There will be speakers, networking events, food, and drinks – plus the chance to spend the afternoon with your fellow Colorado climate activists … we are expecting upwards of 100 people. Please try to respond to the invitation as soon as possible, so the organizers can make sure adequate beverages are on hand. Although some compostable plates, tableware, and cups will be provided, you are encouraged to bring your own reusable plates and utensils to go with your shared dish.

RSVP here

We are trying to keep this green by establishing carpooling to and from the event. Please indicate in the comment area on the invite if you are interested in carpooling – indicate if you (a) can drive (b) need a ride and (c) your “region” (e.g. Longmont, Ft Collins, Boulder, Denver, Greeley, etc)

Hope to see you there!

The post NOCO Climate Meetup appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

Third Act Colorado sponsored it as part of the Third Act National’s “Summer of Heat” actions around the country, and Greenfaith Boulder County Circle also joined as a sponsor for the event.

About 25 people came with banners, signs and a polar bear head we took turns wearing. Third Act had a rocky chair for the “old Third Actors” who were part of the protest. It was a successful action on a hot day!

Third Act Colorado is the local chapter of dedicated folks over 60 joining together in creative actions as we work to protect our democracy and save our precious planet. We are committed, in this our “third act” of life, to using our resources and our skills to better the world for those coming after us. Join us as we joyfully work to become good ancestors!

Learn more about how to get involved with Third Act Colorado

Learn more about 350 Colorado

The post 350CO and Third Act Action at Chase Bank appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

A new film documents the 2018 battle between Colorado environmentalists and the oil and gas industry over proposed fracking regulations.

The film also documents a grassroots effort by Colorado Rising to pass a ballot initiative which would create a 2,500-foot setback for all hydraulic fracturing wells in the state, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Sarah Schulte, organizing committee member of GreenFaith Boulder County, which recently previewed the film for about 100 members, said the film has a strong message. 

“What probably makes the film pretty dramatic and kind of shocking is the length to which oil and natural gas industries in Colorado set out to thwart them,” Schulte pointed out. “Not only with some of the tactics you might expect, but also some kind of more nefarious tactics sabotaging their signature gathering, for example.”

In the end, the petroleum industry defeated the measure after a $50 million campaign opposing it. Schulte acknowledged Colorado Rising raised only $1 million for its campaign. After the election, the state adopted a 1,000-foot drilling setback from schools and residential property lines.

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, involves drillers injecting a mixture of chemicals underground to break up the shale and free the oil. The chemicals used in the process, which are sometimes toxic, can pollute groundwater and make the surrounding land unstable.

Schulte emphasized the movie had a powerful effect on the group’s members.

“I think most people were pretty angry and maybe even a little sad after seeing how these kinds of politics play out in Colorado,” Schulte observed. “They asked questions like what can we do next? How do you keep going when it’s so difficult to fight such a big and powerful industry?” 

The film, Fracking the System: Colorado’s Oil and Gas Wars, is currently being previewed by select audiences. It has won the “Spirit of Activism” award at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival
and the “Environmental Award” at the 2024 DOCUTAH International Film Festival. 

…..

View this article online

Disclosure: GreenFaith contributes to the Public News Service fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, and Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

The post Film Documents Environmental Battle with Oil, Gas Industry appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

Read the Public News Service article on the event here.

And check out the photos below from the screening — what a beautiful gathering with a full sanctuary of 100 people!

Reverend Nicole LeMarche, senior pastor at Community United Church of Christ, opened and closed the event calling us to loving action.

Sarah Schulte, First Congregational Church and GreenFaith Boulder County Organizing Committee member, moderated an excellent panel discussion with local activists from the film — Patricia Nelson, Suzanne Spiegel, and Russell Mendell — along with director Brian Hedden, Thomas Weiler from Together Colorado and Micah Parkin from 350CO. 

Deep Deep bows of gratitude to everyone who came, to Community United Church of Christ – Boulder for hosting in partnership with First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. 

Thank you as well to everyone the GreenFaith Boulder County Circle and Naropa’s Joanna Macy Center who helped to spread the word. 

May the seeds planted here find good soil for a just transition away from fracking.

🙏🌱

Speaking of…. some of you may have heard of the recent “oil and gas truce in exchange for transit funding” brokered by Governor Jared Polis. Obviously, this changes the legislative landscape drastically, and the implications are still being digested by many of us who have been working on policy issues.

With that in mind, may we embrace Fracking the System’s message — that people, working together with love and dedication, can make a huge difference. 

To keep going, even when the going gets tough!

