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This is much, much bigger than I realized. This is massive!

Those were the words of Judy Comeau-Hart, FaCT’s Development Consultant, on her return from her visit to East Palestine on April 13. It’s very clear that our neighbors in East Palestine still need our help, and they will need help for a long time to come.

On Earth Day Weekend, April 21-23, we reflected, and committed to action - each congregation in its place of worship - mosque, synagogue, temple, or church. FaCT, together with the Ohio Council of Churches (OCC), called for an Ohio and beyond effort among all faith communities. We must reflect! What can we do to help? What can we do to prevent disasters like this from happening again?

We must act by extending real material help to East Palestinians and undertake real, concrete action to get our local, state, and federal governments to do their jobs by holding railroads, petroleum, plastics and other industries accountable for their actions. We must act to help safeguard EVERY small and large community in Ohio and throughout the nation.

East Palestine can never be what it was. Toxic exposure symptoms persist, especially among children? vomiting, rashes, trouble breathing. Even those who do not report symptoms still smell unusual odors in the air that EPA claims is safe to breathe. Safe? Scientists tell us that if you can smell a substance, it is already in your body. And what is really a safe level in the air of the chemicals involved? Many of the chemicals were combined, especially from the detonation on February 6, creating additional toxins such as phosgene gas and dioxin.

Watch our webinar that was held on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 3 PM to get the latest information on the situation in East Palestine and to discuss actions we can take going forward to aid East Palestinians and to bring about the reforms needed to keep our communities safe.

Watch the webinar

I would like to ask you all to send a check to us for the distressed folks in East Palestine. Their worries and their challenges continue. You can use the form below. Please make your checks payable to FaCT as usual but also write “E Palestine” on the memo line of your check. Once we collect the checks, we will consolidate them into one check to send to Emmanuel United Methodist Church in East Palestine. Their pastor, the Rev. Dr. Bob Miller, will then allocate our donations to purchase items for distressed East Palestiners. THANK YOU!

Anchor Congregations

Under the leadership of FaCT Board member, Bob Maher, FaCT has been adding Anchor Congregations. These are Congregations whose mission, outreach, social justice, or environmental action committees have chosen to cooperate with FaCT on environmental education and environmental action projects. For example, last year, the congregation of West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Rocky River cooperated with FaCT to mount an environmental expo at the church. FaCT contributed $1,000 to help fund the project.

Current anchor congregations include the Social Justice Council of East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirtland, Ohio; the Catholic Community of St. Peter in Cleveland, and the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta. The Emmanuel United Methodist Church in East Palestine is exploring the anchor program concept, and may join in the near future. Another candidate congregation is the United Church of Christ in Kent, Ohio.

Northeast Ohio Faith Leaders for Sustainability

This past fall, FaCT representatives had the privilege of meeting with Northeast Ohio Faith Leaders for Sustainability. The meeting included several people from FaCT, myself, Nancy King-Smith, and Bob Kloos. Lakewood Councilman, Tom Bullock, also participated as did several leaders from the Cleveland Area Dayenu Circle (eight Greater Cleveland Jewish congregations), including Mimi Plevin-Foust and Margy Weinberg.

Judy Slivka, a leader from Westside Creation Care (six West Side Christian congregations), and Kim Anderson, the Ohio-Pennsylvania representative of a Christian Evangelical creation care organization also participated. Among these leaders were a recently retired rabbi, Ehid Lader, and her husband, Harry, and Bob Kloos, pastor of the Community of St. Peter where the meeting was held as well as our own Judy Comeau-Hart, member of the Community of St. Peter and our FaCT development consultant; as well as FaCT Treasurer and webmaster, Ron Prosek.

Many ideas and experiences were shared. This included ideas of actions we could take together to initiate and support sustainable practices at our places of worship and among our congregants. This included a composting system that involved a company that provides composting bins and collects the compost. This is an important way to sequester methane-producing food waste by using the waste as fertilizer to produce more food. (Over a 20-year period, methane is 80 times more powerful than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.) Of course, some congregations and congregation members may wish to use the compost for their own gardens, which accomplishes the same sequestering of methane.

A number of congregations have now had experience with the installation of solar panels on their roofs or over their parking areas. This is valuable experience that can be shared and expanded. A number of additional ideas were discussed.

One of the things the FaCT participants were sure to share with the meeting was FaCT’s Marketing Committee’s plan to revamp our website with the help of our very talented web developer Mark Goode. I explained that the new website would be very engaging and dynamic. And now the new website is live, and I think all can see how engaging and dynamic it is.

Toward the end of the meeting the question was raised as to how we could coordinate and publicize our coordinated efforts. A vote was taken, and FaCT was chosen unanimously to use our website to publicize and coordinate these activities. We look forward to working with our new FaCT brothers and sisters, the Northeast Ohio Faith Leaders for Sustainability. Watch this space for announcements of future meetings of NEO Faith Leaders for Sustainability and for information on current and future projects in which FaCT will participate.

We look forward to working with our new FaCT brothers and sisters, the Northeast Ohio Faith Leaders for Sustainability. Watch this space for announcements of future meetings of NEO Faith Leaders for Sustainability and for information on current and future projects in which FaCT will participate.

FaCT

Faith Communities Together for a Sustainable Future

At first I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.

Listen to the latest FaCT podcast!

