To Till and to Tend

American Judaism is defined by its extraordinary activism. When Jewish learning and identity needed bolstering, we organized schools, youth groups, JCC’s and Hillels to respond. When “continuity” was a concern, we mobilized to fund funky efforts engaging Jews who hang close to the edge. Whenever Jewish rights and liberties were restricted, we created a network of defense organizations, which helped not only Jews but others who suffered prejudice and exclusion.
In the last decade alone, the leadership of the Jewish community launched such remarkable and successful efforts as Taglit/birthright, designed to confer upon every Jew between the ages of 18 and 26 the right and ability to visit Israel; PEJE – The Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education designed to increase enrollment in Jewish day schools; and the Foundation for Jewish Camping designed to increase the number of Jewish children “participating in transformative summers at Jewish camp.”

All of these efforts - powerful, valuable and successful - were launched because dynamic Jewish philanthropies and donors organized, studied, led, funded and inspired them. These Jewish leaders did not wait for the right combination of staff, ideas, capacity and programs to come to them. They saw a need, a vacuum in our capacity to respond to that need, and mobilized. They gathered the lay leaders, the professional staff, the thinkers and strategists and social scientists, and they put their money behind their commitment.

It is time we utilize that same formula, employ that same energy, engage that same wisdom and dynamics in the arena of Jewish environmentalism. The vibrancy of the environment and the well-being of the Jewish community need nothing less.

The facts are clear: the environment is being rapidly degraded by business-as-usual. We need to re-imagine and redesign the ways we mine, manufacture, build, power, use and dispose of the stuff of society. If we don’t, we will irrevocably deplete and so exhaust our available resources (both natural and monetary) that we will diminish the security, health, dreams and options we bequeath to our children. Thousands of young Jews see environmentalism as the defining issue of their lives. And they see organized Judaism making little to no significant contributions to the cause. Which means they see Judaism (or at least organized Judaism) as making little to no difference to them.   

We can respond to both needs in one comprehensive response. Here is what we must do:

Frankly, I don't think responding to climate change is what's going to drive our economy over a cliff. Doing nothing, however, just might. And on this point, EPA and I seem to be in agreement. About a week ago, EPA released it's analysis of the Lieberman-Warner bill – and the report confirmed what we knew all along: we can cut our greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 60% without harming the U.S. economy. As Senator Warner (the Bills Republican sponsor) says, "You can control greenhouse gas emissions in a manner that leaves the economy whole and is not burdensome on consumers.”

In fact, EPA forecast that U.S. GDP would grow by some 80 percent between 2010 and 2030 under the bill -- only 1 percent below what it would otherwise have been. In other words, national climate change legislation will only modestly slow a thriving economy.

And that's only half the story. The EPA analysis assumes the U.S. economy will continue to grow unabated absent climate change legislation. In other words, the baseline disregards the costs of climate change. It disregards the rising seas and dying forests and failing agriculture. It disregards the cost of responding to hurricanes and elevating houses. And yet, in one basic regard, EPA and I agree: responding to climate change will not drive the U.S. economy over a cliff.

With Purim beginning tonight, Jews around the world are gathering items of food, drink and fun to share with friends as mishloach manot. Ideally, two parties benefit: The recipient enjoys receiving, and the giver enjoys giving.

But what if the joys of mishloach manot could go beyond giving and receiving? What if the money we use to buy our gifts – both this Purim and in general – can also fulfill the obligation of matanot l’evyonim?

Today, a growing number of companies are producing environmentally and socially responsible goods that allow us to treat our friends and ourselves while doing good for the world and the people in it. With a bit of research and a willingness to spend a little extra, we can ensure that coffee production doesn’t lead to deforestation and chocolate growers earn a living wage. And the options do not end with food products; flowers, handmade carpets, bamboo bowls, energy saving appliances and even wedding presents from department stores can be purchased in ways that give back.

In a holiday that we associate with merry-making and frivolity, it’s nice to remember that we don’t have to put our social responsibilities aside. Few actions speak louder than where we spend our money. Sometimes a gift can be more than a gift.

List of Links:
Fair Trade Foundation
Ten Thousand Villages, a Fair Trade store
Earth Aid Kits
I Do Foundation

The Global Rose as Social Tool, New York Times, March 13

I'm not as happy as I used to be.  Being a climate change policy advocate is a tough job.  My days are spent working on an issue that could mean the end of the world as we know it.  It's scary – and depressing – spending your waking hours reading about the catastrophic implications of sea-level rise and melting ice caps.  Sometimes it's hard to focus on the hundreds of wonderful, positive things that surround me every day – a phone call from an old friend, a morning when my children sleep past 6:00 am – because these daily gifts are over-shadowed by the apocalyptic threat of climate change. 
And these fears persist when I'm not technically at work.  I was reminded of this reality repeatedly this winter when the temperatures in the DC suburbs crept into the 70s.  I found myself briefly enjoying a picnic in the park – only to feel guilty about my happiness.  After all, it seemed like there was a certain "appearance of impropriety:" how could I be happy wearing short sleeves in the middle of winter? And though part of me appreciated the time I saved this winter by not shoveling my front steps or bundling the baby before running an errand – I also believe these things are the necessary inconveniences of living on the East Coast.
It turns out, I'm not alone.  In fact, there's an emerging field of "ecopsychology" – a cadre of about 120 therapists worldwide who explore the relationship between people and the environment.  The New York Times recently wrote about the phenomenon – focusing, in particular, on people with "global warming anxiety."  One therapist teaches the afflicted to follow a "multistep process that is similar to kicking an addiction."   The prescription includes “'fasts'” from shopping, e-mailing, and the news, while cultivating calmer pursuits like meditation or gardening."  Who knows, it might work – as long as the gardening doesn't occur on a warm winter day.
I, for one, am happy that spring is around the corner.  At least then, I don't have to feel guilty about enjoying a walk in the park!

Thank you to Chavi, from the Just Engage blog, for being our guest blogger. 

Did you know that for about $2500 you can convert any diesel car or truck to run on fast food restaurant waste? 

*Thanks to my friend “Happy Mom” for her experience and knowledge about this topic.

Ways to reduce consumption:

Buy fresh, organic and local at farmers markets
Visit your local thrift store