National Catholic Rural Life Bulletin

In this issue

CCHD seeks nominations to honor Catholic Young Adult Leaders
Affordable Health Insurance elusive in Rural America
FCC releases report on Broadband Strategy for Rural America
"The Climate Gap" Highlights Inequalities of Climate Change
God's Presence Evident in All Creation
Catholic Networks Support Adaptation to Climate Change
"Electricity from Coal isn't Cheap"
Sacred Heart Monastery: Practicing and Living Sustainably
World Environment Prayer and call to plant one billion trees

CCHD seeks nominations to honor Catholic Young Adult Leaders

Do you know a young Catholic (age 18-30) who is actively engaged in work on the local or national level to break the cycle of poverty in our country? Help us to honor young social justice leaders by submitting a nomination for the 2009 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award, an annual award given by the USCCB/Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Consider nominating a young adult who is leading efforts to address problems in their local communities, working with social justice organizations, or leading social concerns efforts on college campuses. The award recipient will be given a $1,000 cash award at a reception held in conjunction with the November annual meeting of the U.S. Catholic Bishops.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.usccb.org/cchd/bernardin.shtml or requested via email jrauh@usccb.org or telephone 202-541-3297. Nomination Deadline: July 31, 2009.

Affordable Health Insurance elusive in Rural America

Family farmers and ranchers are considered small business owners and do not qualify for competitive health insurance rates. You can hear the challenges faced by Iowa farmer Linus Solberg in a story that aired this past weekend on National Public Radio.

You will also hear from Larry Harbour, an entrepreneur and rural small business owner in Nebraska. Larry is one accident away from losing it all. Insurance would cost his family at least $24,000 per year, so he and his wife go without.

Small business is the backbone of rural America, and Center for Rural Affairs Research Director Jon Bailey reports in the story that if you work for or own a small business, you are more likely to have inadequate health insurance, or none at all.

FCC releases report on Broadband Strategy for Rural America

While the country made the complete switch this weekend from analog to digital broadcast television, many parts of rural America are waiting for broadband services. Michael J. Copps, Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairman, has released a report concluding that all rural Americans must have the opportunity to benefit from broadband services. It provides a starting point for developing policies on extending broadband to rural areas.

The report can be read at http://wireless.fcc.gov/outreach/index.htm?job=broadband_home

"The Climate Gap" Highlights Inequalities of Climate Change

The University of Southern California Center for Sustainable Cities issued a report last month that reveals the sometimes hidden and often unequal impact climate change is expected to have on people of color and the poor in the United States. "The Climate Gap: Inequalities in How Climate Change Hurts Americans & How to Close the Gap" connects the dots between research on heat waves, air quality, and other challenges associated with climate change. The report explores how we might best combine efforts to both solve climate change and close the Climate Gap. Although the report focuses on California's global warming policy, it is applicable nationally. The report also has an analysis of the federal-level American Clean Energy Security Act.

Download the report at http://college.usc.edu/geography/ESPE/perepub.html

God's Presence Evident in All Creation, Pope Says

Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the relationship among God, humans, and creation at his noon blessing on June 7, the feast of the Most Holy Trinity:

"O Lord, our Lord, how wondrous is your name over all the earth! (Psalm 8:2) In speaking of the 'name' the Bible indicates God himself, his truest identify; an identify that shines forth in the whole of creation, where every being (down to the least particle), by the very fact of existing and by the 'fabric' of which it is made, refers to a transcendent Principle, to eternal and infinite Life that gives itself, in a word: to Love."

Read the complete angelus message at
http://www.piercedhearts.org/benedict_xvi/angelus/june_07_09.htm

Catholic Networks Support Adaptation to Climate Change

CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis, the largest networks (along with Catholic Relief Services) of Catholic development and relief agencies in the world, urged world leaders at the UN climate change negotiations recently taking place in Bonn, Germany, to "ensure a coherent and coordinated approach to technology and adaptation under the new agreement, and dedicate the financing and institutional capacity necessary to support them."

Drawing from their joint report Reducing Vulnerability, Enhancing Resilience: The Importance of Adaptation Technologies for the post-2012 Climate Agreement issued in May 2009, they highlighted the need for urgent action on technologies that are key for adapting to climate change, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development.

The networks acknowledge the need to mitigate climate change, but encouraged world leaders to not neglect the need of developing countries that already are and will continue to adapt to the effects of climate change. World leaders will gather at the end of this year for a global summit in Copenhagen to seek a new climate agreement to replace the current Kyoto Protocol.

For a related article, visit http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090607/catholic-relief-networks-say-technology-key-to-climate-change-plan/index.html

"Electricity from Coal isn't Cheap," writes Glenmary Fr. John Rausch

When a dike broke at the Kingston Fossil Plant spilling a billion gallons of toxic fly-ash sludge into the waters and homes of eastern Tennessee, the future of coal got blacker. The most abundant fossil fuel in America looked "so yesterday." From its digging to its burning to its cleaning up, the use of coal remains problematic as a major source of electricity.

So begins the recent monthly column by Fr. John Rausch, Glenmary Home Missioners. He concludes by saying: People of faith recognize the difference between environmental rhetoric, called "greenwashing," and green technology. As stewards of creation, they pursue authentically safe, clean energy sources so people in Appalachian communities like Harriman won't pay the price for cheap electricity from coal.

NCRLC posts his monthly columns on our website under a special section called Corner Post where you can read Fr. John's recent column, plus many of his previous postings.

Sacred Heart Monastery: Practicing and Living Sustainably

The Sacred Heart Monastery in Richardtown, North Dakota is an example of a religious community applying new technologies and practices for sustainable living. Besides innovations for their monastery buildings, the sisters weave experiential learning opportunities for the wider community. They offer workshops to teach the art of spinning, often in conjunction with contemplation. They use wind turbines and share their results and experiences with students, environmental groups, churches, schools, and businesses.

Read more about the Sacred Heart Monastery by visiting the NCRLC webpage devoted to identifying the religious communities around the country applying practices of sustainable living.

World Environment Prayer and call to plant one billion trees

Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, USG/UISG

JPIC Commission invites you to consider reading and reflecting on an ecological resource, developed by a working group of the JPIC Commission, entitled Earth Community: In Christ through the Integrity of Creation towards Justice and Peace for All
(Accessible at: http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/EN_creation)

The JPIC also encourages participation in the UN Environment Program's Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign where individuals, families, communities, organizations, business and industry, civil society and governments, and churches are asked to plant trees and enter their tree planting pledges on the web site: http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/

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