Greenfaith: God wants eco-warriors
I paddled across the Hudson in a downpour with about 50 other kayaktivists on our way to the Albany riverfront. Climate justice banners fly high above our flotilla as the county sheriff, city police, Coast Guard, and members of the news media watched us from a comfortable distance. We lined up our vessels, bow to stern, a mock blockade of anticipated oil barges.
That spring 2016 day, faith leaders from all over Albany took part. Protesters marched from Lincoln Park to the South End. All races and ages took part in demonstrations at the Port of Albany, a fracked gas and oil hub, and sat on railroad tracks to protest oil-loaded trains that roll past homes and churches of the people of color and poor households. This is an example of how Greenfaith fights environmental racism which dumps the worst pollution on those who are most vulnerable.
In 2015, I was accepted into the Fellowship program with Greenfaith, a nonprofit that develops environmental leaders from diverse religious and spiritual communities. It was an inspiring experience, drawing me into a deeper commitment to religious activism, climate justice work, and beginning of a new chapter in my ministry.
My work with Greenfaith has included some great moments of collective action. Organizing a local march and rally on the day the Paris Agreement was signed; marching in Philadelphia in advance of the Democratic National Convention.
I’ve offered prayer on the staircase of the New York Capital with environmental justice coalition NY RENEWS to advocate for state policy for climate change. To educate local faith leaders about offshore wind policy, I drove 10 College of Saint Rose alumni to Rhode Island where we were hosting a ferry tour and interfaith blessing of the first five offshore wind turbines.
The Capital Region Creation Care Coalition began about a year ago when Christians, Jews, Quakers, Unitarian Universalists and Buddhists met. But the coalition is in its infancy in tackling renewable energy, zero waste, education and advocacy.
Pope Francis delivered a 2015 plea for interfaith environmentalism in “Laudato Si” or “Care for Our Common Home.”
In an upcoming event, I want to welcome millennials and Gen Z into Greenfaith. Look at what young Americans accomplished with March for Our Lives. In Europe, teenage girls are the ecological vanguard, taking one day each week to march against ocean and air pollution, plastic waste and toxic air.
Saint Rose’s Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary has colorful stained glass windows patterned like Earth in its shared sacred space. People of various faiths have lots of history with suffering, hope, and social justice. We need more interfaith leaders to champion climate justice, especially for those who suffer the most from the storms, fires, and droughts.
Ken Scott is a leader in Greenfaith’s Capital Region chapter and College of Saint Rose community service director. To learn about Greenfaith’s upcoming events like Climate Justice Advocacy Day on Wednesday, Feb. 27, see www. capitalcreationcare.org/