"...Explore the material and psychological distractions that prevent us from caring for the Earth, and to acknowledge the connection between our lifestyle choices and the condition of the Earth . . . Clarify earth-related values . . . Explore the meaning of sustainability, to consider the ties between lifestyle choices and their impact on the earth . . . Religious education is key to learning about the complexities of the environmental crisis ~ Green Sanctuary Program Manual

BUF‛s Peace on Earth Summer Camp completed its second year! The 2010 Peace on Earth Camp Curriculum featured "water" as the theme for its activities. With respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we all are a part, we will help take care of our world with an emphasis on habitat, sustainability and peace. This year we tromped in the woods, scooped up pond water and looked into the lake with our home made waterscopes. We even put on a play! This year's camp was held at Tennant Lake Interpretive Center in Ferndale. Check back for more details on what the summer group accomplished! For more information, click here on our camp brochure!

As part of the Human Rights Film Festival, Fairhaven College Auditorium presented a showing of "Flow for the Love of Water." The film centers on water issues and includes scientists, activists and ordinary citizens worldwide responding to the growing privatization of dwindling fresh water supplies. In an unflinching critique of politics and pollution, FLOW exposes the dangerous emergence of a domineering world cartel.  Seven of our youth attended this film along with 3 RE advisors.

BUF Youth, RE leaders and GSP members handed out chocolate to the Bellingham Farmer's market crowd. BUFsters distributed Fair Trade certified chocolate with a card explaining the labor and environmental problems in the cocoa industry globally and how Fair Trade provides a solution. The event, Reverse Trick-or-Treating, was launched three years ago to raise awareness of the pervasive problem of child labor, forced labor and trafficking in the cocoa fields, to empower consumers to press the chocolate industry for more fair cocoa sourcing policies, to shift the industry toward sourcing Fair Trade certified cocoa, and to inform consumers about Fair Trade companies that are leading the way to industry reform. Fair Trade standards prohibit the use of abusive child labor, contain extensive environmental sustainability protections, and enable farmers to escape poverty.

Once again, BUF's added their efforts to our annual Food4Tots Drive. On September 20, 2009, the RE classes conducted their own Food4Tots drive s part of the Sunday Service. Each year hundreds of families in our community celebrate the birth of a new child and experience the joy of bringing home a new bundle of Hope. But for an ever increasing percentage of new parents, that joy is marred by stress and fear as they find their scant resources are inadequate to meet their new infant’s essential needs.

In 2006, families with nearly 7,500 infants under the age of 2 sought assistance from Whatcom County food banks but,unfortunately, found little there to meet the basic needs of their hungry babies. While Whatcom county organizations and businesses have been very generous, donating 15,000-20,000 pounds of food each week, few donors are aware that very little of this food can be consumed by infants. Most donations consist of canned goods not suitable for infant diets. In the last two years, requests from the Food Bank have increased nearly 40%.

The items most needed included: powdered infant formulas, beginner’s jars of baby food, and juices. This was an excellent opportunity to provide a solution to both a social and environmental issue. There were plenty of organic brands of infant food products available at local stores to not only provide a needed food source, but an environmentally responsible and healthy one as well.

Rev. Doug Wadkins and RE Director Crystal Neva worked with BUF's youth on understanding and appreciating the interconnected web of life and our part in it. The youth also held a collection that went to the NW Wildlife and Rehabilitation center. On the 15th, as part of their social action project, the youth made dog and cat biscuits which were then donated to the Humane Society.

During the Ingathering Service, BUF's children's RE program had an opportunity to add their support to the month-long Food4Tots program. A food bin was placed in the front of the sanctuary for our children to bring in baby food as their offering for the service. Adults were welcome to contribute as well.

