Tuesday Sep 26, 2023 9:30 AM - Tuesday Sep 26, 2023 10:00 AM | $40.00 - $110.00 |
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Event
Farming for our Future: Systemic Changes for the Climate Crisis.
Accommodations near All Souls: https://www.google.com/maps/search/lodging/@38.926026,-77.0409874,16z/data=!4m8!2m7!3m6!1slodging!2sAll+Souls+Church+Unitarian,+1500+Harvard+St+NW,+Washington,+DC+20009!3s0x89b7b7df9b9e718f:0x79e5b4e3bc5b7d37!4m2!1d-77.0358375!2d38.9260015?entry=ttu
Please register ASAP or by Thursday, September 21st, so that we can best organize the advocacy teams for Day 3and so that our food orders are tailored to the number of attendees; no waste! Late fee for registrations after that date is $10.00.
See latest updates here: https://uujec.net/climatejusticeconference2023/
Why focus on conservation and regenerative farming? If you eat food, you care about the Farm Bill even if you don't know it!
The farm bill connects the food on our plates, the farmers and ranchers who produce that food, and the natural resources our soil, air, and water that make growing food possible. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
Why focus on farming to address climate change? About 11-14% of US GHGs come from Agricultural systems. Today's technology can remove 178 Billion tons of CO2 and reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere by 157 ppm--enough to get us back to pre-industrial levels. Farm bills address many issues UUs care about including food quality and food chain security, soil and water contamination, food deserts, equity for small-scale producers, conservation, research, crop insurance, and nutrition programs 81% of the 2023 Farm Bills budget supports programs like SNAP (formerly food stamps). See the Faith Farm Bill Fact Sheet at the bottom of this page.
Congress puts forward only every five years a must-pass farm bill that determines the kind of food and farm system we have. Congress is writing the 2023 Farm Bill NOW. So NOW is the time for our UU voices to be heard.
We need your voice to join a growing coalition to support sustainable, regenerative, and equitable farm policies. We can not concede to the normal corporate agri-businesses to dominate the conversation. Here are just some issues that you might be concerned about:
* While small-scale family farms struggle to survive, corporate farms get huge subsidies for mostly animal feed like corn. We must change the incentive structures.
* Our soil has been degraded with the use of poisonous chemicals and pesticides. We need to do more, and better, with conservation and regenerative programs.
* Livestock Methane CH4 is 28X more potent in warming the atmosphere than CO2. We must get the agriculture sector moving in a climate-smart direction.
* Livestock are kept in tortuous dirty CAFOs - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. We need to stop new CAFOs and protect from biodiversity loss and contaminated water from animal waste.
* For decades, the Department of Agriculture discriminated against farmers of color. Disadvantaged farmers need equal access to credit and federal resources.
* There are good USDA research and grant programs that are underfunded and dont last long enough. When that happens, farmers return to what they did before.
Join UUs for Just Economic Community, UUs for Social Justice, Side with Love and UU Ministry for Earth in Washington, D.C. September 26-28, 2023 to learn about our food and farming system, and on Day Three advocate with our Senators for an equitable and climate-smart 2023 Farm Bill.
Whether or not you are coming, UUs for Social Justice will have a Write Here, Write Now" campaign. More information coming soon. Look for that on or about September 1st. Your letters will be delivered to legislators.
Seniors and young adults (35ish and younger) are encouraged to apply for scholarships. We have money for registration, travel and accommodation.
Tuesday September 26 All Souls Unitarian DC 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Speakers, networking (Lunch provided) Dinner on your own 7:00 Concert with Jim Scott at All Souls
Wednesday September 27 All Souls Unitarian DC 10:00 - 4:00 Speakers, advocacy training (Lunch provided) Dinner on your own 7:00 UU Worship at All Souls
Thursday September 28 8:00 Drop luggage at St. Marks Episcopal 8:30 Light breakfast at Room 209 in the Capitol Visitors Center 9:00 Room 209 at the Capitol Visitor Center (Light breakfast) 9:30 -10:00 Speaker from the legislature 10:30 - Advocacy meetings with our elected representatives (Lunch on your own) 2:30 - 4:00 - Debrief at St Marks and steps you can take back home
Registration fees: Day 1: $40 Days 2 and 3: $70 All three days: $99 Scholarships are available. No questions asked, contact Terry Lowman: uujec@uujec.org
Faith Fact Sheet on the Farm Bill https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qFKMPdiLhN9a3wKmaiwPUEXMhTCeROA8z2LAqab5Vaw/edit
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LocationAll Souls Church, Unitarian, 1500 Harvard St NW (View)
1500 Harvard Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
United States
Categories
Minimum Age: 13 |
Non-Smoking: Yes! |
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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Contact
Accessibility
All Souls is wheelchair accessible.
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