Advocacy in support of specific causes takes many forms, from participating in vigils and demonstrations, to contacting elected officials and others by signing petitions, writing letters, or making phone calls. Advocacy may also mean posting online, talking to individuals or groups, or volunteering time and donating money to groups working for causes.

“Deeds not Creeds” is the historic tradition of the Unitarian Universalists Association (UUA)—promoting social and environmental justice and putting into action the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism. The UU Ministry for Earth focuses on environmental justice and is the home of the Green Sanctuary program, and UU member and congregations also are active in robust Social Justice efforts. 

Members of the Unitarian Universalists of the Blue Ridge participate with Coming to the Table, which seeks healing from the legacy of slavery and racism,  and in the Black Lives Matter Vigils for Action held weekly in Warrenton, Virginia, since June of 2020. Members of UUBRidge are looking to join with other congregations in the region to magnify our voices in on social justice and other issues, including advocacy with state legislators and officials in Richmond.

The Fall and Winter 2022 issue of UU World magazine includes an article supporting the work of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL)—a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy, and climate change organization. The organization is currently focused on advocating for the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which would address climate change using a market-based solution to carbon pollution through a carbon fee and dividend process. More than 50 UU congregations have endorsed this bill. Check out the CCL website for information and action items.

Image by Ed White (Pixabay.com)

Recent Good Environmental News

From the Environmental Defense Fund:

• At the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, almost 200 countries pledged to take strong action to protect nature and stop biodiversity loss, safeguarding 30 percent of all land and oceans by 2030 and mobilizing $200 billion annually  for biodiversity-related funding.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved permits for the largest ecosystem restoration program in U.S. history, addressing land loss and erosion in Louisiana.
• The 3M company has pledged to stop producing PFAs (known as “forever chemicals”) by 2025.

And, according to the Department of Energy, renewables are the fastest growing source of energy in the U.S., currently supplying about 20% of our energy.