Seeking Answers: Research & Education Green Team Group

Even in the face of a global pandemic, we need to maintain our efforts to treat planet Earth with respect. In fact, I believe the fact that we're in the midst of a global pandemic reinforces that responsibility; the consequences of the pandemic highlight the extent to which members of our species rely on one another for so very many things.

Our relationship with nature has never been more tenuous. Some might suggest a pandemic is a stark reminder of how quickly our environment can turn dangerous.

The circumstances in which we find ourselves today are challenging. Environmental news and information are understandably overshadowed by more immediate, urgent news about the pandemic and how to protect ourselves and our fellow human beings. Yet, still, we need all sorts of information on a daily basis to help enable us to continue being responsible stewards of our environment.  Information like:

• How to properly dispose of used products
• Where to recycle
• What to recycle
• Which products to control weeds are environmentally friendly
• Recipes for homemade weed control products
• Sources for post-consumer plastics
• etc., etc., etc.

Where do you go when you've searched Google with no luck? The Green Team's Research & Education sub-team is a resource willing to help. Consider the Research & Education sub-team your research librarian; we will take your query and one or more of our members will do our best to find an answer for you. No guarantees, but we'll try!  Contact one of us and we'll see what we can do. The members of our sub-team are:

John Swinburn

Deanna Toliver

Jean Campbell

Loren Loberg

Pati Trippel

Walking Our Talk

Our Unitarian Universalist faith is covenantal where many other religions are creedal.  Rather than committing to a creed that expresses a set of beliefs determined by the denomination, our beliefs are diverse and inclusive.  Instead of a creed, we share a covenant to live by seven principles that express our values. The Green Team at our church was formed to put our seventh principle into action: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Visitors to our church are often curious when they see the hub of activity around our Green Living table on Sundays where we sell sustainable and fair-trade products.  I feel safe in betting that no other congregation in our Village has people sitting in the pews during service with bags of coffee, laundry detergent sheets or rolls of toilet paper! But the Green Team is so much more than a Sunday store. Our quest to become a certified “Green Sanctuary” by the UUA is not just so we can have another plaque to place on our wall.  It is our commitment to sustained effort to  respond to the crisis of climate change. It is our commitment to be leaders in the Village and inspire others to follow our example.

To date, we have made multiple improvements to our building that have made it more energy efficient.  We have increased our recycling efforts and begun composting.  We had a fun and educational Eco Fair and luncheon that introduced many of us to delicious meatless recipes. We have increased our awareness of the climate crisis in our worship services and educational offerings. The C4K program is an important part of the effort as is the Sleeping Mat Project. Michael Dowd provided a sobering talk and discussion about the need for action.  And we have so much more planned!  Workshops, classes, an Earth Day celebration event  (delayed because of the pandemic but no matter because every day should be Earth Day) and special projects. And, of course, we’ll continue to operate the Green Living products table every Sunday.

Our human disregard for other species and the health of our planet affects every one of us and will determine the quality of life for future generations.  It may very well determine if there is life for future generations. We need everyone on the Green Team and everything you do matters.  Start today by committing to just one change. Then another. Then another. Encourage everyone you know to do the same. The world is changed one mind and one heart  at a time.  Please join us and let’s all walk our talk.

Green Is the New Red, White & Blue

   "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." -JFK

When the topic of “going green” comes up, many of us feel helpless in the face of such a big problem. It’s global, so what can one wee tiny human do in the face of billions of us who are driving, dining, and consuming more each year?

It can help when the “global” is reduced to national, state, community or even the block you live on—or the church you attend!

The United States is changing rapidly. When JFK made his now famous speech, the year was 1961 and about 30% of Americans lived in rural or semi-rural areas: farms, small towns ranches and “non-farm” rural areas. Sixty years later, 20% of Americans live a rural life (and much of it is non-farm life) while the vast majority make their homes in large cities. 

American demographics are a complex subject, but the long term rural to urban trend is clear. It accelerated in the 19^th century: in 1800, 1 in 20 Americans lived in a city yet by 1870 the number was 1 in 4. By 1920 the ratio had diminished to only half urban, half rural.

Here in the Village we have a unique opportunity to make a big impact in a small place. There were a shade under 13,000 of us at last Census count (2010). Our actions matter here, and our leadership can spread to the surrounding Hot Springs community and throughout Arkansas.

We have the ability to reach out and partner with our neighbors, other churches and those in the surrounding rural areas of Jessieville, Fountain Lake, Mountain Pine and beyond.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We suggest to make a decision to take ONE personal action, and ONE political action to get green(er). We are striving for Green unity in the UU (then the world).

For example, a personal decision could be to shoot for 100% tote bag use at the grocery store. Seems simple, right? But breaking old habits can be challenging. 

If you have or want more green lifestyle upgrades, check in with the younger people in your life. Those in their teens and twenties (and thirties) are far more aware of green lifestyle products and lifehacks.

A political change could mean:

·      Reaching out to your district representative or state (or national) Senator and asking, What Green initiatives are you supporting?

·      Attending Democratic or Republican meetings to bring up, announce and otherwise agitate for green items on the agenda

·      Joining a local or national environmental group 

Don’t let overwhelm and indecision hold you back from taking a small, concrete step as an American who cares about your country, its animals, and our abundant natural resources! 

Our current federal leadership is refusing to step up and tackle the scary prospect of the end of civilization and, possibly, life on earth.

Yes, this issue is often frightening and overwhelming. Those are two great reasons to ask yourself, how can I help? What can I do for my country?

What ONE THING Will You Do?

You have heard it from the pulpit: "You can't do everything, but you can do something." That is true in so many circumstances but it is especially true when it comes to preventing the deterioration of the planet on which we live—or cleaning up the mess we have been making.

Every little bit helps. Even if it seems insignificant, when combined with just ONE THING all the rest of us are doing, our efforts can have enormous impacts on our world.  If you decide to stop accepting plastic bags at the grocery store, opting instead to bring your own reusable bag, you've made a difference. Consider this: if you go to the grocery store once a week and buy only enough groceries to fill just one plastic bag, you will have prevented 52 bags from going to the landfill. If just 100 people in your sphere of influence do the same, that's 5200 in a year. The numbers grow exponentially when each of us decides to do just ONE THING.

Here are just a very few of the hundreds of possible ideas of ONE THING you can (or may already) do to make a difference:

• Take your own cloth bags for grocery shopping
• Take reusable produce bags instead of using store-supplied plastic
• Buy products in bulk, using your own containers
• Carpool with neighbors/friends for shopping, church, etc.
• Bicycle when possible
• Walk instead of drive
• Make your own mayonnaise, avoiding use of non-recyclable containers
• Make your won catsup, avoiding use of non-recyclable containers
• Avoid pre-rinsing dishes, following manufacturer's instructions on using dishwasher
• Reduce consumption of meat products by one (more) day per week
• Use energy-efficient light bulbs
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
• Use refillable water bottles
• Combine errands to minimize car trips
• Shop online
• Buy only as much produce as you know you will eat before it goes bad
• Create a compost pile
• Carry your own cup to the coffee shop
• Buy loose tea instead of individual bags
• Take your own reusable "to-go" containers when eating out
• Grow an herb garden
• Grow a vegetable garden