Time to Take Action On Climate Change
The Fire This Time is an Omen for the Future!
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 36 seconds
Despite the polluted air and the small red sun that was barely visible due to thick clouds from the forest fires in Canada, I had just finished my morning walk. On my way back to my apartment, I overheard a woman praising the sun’s appearance on her phone. I couldn’t understand her enthusiasm as the air quality was the worst I’d ever experienced, making breathing difficult. I nodded and wished her a good day wearing my N95 mask.
Later, I didn’t feel a sense of accomplishment despite completing my eighth daily exercise of at least 144 minutes. I’d been satisfied with the previous seven days but not today. The rest of my day felt like I was sleepwalking. I had a headache, lacked focus, and felt tired. I planned to reheat leftovers for dinner to save time before an evening Zoom meeting, but it took longer than expected. While eating, I struggled to read a paragraph in The New Yorker and re-read it multiple times.
Getting ready for bed, I heard Jan’s voice advising me not to go for a walk in the morning due to the smoky air. I told her I would wait and see how I felt in the morning. As I lay in bed, I knew these dark days would pass, but they also warned of a future world we couldn’t inhabit. As I closed my eyes, I promised Jan to take action on climate change for our children and future generations.
The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.
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Day of Action On Climate Crisis
I recently attended the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's Day of Action on the Washington climate emergency as a Temple Sha'arey Shalom representative. This was my first advocacy trip in almost five years, during which I advocated for funding for affordable housing for people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness. This time, I was advocating for climate action as part of the Power for Purpose campaign of the Reform Movement. I had the opportunity to meet with staff from Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Chris Smith and later with Congressmen Donald Payne, Jr. via Zoom.
During the event, two speakers challenged us to think differently about the work we need to do. LaTosha Brown, Co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund and the Black Voters Capacity Building Institute encouraged us to levitate above public conversations that do not focus on solving problems and see the big picture. Reverend Senator Raphael Warnock from Georgia challenged us to view our work as an effort to redeem the soul of America, which the rise of antisemitism, racism, sexism, and other forms of hatred has damaged.
Climate Justice Virtual Event for NJ June 27th
The Fire This Time is an Omen for the Future!
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 36 secondsLast month I attended the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s Day of Action on the climate emergency. One of the steps we focused on in Washington was the importance of submitting comments on the newly released EPA standards for carbon emissions from fossil fuels. Several of us who attended will hold a Zoom meeting at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, June 27, to provide more information on the proposed regulations and explain how to submit comments.
This is an excellent opportunity to involve our families, friends, neighbors as well as members of our congregations. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. To register, click here.
If you cannot attend, you and other family members, friends, and neighbors can post comments directly by clicking here.
If you would like a PDF of the flyer, please click here.
Caution, Hot Summer Ahead!
The Fire This Time is an Omen for the Future!
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 36 secondsAccording to an analysis in The Atlantic “Not a sliver of the U.S. should expect a cool summer, according to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s latest three-month outlook: The Eastern Seaboard, Texas, and parts of the Southwest have the highest odds of seeing overall temperatures elevated over the season. Other areas are at risk of more extreme heat, especially parts of the High Plains experiencing prolonged, severe drought, such as Kansas and Oklahoma. When the land lacks moisture and vegetation, “all the energy from the sun goes into heating the ground and then the near-surface temperature,” says Jon Gottschalck, who runs the operational-prediction branch of the CPC.