Justin Nobel: Unveiling the Radioactive Truth: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret

In this episode of "Just the Facts," featuring guest Justin Nobel, an acclaimed journalist and author, a dark and critical issue within the oil and gas industry comes to light—radioactivity in oil field waste. Nobel, who spent seven years investigating and writing his book "Petroleum 238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It," provides alarming revelations about the radioactive pollutants associated with oil and gas extraction that have been neglected by the industry and overlooked by governing bodies.

Listen!

Coming June 24th!

King Coal

KING COAL is the season opener for PBS' POV - the longest-running showcase on television for independent documentary films. KING COAL will make its national broadcast premiere Monday, June 24 2024 at 10pmET/9C (check local listings) and will be available to stream until December 3, 2024 on pbs.org and the PBS App.

Our Next Distinguished Speaker

Jake Bittle discusses his book, "The Great Displacement"

Speaking on Wednesday, July 31 at 7 PM ET via Zoom

“The Great Displacement is closely observed, compassionate, and far-sighted.” —Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Under a White Sky  The untold story of climate migration in the United States—the personal stories of those experiencing displacement, the portraits of communities being torn apart by disaster, and the implications for all of us as we confront a changing future.

About the Author: Jake Bittle

Jake Bittle is a journalist based in Brooklyn who covers climate change and energy. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Harper’s Magazine, and a number of other publications. He is also a contributing writer for Grist.

Zoom registration

About FaCT

We believe In the moral imperative of addressing climate change - engaging Faith Communities and people of conscience in the interconnectedness and sacredness of the natural world and one another.

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Newsletters

Every month, FaCT produces a newsletter, on-line, rich with information and images. Click the button below to read the newsletters . . .

Newsletters

White papers

FaCT has a number of scientists that have written in-depth articles about issues relating the environment and climate change. Check out these white papers here.

White papers

Podcasts

FaCT produces a monthly podcast. These feature in-depth interviews with many of our Distinguished Speakers as well as discussions with people directly impacted by climate issues in the greater Ohio Valley region.

Podcasts

Help FaCT!

Help us improve the quality of the land, air, and water in the Ohio Valley region

As a non-profit, FaCT depends on its generous donors to help it fulfill its mission. Click on the image to the right to learn more about how you can become a part of the FaCT Donor Team.

Help FaCT Now

East Palestine. Never Forget.

February 4, 2023. One Year Ago.

The derailment in East Palestine, OH is a reminder of how fragile our environment is. And how easily it can be soiled by actions from careless corporate behavior.

Update Latest News

Listen

FaCT team members traveled to East Palestine ten weeks after the derailment. They interviewed East Palestine citizens to get a sense of what they experienced with the derailment and how it has affected their lives.

Listen

Give

FaCT has teamed with the Ohio Council of Churches to raise money for the victims of the East Palestine derailment. Learn how you can be of assistance.

Give

Prevent

Reach out to your state or federal representative and express your opinion about what can and should be done to prevent these derailments in the future.

Prevent

Learn. Take Action.

At FaCT, we want to inform and educate you about the critical environmental issues and climate change threats our nation faces. And then, we want to invite you to stand with us, to take action, to make a difference. Together, we can shape a better future.

Learn

We have many ways you can learn about important issues relating to the environment and climate change in the Ohio Valley and beyond. Some of the resources on this site are:

Take Action

Visit the "Take Action" section of our site to learn how you can get involved to have a positive impact on the environment and to mitigate the impact of climate change wherever you may live.

East Palestine Derailment

Radioactive Well Brine

This is a major ecological issue in Ohio

Fracking

Climate change

Our Constituents Love Us, and We Think You Will, Too

FaCT is working to help empower communities to protect our air, water, and soil, and the health and safety of Ohio families as well as working to mitigate climate change. Our supporters appreciate the team effort FaCT is making to help build a better future.

I’ve been a proud supporter of FACT for over 10 years. Their strong leadership in advocating for sustainable energy has been a huge inspiration for me personally.

Brian Rice
FaCT continues to address the heart of the problem and offers credible programming that invites us to not just know better, but do better. Our faith community is pleased to be an “anchor” for FaCT.

Pastor Bob Kloos
FaCT has brought us together to work towards a common goal…. I pray for the well-being of the people I've met in the struggle, people who I can now call my sisters and brothers, and I pray that others will see the importance of caring for creation.

Fr. Neil Pezzulo
FaCT provides a vital inter-faith nexus of information and cooperative action for environmental sustainability.

Rev. John Elder
If we are to solve the serious environmental problems our Ohio Appalachian communities face when dealing with fracking, we need to educate citizens. FaCT is a leader when it comes to providing educational materials, speakers and outreach. I am honored to be a part of the FaCT family.

Dr. Randi Pokladnik
II am truly grateful for the air filter. My breathing has improved and I feel much better.

DM East Palestine Resident
My husband and I are very grateful for the church purchasing an air purifier for our home following the train derailment. Knowing it was safe to be back home gave us peace of mind. We are very blessed to have a caring fellowship.

H and E East Palestine Residents
I am so grateful for the air filter given to me by the church. The air in my home is cleaner and easier to breathe. With the cleaner air comes also lesser anxieties due to the train derailment in February.

K and J East Palestine Residents
FaCT is a great example of how people of different faiths aren’t as far apart in beliefs and commitments as some want to portray.

Jan