The post Fracking the System Film Screening appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

• Virtual Climate Lobby Day trainings Feb. 5th and Feb. 19th
• A last-minute day-of training will occur the morning of Climate Lobby Day
• Climate Lobby Day 2024 is Friday, March 1, 8am-2pm
• Meet with legislators to advocate for climate-friendly bills
• Meet activists and organizers from lots of great groups across Colorado! (Climate action is more fun with friends 🙂

We’ll hold a final crash course lobby training at the First Baptist Church of Denver 1373 Grant Street, Denver, CO and provide an overview of bills from 8-9:30am, before heading over to the Capitol (9:30-noon or so). There, you will have the opportunity to speak with Colorado lawmakers, urging them to pass legislation to reduce emissions and promote solutions to the climate crisis.

CLIMATE LOBBY DAY 2024 
Friday March 1st
8am-2pm
RSVP here

View Facebook post with more details
Join Facebook event

Thank you! Please RSVP here and invite friends!

The post 2024 Climate Lobby Day Mar 1 appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

Also, some Colorado School districts are off school this day, so we are encouraged to consider inviting youth and young people from your congregation to join in the event. 

What: Faith Climate Lobby Day!

When: Friday 2/16  8am-12pm

Where: Colorado State Capitol 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver CO (meetup location TBA)

 RSVP at bit.ly/COFaithLobby. 

We look forward to a powerful day of influencing our legislators and showing up for climate!

The post Faith Climate Lobby Day Feb 16 appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

Please RSVP here if you can attend & invite friends here on Facebook. 

• Can’t make it on such short notice? Click here to send a message to your legislators today asking them to sign this open lettersupporting a phase out of permitting for oil and gas wells by 2030 and a just transition to a clean renewable energy future and to speak out against more fracking permits in our local communities NOW.
• Immediately after the rally, Thursday at 1 pm, the group will hand deliver a petitionto Governor Polis’ office asking him to reject the inadequate new rules that the AQCC passed for reducing emissions from manufacturing. If you haven’t signed it yet, you can sign the petition here.

With 2023 confirmed as the hottest year on record, let’s call on our state leaders for meaningful action. We need a rapid, just transition off fossil fuels to a clean energy future and to end permitting for new oil and gas wells. Click here to learn more.

The post State of the Climate Rally Jan 11 appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

Please join GreenFaith US for one or both of these upcoming programs focused on grief.

NOVEMBER 20 and DECEMBER 18, 2023

5-6:30 PM PT/ 6-7:30 MT / 7-8:30 CT / 8-9:30 ET

Each program will be participatory and therefore uniquely shaped by who is in the room. Together, we will witness our individual and collective grief and discover new ways of living and being in relationship to our beautiful planet. We’ll root in our unique faiths and cultivate collective resilience and hope — and remain ever committed to taking action.

RSVP NOV. 20

RSVP DEC. 18

The post Climate Grief Circles Nov 20 & Dec 18 appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

JEDI Workshops: Embracing Inclusive Organizing
Session 1: Foundation & Getting Started
Thursday, December 5th, 6-8pm

Session 2: Making Our Organizing Inclusive
Thursday, December 12th, 6-8pm

RSVP here

………………………………………………………………………..

The original curriculum of these workshops is thanks to Angela Davis of iProject LLC, a Senior Advisor on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 350CO staff, board members, and activists further developed the material and created additional content that is from the landscape of our organizing here in Colorado and not only our efforts as an organization for an inclusive movement, but our hope that as many people as possible will join us in this vision. 

And they more than just a learning opportunity. These workshops represent our collective commitment to reshape society towards an inclusive climate solution framework that addresses the root causes of injustice in our communities.

Imagine them as the seedbeds where we’ll learn how to keep making inclusivity central to our efforts, helping us transition to a clean energy economy. We’ll explore what it means to move away from an extractive way of being towards a more sustainable and just future. We want to move toward a movement that can equip all individuals with the resources needed to participate fully in climate organizing, through support, mutual aid, and accountability. 

We acknowledge that we’re on a journey, that there’s much to learn and unlearn. But together, we can create spaces where growth and learning are an integral part of our climate justice mission.

In solidarity, 

Chelsea, Ciara, & JEDI Leaders
350 Colorado

In solidarity, 

Chelsea, Ciara, & JEDI Leaders

The post Embracing Inclusive Organizing Workshops appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.

Join Congregation Har HarShem for our 2023 Symposium on Spirituality and the Environment Sunday November 2nd at 1pm. It is free and open to all. We will have a keynote from an activist in the Jewish community, and then a panel discussion about activism, advocacy, and next steps to live out our values. 

The annual Symposium focuses on bringing people together to explore perspectives on environmentalism from faith and spiritual traditions. We bring forward teachers, academics, faith-based activists in dialogue and shared learning. Our hope: greater understanding leading to greater engagement in acts of environmental protection and justice.

Learn more about the speakers and RSVP here to attend in person.

This program will also be livestreamed on the Congregation Har Harsher YouTube channel. 

Information is also here on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/2USIHYQ6Z. 

The post 2023 Symposium on Spirituality and the Environment Nov 12 appeared first on GreenFaith Boulder County.