Environmental Justice News
"He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" 
Micah 6:8 NRSV
Spotlight on Stories of Resistance to Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
On October 5, 2017 great news came from Canada, about a successful Indigenous-led resistance to what would have been the longest tar sands oil pipeline in Canada, the Energy East and Eastern Mainline projects. This pipeline would have carried up to 1.1 million barrels of dirty tar sands oil per day.

Last year at this time, the Indigenous-led resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline was growing in the spotlight. The fight continues in the financial sector and in the courts. On October 17, 2017, the court ruled in favor of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe when it found that the approval of the DAPL violated the law. The court did not yet determine whether the pipeline should be shut off.

In Minnesota, the Line 3 "Replacement" Project would bring approximately 760,000 gallons per day of dirty tar sands oil from Alberta through treaty lands of Ojibwe tribe to Wisconsin. A coalition of Indigenous, national and international groups join a growing movement placing pressure on financial institution s to drop financially and socially risky projects. Take action !

In Louisiana, the Bayou Bridge pipeline project is owned in part by the same owner of the Dakota Access Pipeline, and would transport crude oil over 163 miles of natural heritage swampland to a terminal in St. James Parish. An indigenous-led resistance camp, called L'Eau Est La Vie (Water is Life) is the new hub for the Bayou Bridge Resistance. T ake Action !

The fight against the Keystone XL pipeline continues, as ranchers built s olar installations in the KXL path.

In Pennsylvania, nuns built a chapel to block the path of a natural gas pipeline.
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Be The Church PCM

Action Opportunities
Tell CT Legislators to Protect Clean Energy Funds
From CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs: State legislators may finally be reaching an agreement on the state budget. Speak out against proposed raids on funding for the CT Green Bank and energy efficiency programs! CT Fund for the Environment created an easy form to send to your legislators - please take action here !

Ban Fracking Waste in Southeastern CT
There are now 27 towns in Connecticut that have passed ordinances that ban fracking waste! The moment is coming to southeastern CT, with a specific focus on Groton, and information on bringing the movement to your town. Please RSVP here and share the link on Facebook .

Date : Monday, October 23
Time :7:00 pm
Location :Noank Baptist Church
Address : 18 Cathedral Heights, Noank, CT

Contact your CT legislators about Millstone Nuclear Power Plant!
The CT Senate reached a deal to "save" the Millstone nuclear power plant. The CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs wrote a great op-ed , arguing that any deal should include proactive strategies for building a clean energy future. The bill is now in the House. Please send your legislators an email with a copy of the op-ed , and tell them to REJECT any special deal for Dominion Energy (owner of Millstone) that doesn't require a long-term commitment to Millstone's workers and families.

... Speaking of Power Plants
CT has several new natural gas power plants proposed or under construction in Bridgeport, Oxford, Middletown, and Killingly. Last year, the residents of New Milford successfully stopped the proposed natural gas power plant in their community. There's another new natural gas power plant under construction on the border of CT and NY in Dover Plains. The Cricket Valley Energy 1,100 MW power plant will send air pollutants into CT and put at risk the public health of residents in the Kent, Sherman, New Milford and Danbury region. CT residents only recently became aware of this project, and there is a growing resistance to the plant, which is currently under construction and slated to be operational in 2020. Find out more information about the public health impacts of the Cricket Valley power plant and action opportunities here .

Support the OFF Act
The Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act (OFF Act)  (HR 3671, Gabbard, HI-02) would transition us to 100% renewable energy by 2035.  Contact your legislators to urge them to support and cosponsor this urgent bill!
Recommended Reading
by Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas

A beautiful and moving account of a ceremony of reconciliation for the atrocities that resulted from the Doctrine of Discovery. The National Religious Coalition Create Care presented its 2017 Steward of God's Creation award to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Nations in recognition of the spiritual and moral leadership in protecting water and sacredness of Creation. Chief Arvol Looking Horse, keeper of the sacred White Buffalo Calf peace pipe, received the award on behalf of the Sioux Nation.
Interfaith Environmental Events
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2017
Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Location: Spring Glen United Church
Address: 1825 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT

Don't miss the 5th Annual Climate and Creation Stewardship Summit!  The focus of this year’s Summit is on water, both on land and in the oceans. It will consist of panelists, speakers, and workshops on climate change and environmental issues as they relate to sea level rise, water resource management, ocean pollution, lead in urban water supply, energy conservation, biodiversity loss and impact of toxic chemicals on human health.

Suggested donation is $30, which will cover continental breakfast, lunch, and materials. Register today!
Rev.Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Making the Creation Connection: Christians and Environmental Justice
A Day with Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2017
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center
Address : 660 Great Pond Road, North Andover, MA

In this day-long retreat, Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas will offer a three-part framework to transform hearts and minds about our environmental responsibility as Christians and to inspire bold and faithful action. More information and registration here .
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