BUF joined with the Bellingham Food Bank to address a growing concern in our community. For an ever increasing percentage of new parents, the joy of a newborn has beem marred by stress and fear as they find their scant resources are inadequate to meet their new infant’s essential needs. In 2006, families with nearly 7,500 infants under the age of 2 sought assistance from Whatcom County food banks. BFB estimates that 1,000 units of baby food a month is needed to meet the local needs of Whatcom's infants and toddlers. Through the Lifelong Learning Program, Social Justice Committee and the Green Sanctuary Program, it was our goal is to collect 1,000 jars of baby food throughout the month of September. Food4Tots bins were located in the foyer and regular deliveries made to the Bellingham Food Bank of any donations. Although the jars of food were important, donations of juices, cereals, etc. were accepted. Members were reminded, too, there are certain brands of baby food that are organic and would be an outstanding way to address a social justice issue as well as an environmental one.

BUF's Food4Tots drive were:

938 jars of baby food,
5 boxes of cereal,
1 container of Similac,
78 infant/toddler soy drinks,
42 containers of formula (although, 8 of them had past their expiration dates, and
2 boxes of baby cracker/cookies,
plus whatever monetary contributions we had (some sent directly to the Food Bank, and a few to BUF).

300 pieces of Fair Trade chocolate and informational cards that educate people about the terrible working conditions for the majority of workers involved in the production of chocolate were ordered and distributed by BUF. Companies like Hershey and Nestle need to feel pressure from their customer base to respond to this injustice! There is a delicious alternative to mainstream chocolate and that is Fair Trade Chocolate! BUF's Lifelong Learning Program had a table to give out the chocolate and educate the public Saturday, October 25th, held in the outskirts of the Farmers Market from 10-3. The table included the information cards and the chocolate, the BUF banner and some signs.

Once again, our children had their own worship time during RE. A special part of their worship was an offering, that went toward the purchase of a bee hive toward a Heifer International project. Heifer has learned over the years that a holistic approach is necessary in order to build sustainable communities. So we’ve developed a set of global initiatives – areas of emphasis that must be addressed if we’re to meet our mission of ending world hunger and poverty and caring for the earth. The children were able to raise $77.83 towards this project. You're never too young for social action!!

On October 14, 2007, Katie Fleming of RE Sources came to the YRUU meeting with a one-hour presentation on Media & Marketing entitled "Think Twice Before You Buy." Teens are buying more than ever before, and the effects of increased levels of consumption are at the core of many of the environmental and social challenges we face today. Through a multimedia presentation, discussions, and activities that promote critical thinking skills, our teen group gained knowledge about the issue of over-consumption, the role they play as consumers, and the sound decisions they can make regarding their own consumer habits – learning to “think twice before they buy.”   We brainstormed ideas in applying our principles and values  to our spending, such as encouraging support of our local economy, focusing our spending dollars on used or recycled products, alternative gift-giving, being educated consumers, and not letting the media get the best of us. [18 teens attended]

As a follow-up to the Media and Marketing presentation, we invited the Young Adult Group to our next meeting, October 21st, to bring ideas and samples of alternative gift-giving, using recycled or reusable items.  We had about 8 Young Adults show up, well-armed with ideas and supplies.  These included wood-burning on driftwood, fun and fancy photo frames from assorted left-over bits of this and that, origami boxes from calendar photos, knitting lessons, and rolled beeswax candles.  YAG also compiled a comprehensive list of hip local places to support, either because of their own dedication to sustainable business practices, reuseable products, or the idea of giving "experiences" rather than material things. [14 teens attended].

"NSEA provides a wide range of volunteer and internship opportunities and actively seeks to match willing volunteers to the tasks that they most enjoy. Volunteer Work Parties meet on Saturdays in both the spring and fall seasons. Parties work in designated areas along water banks clearing invasive plants, planting trees and general bank maintenance. Volunteers are needed and open for all persons willing to dig in and get a little dirty and have a good time doing something very constructive." The March 31st work party participated in cleaning up Squalicum Creek in the Columbia Neighborhood area. Several members of the Green Sanctuary Team attended as well as some of our Coming of Age youth. Other members of BUF also participated. Refreshments were provided by the Bagelry, Starbucks Coffee, Tony's Coffee and the Community Food Co-op.