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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Elizabeth Mullen Contact: Allison Fisher |
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CATHEDRAL JOINS IN NATIONAL FAITH-BASED EFFORT Nationwide, 4,000 congregations are coming together over a common concern—global warming. During the first week of October, various faith communities will be showing the movie An Inconvenient Truth and providing information on how to diminish the dangers of global warming. In the Washington, D.C. area, 160 congregations will air the movie as part of an initiative spearheaded by Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light. Listed below are four opportunities for media interested in covering the story. Details of the events, available spokespersons, and a description of the first “green” building on Capitol Hill and touring options follow.
LEARN MORE BELOW The Interfaith Power and Light network, with 18 state affiliates and Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, has arranged for 4000 congregations of many faiths in all 50 states to show An Inconvenient Truthand other films on global warming as a part of its “Spotlight on Global Warming.” This is an unprecedented accomplishment for the religious community as it strives to diminish the dangers of global warming. Led by Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, congregations in the Greater Washington area are working to diminish the dangers of global warming in several ways:
Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Lights is offering the Media 1. Tour the first “green building” on Capitol Hill. Friday, September 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) at 245 Second Street NE (across from Hart Senate Office Building). All press welcome, SUPERB VISUALS. The Quaker lobby FCNL, a partner of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, recently completely rebuilt their historic building to incorporate the best green technologies. The building has a vegetated roof, geothermal heating and cooling, bamboo floors, a light “scoop,” and accommodation for bicycle commuters. For more information call 202-903-2531 or 202-903-2540. Participants in the event include: Allison Fisher, coordinator of the Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, Reid Detchon, Chair, Steering Committee Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light; Mike Tidwell, Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Jim Cason of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. 2. 160 congregations in the greater Washington area will show “An Inconvenient Truth” and other films on global warming. We invite the media to attend any of these five showings:
3. In his sermon during the 11 am service on Sunday, Oct. 1, Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III will focus on the biblical charge to care for the earth and will challenge the faith community to do its part to respond to this environmental crisis. Media interested in attending either event should contact Elizabeth Mullen in the Cathedral’s Office of Public Affairs, 202-537-6248 or emullen@cathedral.org. 4. Media are invited to interview any of these leaders to learn more about these programs: Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Temple Adat Shalom in Bethesda - Rabbi Fred is a long time leader in the faith-based effort to end global warming. Temple Adat Shalom is an energy efficient building. He states, ”Climate change is a moral and spiritual issue at three levels—respect for the poorest among us who suffer most, concern for those who come after us into an overheated world, and love of all Creation.” Reid Detchon, chair of the Steering Committee of GWIPL – Reid is on the vestry of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church that purchases 100% of its energy from land field gas. He states, “As Christians, we are called above all to love God and love our neighbors—but our heedless use of energy and destruction of the environment is harming people throughout the world who farm and fish and otherwise depend on the natural world for survival. Global warming poses a profound moral challenge to which we must respond.” Mike Tidwell, executive director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network – Mike is a member of Tacoma Park Presbyterian Church which has improved the energy efficiency of its building. He states, “Global warming is fundamentally a moral issue. It is THE moral issue of our time. It is morally wrong to knowingly plunge the world and future generations into agricultural, social and economic chaos. It is morally right to switch to clean, life-preserving, renewable energy right now. As such, this is not only a faith issue but fundamentally an American values issue.” Allison Fisher, coordinator of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, states “Communities of faith have stood up in the past and changed the world; they are continuing in this tradition today with Global Warming. We urge you to join our efforts, so future generations can enjoy creation.” Please contact Allison to arrange for interviews with any of these leaders. Her phone is 202-885-8684. Her email is: Allison@gwipl.org.
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