trade Network

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The Ohio Fair Trade Network works to support fair trade products in Ohio retailers. They began working with the InterReligious Task Force on Central America to bring more fair trade resources to Ohio. They also partnered with Hiram College and John Carroll University to offer internships. They have continued to partner with faith groups as they work to establish a fair trade network in Ohio.

 

To learn more about Ohio Fair Trade click here. 

Food and Faith

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The Baltimore Food and Faith Project works to unite faith communities around issues of food systems in the Maryland area. They work to improve the food crisis at a systematic level, but Jason Jordan-Griffin was personally affected by the work of Baltimore Food and Faith Project. He joined a program called “Food and Faith” when he felt that he was not treating his body as the temple God had given him. The program includes lessons from a nutritionist and faith based perspectives on eating well, not only for one’s self but for one’s community and the world. Jordan-Griffin found that this deeply affected his connection with the faith-based moral and ethical implications of eating. The article linked below tells his story and the benefits of uniting mindful eating with faith practices.

 

Click here to access the article or to learn more about the benefits of the Baltimore Food and Faith Project.

The Baltimore Food and Faith Project

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Started as an initiative of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. This organization connected with faith communities in attempts to improve food security and the food systems in the Maryland area. By connecting food to the ethics of faith, they offer many opportunities to reflect on one’s own earth stewardship.

To connect to the Baltimore Food and Faith Project including their resources from text studies, congregation toolkits, and gardening resources click here.

 

Media Planet: Impacting Our Future

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This organization publishes content that addresses many current global and local. This includes a number of articles on issues like hunger, deforestation, and more. It can be difficult to know where to start when one decides to make more earth conscious decisions, but this website offers perspectives on global issues and more personal approaches to creation care, like in their article “Why It’s Smart to Invest in Sustainable Water Heaters and HVAC Systems.” The articles available in this resource are very helpful to introduce issues currently plaguing our planet.

 

Click here to access the Media Planet article “Conquering Hunger: Sustainable Solutions.”

 

To access the Media Planet home page click here.

Faith & Food

From 2008-2010, The Center for Closing the Health Gap in Greater Cincinnati partnered with several neighborhood churches and partners in the Avondale area, outside of Cincinnati to improve access to affordable foods. This led to an eventual partnership with the Food Trust to create lasting change.

 

To learn more about the project or to access the full program report click here.

The Methodist Theological in Ohio: On Food and Faith

Training cohort from 2018. Image courtesy of mtso.edu

In May 2019 The Methodist Theological School in Ohio held a conference on sustainable food practices to fight poverty, hunger, and climate change. This conference was intended to support the education of faith leaders on current environmental issues led by Al Gore, Heber Brown III, and Aster Bekele.

To learn more about On Food and Faith click here.

The University Garden Church

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Started in 2010, The University Church (TUC) garden fights food insecurity in Toledo, Ohio by donating produce to local pantries and families. They hold events to educate on gardening practices, and they partner with Reynold’s elementary school and hold events to teach students about gardening and healthy eating. They also sponsor a Community Supported Agriculture group that runs from June to September.

To learn more about TUC Garden click here.