For months we've discussed a variety of campaigns that our working group could potentially take on and at last month's meeting we finally decided that our focus should be on targeting a source of carcinogens being emitted by a local company.
Texas is at risk. Communities across the state are coming together, concerned about an issue that will affect our communities, our future generations, and the wonderful state we call home. We are concerned about high-level nuclear reactor waste that could come through our communities and be dumped on Texas for decades to come.
Deadly radioactive waste could come through our cities and rural lands, headed to two proposed sites. The Consolidated Interim Storage project of Waste Control Specialists (WCS) and ORANO seeks to store 40,000 tons of high-level radioactive waste in Andrews, Texas. Holtec proposes a similar high-level radioactive waste storage project for 173,000 tons of spent fuel just a short distance from Texas, across the New Mexico border.
The public comment period ends October 19th. Learn more and discuss options for action at a community meeting
Learn how your spending and environmental impacts are connected, so you can save money. Develop strategies to build your personal resilience and preparedness for the future. Participants report saving an average of $2,700 per year and up to $20,000 per year. The average participant drops their electricity use by 15% and 5 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Under Jim Crow segregation laws, African-Americans were often met with discrimination and intimidation as they traveled across the United States. Victor Green, a black postal worker in New York, published the first Negro Motorist Green Book in 1936 as a guide to businesses that would serve African-American travelers; over the next 28 years, the annual publication helped scores of motorists find hotels, tourist homes, restaurants, barber shops, beauty parlors, service stations and taverns across the country.
Green wrote that the Green Book would not be necessary “when we as a race will have equal opportunities and privileges.” He died in 1960 and the last edition of the guide was published in 1966. By that time, the development of the national highway system had decreased the chances of discrimination against African-American motorists. The passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act made the Green Book and similar publications obsolete, just as Green had predicted.
Houstonians Toya and Reuben Levi organized the Green Book Project to document African-Americans’ experiences traveling across the U.S. under Jim Crow through photos, interviews and documentation of existing sites listed in the Green Book. The Levis will discuss the history and legacy of the Green Book, as well as some of the Houston locations listed in the guide through the years, in this illustrated lecture.
This event will feature artwork from local refugee and immigrant artists at the YMCA's third annual art show and auction.
Proceeds from the sale of all artwork will be shared equally between the artists and YMCA International Services, where the funds will be used to support programming.
This is an interactive community event that begins with a conversation between physicians and faith leaders. The conversation will focus on the dehumanization and deprivations of children in immigration detention, that compounds the trauma from the conditions from which they flee and the harrowing journey towards the specter of freedom that follows.
in people of good conscience, physicians and faith leaders bringing visibility to the human rights violations of the 134,000 children detained in 2017 by immigration (we have already exceeded this number for 2018). Come as a volunteer in a caravan of cars filled with relief supplies, including bottled water (no sparkling or flavored), easy open and individual sized fruit, peanut butter, veggies, protein snacks, cereals, crackers, natural juices, bags of dry rice, canned beans/soup, and blankets. We are heading to Ursula CBP detention facility in McAllen, Texas to bear witness to a system that has for too long ignored the basic needs of migrant children in immigration detention.
John Kerry will appear at The Progressive Forum September 29. All attendees will receive a free copy of his memoir, Every Day Is Extra. Kerry was a decorated Vietnam War veteran but returned disillusioned and became a leader of the anti-Vietnam War veterans movement which led him into public life. He is a former five-term U.S. Senator, Democratic presidential candidate, and the 68th Secretary of State.
Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites you to attend an Adult Forum that addresses scripture and science. Lisa Brenskelle & Elmer Ledesma, leaders of the Creation Care Team at Christ the King, will consider: Is there conflict or connection between scripture & science? If there is connection, what connection exists? If a connection exists, then scientific understanding matters for people of faith - but, how can they distinguish good science from “fake news”? Join us for this insightful Adult Forum! Christ the King is located at 2353 Rice Blvd. in Houston. Metro buses 41 and 27 stop nearby. For more information, contact Lisa Brenskelle at [email protected].
Mahatma Gandhi, apostle of peace and non-violence, demonstrated to the world the effectiveness of non-violent means for bringing about profound social changes and lasting peace.
Mahatma Gandhi Library is pleased to announce the Kick-off event of the yearlong celebration of Gandhi Sesquicentennial (150th birthday) which falls on October 2, 2019!
Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites you to a monthly environmental education web meeting series whose theme in 2018 is Stewardship. In September, we welcome Jordan Fengel, Executive Director of STAR (State of Texas Alliance for Recycling). For nearly 50 years, recycling has been a staple practice throughout many American communities. A recent policy change by the Chinese government in 2017, enacted in 2018, banning many recyclable materials from being imported, has created a conundrum in the recycling industry. The US has relied on China to process our mixed plastic and mixed paper recyclables for the last 20+ years. With China set to eliminate all imports of recyclable materials by 2020, Jordan will discuss what STAR is doing to turn the tide.
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston invites you to join their team for this year’s Eco-Challenge. This online event offers you the opportunity to care for our common home, the earth, by taking on a challenge in: waste, food, health, transportation, energy, community, nature, water, simplicity, or a custom challenge of your own. Create a new eco-habit over the course of the 3 weeks of the challenge
Day Retreat focused on educating the community on plant based nutrition and mindfulness. The event will feature yoga classes featuring different styles of yoga, introduction to different types of meditation and nutrition talks which discuss the benefits of plant based nutrition. Plant based lunch is included in the price of attending the retreat. The retreat will also feature cooking demonstrations on preparing plant based meals.
Camp Congress for Girls Houston Fall 2018 is a leadership program that introduces girls ages 9 to 15 to politics. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of our political system. Each girl will choose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. She will create her own campaign with a platform, campaign slogan, campaign finance plan, campaign marketing materials and a political ad for YouTube. All campers will register to vote and then vote in an election. Once elected to Congress and sworn in, the newly installed members of Congress will learn how to introduce a bill, debate the merits of the bill, lobby fellow legislators, collaborate with the Executive branch and finally vote on the proposed bill. Camp will culminate with a ceremonial signing of the bill by our Ms. President. Girl Scouts participating in Camp Congress for Girls Houston will earn a Citizen Legacy Badge for participation. All participants will receive Certificate of Completion.
The Jerusalem Conference is a one-day conference on Thursday, October 11 that brings together scholars, ecumenical theologians, and peace-doers around the topic of: Jerusalem: What makes for Peace?
What a year it has been for West Street Recovery. They started with bikes and boats and now have five staff members who rebuild homes, help residents navigate a complex and incredibly difficult recovery, connect families to large rebuild aid groups , and advocate for policies that promote an equitable recovery and create lasting benefit for people of Houston. Their advocacy has gotten them invited to the Texas State Senate to testify on the FEMA Preps program, sent families to DC to testify, and brought the BBC, PBS, and 60 Minutes to Northeast Houston.
Please join them to celebrate their first birthday as an organization with a lovely evening at Finca Tres Robles in 2nd Ward. The night will include a farm tour, dinner including local meat, produce and locally brewed beverages, and stories from the West Street team and some of the people they have worked with.
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston, a Houston affiliate of the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy, invites you to an educational talk on going green for events at houses of worship. Lisa Brenskelle, who has organized a number of green events for her church/Christian denomination, will address her tips & tricks to do so. This talk will cover events of all sizes, from small events for one faith community, to large events for national meetings. Food, waste, transportation/travel, materials, housing, energy use, equipment & more will be included. Learn how to go green for your next event at your house of worship!
Need more incentive to stand up for better treatment in the workplace and worker's rights on a wide range of issues? How about the dismal state of affairs in worker treatment and protections being a major contributing factor to poor health, including public health and safety, and higher health care costs. Discuss how chronic, costly and often serious health conditions (ie: heart disease, diabetes, etc), as well as injuries (esp. auto accidents and workplace related) are exacerbated and made more common as a result of lack of worker protections, lack of paid sick and maternity leave, overwork and poor work/life balance and hostile work environments.
1000 Lights For Peace will take place on Sunday, October 14, 2018 from 5 PM to 8 PM at the Miller Outdoor Theatre.
The most brazenly racist, sexist, anti-working class and authoritarian president in recent decades will be at a Ted Cruz rally at the Toyota Center on Monday, October 22nd. A spirited demonstration against Trump will begin at 6 pm. Please plan to join other Houstonians in giving him the welcome he so richly deserves. This action is being called by Familias Inmigrantes y Estudiantes en la Lucha (FIEL), Houston Socialist Movement, MORENA Houston-Southwest, Refuse Fascism, Socialist Alternative, Young Communist League, and other organizations (list in formation).
