On Tuesday, June 25, President Obama spoke of our moral obligation to address climate change on behalf of future generations. He has not waited for Congress and we should not either. Writing a letter to the editor (LTE) and submitting it to your local newspaper is just one thing we all can do to build on his speech. As just one example, the Chair of NCIPL’s Steering Committee, Carl Siegel, has written the following LTE:
At long last the political silence on climate change has ended. In a forward thinking and powerful statement, President Obama has added his voice to those of religious leaders in saying that, “the planet is warming and human activity is contributing to it.” The President presented an aggressive plan to address the climate challenge but emphasized this is not just a job for politicians.
We all know that life on this planet is suffering, and those people most affected are the poorest. We are called by our faith to urge all of our elected officials to both support President Obama’s initiatives and to expand them through timely and meaningful legislation. Climate change is not a partisan political issue; it is a moral issue.
In America, 125 million people are members of faith communities. Now is the time for us to use our collective voice to promote building a new strong economy by cutting carbon pollution, increasing energy efficiency, and developing clean, renewable energy. As the President said “We’re not a people who fear what the future holds, we shape it.”
Carl W. Sigel, Ph.D
Chair, Steering Committee, North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light
Full transcript of President Obama’s Speech
Sally Bingham’s response on behalf of IPL
–Nancy Hardy, NCIPL Communications Coordinator
North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light (NCIPL) is a program of the North Carolina Council of Churches. NCIPL works with faith communities to address the causes and consequences of global climate change and promote practical, hope-filled responses through education, outreach, and public policy advocacy. Please visit our website for information on our current programs, campaigns, and events.
