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Overview Meatless Monday Recipe Library

The Unity movement acknowledges the interdependence of all life and holds it sacred. It is a journey of spiritual relationships with Earth and its creatures. It is through awakened consciousness that we see everything as the presence of God.

Novella Keyler is our Earth Care Team Leader. We are already certified as a green church and want to do even more for own community and the wider community. If you are interested in joining our Earth Care Team, send an email to office@abqunity.org with “Earth Care” in the subject line. 

EARTHCARE COVENANT USCABQ 2023

Our consciousness reveals that all of creation is connected as one. The story of creation reveals that we are to be good caregivers of the creation. As a people of faith, we commit to a renewed reverence for life and respect for the interdependent web of all existence.

We honor our spiritual commitment to the care, support and defense of the balance between our individual needs and those of nature.

We honor a world in which everything has intrinsic value and where all beings are assured a secure and meaningful life that is ecologically responsible and sustainable.

We agree to transform our individual and congregational lives into acts of moral witness, discarding harmful habits for new behaviors, sustaining the future of the planet for all creation while demonstrating our respect for this harmony and interconnectedness.

We declare our covenant with God to walk upon the Earth for the greatest good of all creation.

PLASTIC-FREE ECOCHALLENGE 2023 UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER ALBUQUERQUE

Unity Spiritual Center Albuquerque is guided by a vision of sacredness and inter-connectedness of all. Guided by this principle, we aspire to live lives that reduce our footprint on the Earth. Inspired by the 2022 Plastic-Free EcoChallenge (sponsored by the Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums), we are doing a pared-down version of our own for the month of February. Below you will find suggested activities you can take to reduce your use of single-use plastics for the month—or longer if you want. We’d love to hear your experiences with it, especially at the end of the challenge, and whether you are inspired to make any permanent changes in your lives.

FOOD

SKIP PLASTIC BAGS When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.

SWITCH TO LOOSE LEAF TEA Because many tea bags and most sleeves and sachets contain plastic, I will switch to using loose leaf tea.  

COOK A PLASTIC FREE MEAL I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.  

CHOOSE REUSABLE FOOD STORAGE I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).  

MINIMIZE PACKAGING I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging. 

FILL A WATER BOTTLE I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving (___) disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.  

GO STRAWLESS I will keep (___) plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.  

USE REUSABLES AT WORK I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.          

PERSONAL CARE  

SUSTAINABLE SUDS I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with a sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable option  

ECO DEODORANT I will switch to a plastic-free deodorant — whether purchased or DIY'd.  

A SUSTAINABLE FLOW I will make the switch to sustainable, reusable period products. 

GREEN BEAUTY When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.  

SAY NO TO "FLUSHABLE WIPES"

Wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but combine with fat to create massive clogs. I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.  

SEE THE GREEN I will recycle used contact lenses and packaging.  

COMMUNITY  

WRITE LETTERS, EMAILS OR SIGN PETITIONS I will write or sign (___) letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.   PICK UP THE PHONE I will make (___) phone call(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies.  

SHARE MY ACTIONS I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.  

GIVE SOME GREEN GRATITUDE I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.  

ESTIMATE MY PLASTIC CONSUMPTION I will visit the rePurpose website, (https://repurpose.global) complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.    

SAY NO TO STYROFOAM Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.  

JOIN A CLEANUP EFFORT I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community that follows the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.    

LIFESTYLE  

COMPLETE A WASTE AUDIT I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

 SUPPORT A SHARING ECONOMY I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.  

NATURAL FIBERS When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.  

HOMEMADE CLEANERS I will make my own cleaning products at home.  

DITCH DRYER SHEETS I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.    

PETS  

HOMEMADE PET TREATS I will prepare my own pet treats to avoid plastic packaging.

INVEST IN A POOPER-SCOOPER I will swap out my single use plastic bags for a pooper-scooper.  

DIY CAT LITTER I will swap out my cat's litter for sawdust, mulch, or dirt with baking soda.  

