Experience forest bathing, led by a certified guide, followed by practice of the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen. Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves taking in, in all of one's senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being […]
You are invited to join an online discussion series on Thursdays built around 15-minute videos featuring interviews with US faith leaders, representatives of climate-impacted communities from the global South, and presentations by UN officials and other experts. The videos walk viewers through four key climate policy issues that intersect with universal faith concerns for […]
Join other Christians to celebrate Earth Day by participating in a streamed pre-recorded creation-focused worship service. Listen to the wisdom, song, and stories from our fellow Creatures, human and non-human. The Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos will share the message of the day. This 45-minute worship service is in English with full Spanish translation, and does […]
Calling people of all faiths or no faith at all in Houston to care for our shared environment in observance of Earth Day/Month! We will engage in hands-on environmental stewardship at the Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve. This event will offer activities for all ages and skill. Meet at the Swartz Gazebo in the park to sign in. Metro bus […]
In a generation, much of the U.S. will resemble the lower Galveston Bay Watershed, a 10-county region surrounding Houston which Bayou City Waterkeeper (BCWK) serves. Home to the most diverse population, and also one of the most ecologically diverse major urban areas, our waterways — consisting of 2,500 miles of bayous, as well as creeks, […]
Members of Citizen's Climate Lobby explain the ins and outs of carbon fee & dividend as an economic policy tool to address climate change. Learn about the positive impact not only on the environment, but also on jobs, the economy, and human health. And, carbon fee & dividend has been deemed by economists as the […]
You are invited to join a private two-hour guided firefly hike and practice of a spiritual discipline, prayer with eyes wide open. Come enjoy the sights and sounds of the prairie, forest, and bayou at night, and see the mating dance of fireflies, as a spiritual experience! You'll also learn about fireflies, which are truly […]
Groundwater is, as famously quoted by the Texas Supreme Court in 1904, “secret, occult, and concealed.” Sometimes referred to as “hidden water,” it is out of sight and, therefore, unfortunately, out of mind. However, groundwater comprises 98.7 percent of all the fresh, unfrozen water on Earth. About 40 percent of all surface-water flows in the […]
The air quality in Harris County is influenced by multiple sources of pollution, including extensive road traffic, concrete batch plants, proximity to the largest petrochemical industrial complex in the United States, and port activities in the Houston Ship Channel. It is also important to note that environmental risks are not always uniformly distributed in urban […]
Plastic pollution now contaminates the deepest trenches in the ocean, high mountain peaks, and even the air we breathe – plus recently being found in our blood. Plastic has entered the food chain, killing wildlife, and causing the average person to eat one credit card’s worth of plastic each week. To learn more about this […]
Join Professor Robert Mace of Texas State University for a discussion on freshwater scarcity. Growing populations, the ever-present threat of drought, aquifer over-pumping, reservoir sedimentation, and climate change are creating a perfect storm to challenge the resiliency of our water supplies. Since water is needed for human health, agriculture, industry, energy, recreation, and the environment […]
Join Professor Hyun-Min Hwang of Texas Southern University as he examines the issue of plastic pollution. Plastic is a polymeric material, not biodegradable, and may last hundreds of years in the environment. Substantial fractions of plastic waste are disposed of improperly, and are found everywhere, even in the middle of the ocean and deep-sea floor. […]
Join Professor Gunnar Schade of Texas A&M University to learn about the issue of air pollution. Air pollution is a major factor for public health throughout the world. An increasing human population, increasingly clustered in urban areas, is exposed to a variety of air pollutants. Among the common pollutants, fine particulate matter and ozone exposure […]
Join Professor Sylvia Dee of Rice University to consider climate change, its causes, impacts, and solutions. There is now a long-established global scientific consensus that climate change will damage human and natural systems at high expense. Climate change-induced disruptions to human-environment interactions occur via impacts such as sea level rise, storm surge, tropical cyclones, and […]
Gardening and growing fruit, vegetables, and herbs organically is easy when recreating systems of nature to incorporate plants for wildlife and for people. Gardening in the gulf coast climate allows us to grow year around. Carol Burton, Director of Garden Education at Urban Harvest will explore the seasons from Summer gardening strategies to Fall […]
Join Professor Kerri Crawford of the University of Houston for a talk on the issue of biodiversity loss. Our planet is home to millions of species that rely on each other and provide important ecosystem services. Humans, too, rely on nature -- but we take a disproportionate amount of the resources and modify the environment […]
Heat is the greatest weather-related disaster in the U.S., killing more people than any other kind of natural disaster. And, Texas is one of three states with the highest heat-related deaths. A study found that the Houston area averaged 18 dangerously hot summer days per year from 1975 to 2010. Without any action to combat […]
As people of faith and conscience, we believe elections are a referendum on the values that will shape our future. How can we renew our fragile democracy? How do we honor the human dignity of every person? Will we protect our Sacred Earth and our children’s future? What policies will prioritize the common good and […]
Experience forest bathing, led by a certified guide, followed by practice of the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen. Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves taking in, in all of one's senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being […]
Texas Impact, an interfaith justice advocacy organization based in Austin (https://texasimpact.org/about-us/), is coming to see you here in Houston! Faith in Democracy is your opportunity to reflect with Houston faith leaders about why civic engagement is a must for faith communities. You’ll also hear from Texas Impact about their plans for the 2023 legislative session […]
