The Green Group of the Mt. Diablo UU Church in Walnut Creek, California, a fellow Green Sanctuary in the UUA, thought members of your congregation might be interested in a talk given here last September by Bill McKibben, who has been writing for 20 years about climate change and has been called by the Boston Globe, “probably America’s most important environmentalist.”
Many of us were strongly affected by McKibben’s words and presence, which we recorded and want to share. The talk is available now as a YouTube video and also a professionally produced DVD.
With us for nearly an hour, with no notes, and at times relating personal stories with touches of humor, he made it clear that the countries which are the major contributors to the problem, first and foremost the United States, are not going to face up to what is happening unless people everywhere on the planet stand up and protest. The international organization McKibben founded in 2008, 350.org, is working hard and with increasing results to make this happen. The most recent focus of 350.org has been on stopping the Keystone XL Tar Sands pipeline to bring crude oil from Canada to refineries in this country as far south as Texas. Although President Obama has approved building the lower section of the pipeline, it is still relevant and timely because the rest remains in question and in the news. In addition to threatening aquifers, extracting oil from sand emits more carbon than normal oil extraction—up to three times more.
So, while the pipeline was obviously still on his mind, McKibben’s talk was about much more. He spoke about what climate change is doing to our earth and the urgent need for action to slow it down. At least in this country, he says, the overwhelming evidence from science has been pushed out of governmental decision making by policies which favor an industry&mdashfossil fuels—that is willing to change the composition of the atmosphere if that’s what it takes to maintain its huge profits and influence.
The DVD is also for sale (not for profit, $5 to cover production costs and $2 for mailing, for a total of only $7). To watch the video, copy its link, or order the DVD visit: mckibbendvd.org
As you know, the issue of climate change is crucial to humanity’s and the earth’s survival and there is no doubt that Bill McKibben is one of its best presenters.
Thank you,
The Green Group of the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church