Get Ready for the People's Climate March April 29

(From our friends at Franciscan Action Network)

In 2014, we stormed the streets of New York City for the largest climate march in history. 50 days from now, we'll take that message to the streets of Washington, D.C. Join us in our nation's capitol on April 29th for the People's Climate March as we gather together to make our voices heard. Sign up here to attend!

If you are not able to make it to Washington for the March, you can still be part of the action by participating in one of many sister marches taking place across the country. Visit the People's Climate March website to find a march near you.

Additionally,  the weeks leading up to April 29 will be full of faith events sponsored by the Franciscan Action Network and partner organizations.

• We're kicking off things off with Global Catholic Climate Movement's #Mercy2Earth Initiative (Register Here). A webinar on March 15 will introduce viewers to the initiative, leading into a Lenten Fast for Climate Justice on World Water Day, March 22.  For additional events and more information, please contact Christina Leano.
• Franciscan Action Network, Climate Reality Project, and Interfaith Power and Light will sponsor a Catholics of Color Climate Justice Training on March 25 at Shrine of the Sacred Heart Church in Washington, D.C. (Register Here). For more information, please contact Chiara Klein.
• If you are traveling to Washington D.C., we strongly encourage you to make the most of your time by meeting with your Senators and Representative on Friday, April 28th.  For those interested, Catholic Climate Covenant will offer anadvocacy training session on Friday morning, April 28th (Register Here). Even if you can't make the training in person, register using the link and you will be sent a recording.
• To get your energy up for lots of walking and chanting, come out to thePeople's Climate March Potluck on Friday evening before the march, April 28at the Stuart Center, in Washington, D.C. Bring your friends, bring a dish, and meet some fellow marchers. For more information and to RSVP, please contactJason Miller.
• There will be a mass on Saturday morning, April 29 at 9am, at St. Dominic Church, in Washington, D.C. Come pray with us for the transformation of hearts and minds as we prepare to demonstrate peaceful resistance.

When the oppressors come for any of us, all of us will rise up in solidarity because all of our fights - from refugee rights to Indigenous sovereignty to climate justice - are connected. 50 days from now, join us as we take this message back to the streets of DC.

We will see you on the streets of DC at noon on April 29th for the People's Climate March!

Get Ready for the Earth Hour on March 19th!

As the world stands at a climate crossroads, it is powerful yet humbling to think that our actions today will decide what tomorrow will look like for generations to come. This Earth Hour, ​switch on your social power​ to shine a light on climate action. This is our time to #ChangeClimateChange...our future starts today.

1: TAKE  YOUR  FIRST  STEP

Earth Hour belongs to you. Celebrate your commitment to the planet with your friends, family, community or at work - in your own way. A simple event can be just turning off all non-essential lights from 8.30pm-9:30 pm.

For one hour, focus on your commitment to our planet for the rest of this year. To celebrate, you can have a candle lit dinner, talk to your neighbors, stargaze, go camping, play board games, have a concert, screen an environmental documentary post the hour, create or join a community event - the possibilities are endless. Have an event idea? 

Add or join an event at our all-new interactive map - Earth Hour Tracker.

2: PROMOTE YOUR EVENT

You can also create your own Earth Hour themed social media, banners, videos, blogs, websites or art. Write a song. Stage a play. Get creative!

Want to make you event more exciting? Download and use the free starter-kit assets.

3: THE  OFFICIAL  EARTH HOUR  2016  VIDEO  IS  HERE!

Watch the video now to see how our actions today will change our tomorrow.

Donate your social power today and shine a light on climate action!

4:  SHARE   SHARE   SHARE 

Whether you're celebrating solo or getting hundreds of people involved, share the details. 

Post on social media using #earthhour and 

#changeclimatechange with your location.

Navajo Women Walk 1,000 Miles To Protest Pipeline

Since January, over 70 Navajo people have joined a prayer walk across the American Southwest protesting a fracking oil pipeline in New Mexico. The walk aims to galvanize Native American communities to demand more from oil companies that profit from the reservations’ natural resources.

