EYCI --> Let's Tend the Garden

It’s hard to believe that almost one year ago Restoring Eden and the Evangelical Environmental Network launched the Evangelical Youth Climate Initiative (EYCI), which culminated with our gathering in Washington, D.C., coming together to highlight our concern on global climate change and speak out with one voice to our members of Congress.  Click here for a great 5-minute video about EYCI.  Click here to sign the EYCI.

Since that time we have seen significant change in some of the offices we visited. Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) has gone on record in support of comprehensive climate legislation, and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) has started to seriously consider how to address global warming. Senator Coleman’s office in particular was very interested in hearing a fresh voice on this issue. For many of us, this was the first time we had spoken to our members of Congress, and I think each of us was reminded how important speaking out can be in a democracy like ours.  We made and continue to make an important difference!

And while each of us knows that advocacy is important, we also ought to live out the values we proclaimed.  EYCI is putting together a new resource for your use …  carbon offsets. You can view a non-student version at http://coolingcreation.org. The student site should be up by the fall.

Some have demonstrated this activism by advocating for recycling; supporting LEED certified buildings; and holding worship nights in the woods, showings of "An Inconvenient Truth," and other events to raise awareness. It’s time for all of us to step it up!

An important next step for those of you who want practical training and want to make important connections would be to join us for Let's Tend the Garden, an Environmental Stewardship Conference on September 20-22, 2007 in Boise, Idaho.  Vineyard Christian Fellowship Boise is hosting the conference.  Click here for more details about this event, which we encourage you to attend.