RUBBER GLOVE PET HAIR REMOVAL I will use a rubber glove to remove pet hair from clothes, carpets and furniture.    

THRIFTY PETS I will find secondhand sources for my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes.    

FAMILY  

DISCOVER TOGETHER I will spend (___) minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

SWAP THE SNACKS I will swap out (___) prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.  

NATURAL PAINTS I will paint rooms in my home with low/no VOC or natural paints.  

GET RID OF GLITTER I will teach my little ones about microplastics while we do a craft project together using glitter alternatives.              

For more information see https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org 

MEATLESS MONDAYS Presented by our USCABQ Earth Care Team
Never has it been easier to eat less meat, or even to eliminate it entirely! 40+ years ago, there were few tasty options at the grocery store, and restaurants offered almost no choices, but BOY has that changed! There are many benefits to cutting down on the amount of meat you eat - for the environment, for your health, and for the animals.
          The USCABQ Earth Care Team hopes you will give it a try. You don't have to go cold turkey. Instead, try easing into meatless meals. Consider going meatless one day a week. If you don't like the idea of a whole day without meat, start with a couple of meatless dinners each week. Plan meals that feature your favorite entrees that are typically meatless, such as lasagna, soup or pasta salad. Click here for our recipe library. 
          Did you know? Going meatless once a week saves 23,212 gallons of water per year, enough to feed 64 people!

Newest Meatless Monday Recipe

Brought to you by Gina Loveridge and the EarthCare Team. Monday, March 20.

PASTA FAGIOLI
 
There are many variations of this Italian classic, and this version is so flavorful that the meat is not even missed. It is a cross between a stew and a soup, but has quite different flavors from minestrone. This recipe is very forgiving, and you should feel free to adjust the seasonings to suit your taste. Pasta Fagioli keeps well and makes a great leftover meal, but make the pasta fresh each time and don’t let it sit in the
broth overnight.
 
Ingredients
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 T dried basil
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 1/2 T fresh rosemary (if you use dried, use less, but fresh rosemary is highly recommended)
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes (you can use less if spice is not your thing)
• 1 ½ cups canned diced tomatoes with juice
• 3 cups vegetable stock or water with 2 veggie bouillon cubes
• 1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup tiny pasta (I like orzo best, but ditalini works too)
• 2 T chopped fresh parsley (optional)
• Fresh ground pepper
• Freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional)
-Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium high heat. Stir in the onion and cook for 2 minutes.
-Add the herbs and red pepper flakes and toss to coat to bring out the herbs’ flavors. Stir in the garlic, celery, and carrots. Cook for about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, and stock and bring to a boil.
-Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your taste. While the stew is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Spoon some cooked pasta in the bottom of a bowl and ladle the fagioli over the pasta. Sprinkle with parmesan if you like.
 
Serve with crusty bread.

Four takeaways from the first climate bill

Re The Inflation Reduction Act passed August 7, 2022

Here are four takeaways on how the bill aims to address climate change:  
This is the single largest investment in reducing emissions in U.S. history -  
The bill offers $369 billion in energy security and climate investments and
includes $4,000 in tax credits for purchasing a new electric vehicle along with a
$7,500 tax credit for buying used one. Funds cannot be used on vehicles that
have batteries made from minerals processed in China, however. 

The bill aims to bring down harmful emissions by 40 percent  
Tax incentives for electric vehicles, investments in green energy production and
commitment to low-emission air technology would put the country on the path
to cutting its total carbon emissions by around 40 percent below 2005 levels
over the next eight years.  

One of the bill’s goals is to bring more renewable energy to low-income
communities.  If passed by the House, $60 billion would be used to help low-income
communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change to help
improve climate resilience, energy efficiency and air quality among other things.
The package would also provide millions of dollars of climate resiliency funds to
tribal governments and Native Hawaiians.  

Edited from https://thehill.com/changing-america/sustainability/climate-change/3593219-4-takeaways-from-the-first-climate-bill-passed-by-the-senate/