The participants started with a crowdfunding campaign that raised almost $6,000 to support their year-long journey. Over the past few months, the Nihígáál Bee iina group has used digital media to share their spiritual traditions, connecting Navajo communities across the country.

They are chronicling their journey on a Facebook page: “Despite being at the forefront of energy extraction, our people do not see its benefits; approximately 25% of our people today live without electricity and running water on the Navajo Nation, while our economy functions at an unemployment rate of about 60%.”

The group calls this 1,000-mile protest their Journey for Existence, commemorating the 150th anniversary of “The Long Walk,” where thousands of Diné (Navajo people) were marched at gunpoint for hundreds of miles into Bosque Redondo, a concentration camp where they would stay for four years.

CONTINUE READING HERE 

11 Easy Steps To Reduce Your Impact On The Earth

Here are a few EASY things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment. Try one, two, or all. The idea is to start thinking about the way we consume and the environmental legacy that we are leaving for our children’s children. So, start small and when you get the hang of it, try another step. These are just a few ways that each of us truly can make a difference in our world.

1. Recycle – everything you can. Utilize curbside services if you have them, or seek out the nearest recycling center. It’s worth every ounce of effort it takes.
2. Buy Recycled. Complete the circle. Choose recycled copy paper, napkins and other paper products and even computer disks. There are many home dcor products made from recycled material that are both functional and beautiful.
3. When possible, choose items in glass jars/containers. Glass is one of the few items that can be recycled over and over again.
4. End the siege of junk mail in your mailbox. Go to www.newdream.org/junkmail/ to download a form that you simply fill out, sign and mail (addresses are provided). This will remove your name from the majority of mailing lists. You will be amazed at the amount of trash you won’t have. Call the companies that you do want catalogs or mailings from and tell them NOT to sell, trade or give away your name. Usually they comply.
5. Walk or bike when possible. You’ve heard this time and time again and we’ll say it again. It’s better for the environment and for your health.
6. Take advantage of automating your salary deposits. Just think of all the lunch hours you’ll have free! On the same note, utilize online services to pay bills such as utilities and car payments – even your mortgage. It will save you time, energy and postage. Plus, your payments won’t be late.
7. Buy organic. Organic products are typically 30% more than conventional products and many products, such as bread, eggs, produce and even some dairy items, are right in line with their conventional counterparts. AND – scientific research proves that organic foods taste better and that they contain higher nutritional values.
8. Support local farmers. You’ll get fresher, higher quality foods at fantastic prices. Check out www.csa.org and enter your state to find a participating farm in your city. For a set price, you’ll get a box delivered to your home every week during growing season. It’s a great way to support small, local farms, ensure fresh produce and reduce pollution by excessive transportation.
9. Opt for organic gardening measures when it comes to fertilizing and pest control. Buy or make a compost bin and explore the amazing world of beneficial insects for pest control. It’s better for the environment, your health (no nasty chemicals) and its’ fun! Check out www.greenfire.com for a great choice of organic alternative gardening products.
10. Properly dispose of hazardous material. Call your city hall and ask for the date of the next hazardous material drop off. They’re free and usually are sprinkled throughout the year in various areas of your community. You don’t even get out of your car. You simply bring them all of your left over paints, chemicals, oil, old smoke alarms (yes, they have radiation in them) and they will remove them from your car and ensure that they are disposed of properly. To make it even easier, coordinate with your neighbors and take turns collecting and dropping off the items.
11. Here’s a bright idea (couldn’t resist that). As your existing light bulbs burn out, replace with compact fluorescent. They are highly energy efficient and last an average of 8000 hours. The amount of time, energy and resources they save is enormous.

See more at: http://www.inspiredliving.com/health/envir~reduceimpact.htm#sthash.djsgfIUp.dpuf