Environmental Justice Ministry

Environmental Justice Ministry (previously called “Just Web”).

2nd Sundays each month at 12:00 p.m.
In-Person at Emerson

The work of creating a sustainable way of life is central to our Unitarian Universalist view of a just and compassionate world.  We care for our environment in partnership with those most impacted by environmental devastation.  Consistent with the Seventh Principle of Unitarian Universalism, we acknowledge the interconnected web of life through projects focused on climate justice activism, ethical eating, and environmental stewardship.

Emerson held its Climate Justice Revival on Saturday, September 28th (see photos of the event HERE).  One of the outcomes was the creation of a small team, including Leslie Reuter and Heather Medvitz, to focus on the reduction of single use plastic. This is critical since plastic is made from fossil fuels and contributes to environmental degradation at an alarming rate, with nano plastics everywhere on the earth now, including the oceans, rivers, farms, land and sea creatures and even people.

There are many things each of us can do to reduce the single use plastic in our lives:

  • Use reusable items instead of disposables, something we are all doing to some extent:
    • washable utensils instead of plastic ware (I carry a set of bamboo utensils in my purse)
    • canvas bags instead of plastic bags (and you can wash the canvas bags, even better)
    • mugs instead of Styrofoam cups
  • Look for alternatives when you have a choice.
    • food without any plastic packaging
    • food packaged in a glass jar instead of a plastic jar.
    • bread packaged in a paper bag instead of a plastic bag (check the deli section or your local bakery)
  • Bring your own reusable bags
    • to the farmer’s market
    • in the produce aisle

Past meetings and projects have included:

Thinking globally and acting locally to take money out of fossil fuels:  Emerson Environmental Justice Ministry joined a coalition that pushed the LA City Council to reduce its investments in fossil fuel companies and to craft a plan to divest city pensions from businesses that contribute to climate change. Our members contributed oral and written comments on the measure which passed the full L.A. city council unanimously.  We also supported a motion for the City of LA to stop using insurance companies who continue to insure coal, oil and gas expansion. Several people from our Environmental Justice Ministry, in partnership with 350.org, Climate Reality and Insure Our Future, first brought this measure to Councilmember Bob Blumenfield (3rd District) in January 2021, and he introduced it to LA City Council because of our advocacy work. The motion requires the City to evaluate prospective insurance companies based on their underwriting and investment in fossil fuels. Our members again advocated for the measure with oral and written comments. On March 3, 2021, LA City Council unanimously passed it.

Getting out the vote through UUTheVote (https://www.uuthevote.org/) with text and phone banking as well as writing letters and postcards. (As a church affiliated group, we do not directly endorse candidates, but can support positions and help get out the vote.)

Helping Sky Valley Volunteers plant oak tree seedlings in the West Valley.

A discussion of Rev. Matthew’s co-authored essay “Becoming Resilient: Community Life for a New Age”, found in the anthology Justice on Earth: People of Faith Working at the Intersections of Race, Class, and the Environment.

We frequently work with other organizations, including the following:

Contact Andrea Reuter or Rhonda (rhondaplankrichard@gmail.com) if you have questions and/or to let us know if we can count on you to attend our next gathering.