Interfaith Perspectives on Childrens Environmental Health and Tobacco

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Interfaith Perspectives on Childrens
Environmental Health and Tobacco

• Jayne Mardock, MTS, American Lung Association
• Rabbi Daniel Swartz, MHL, Greater Washington
  Interfaith Power and Light
• American Public Health Association Meeting
• Washington, DC November 8, 2004

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Why Work with the Faith Community?

• They have legitimate moral authority and can
  change the framework of the debate on the issues
• They have access to hundreds (or maybe millions)
  or people
• They have regular gathering places and meetings
  you can tap into
• You want a broader, more diverse coalition

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Impediments to Working with the Faith Community

• You dont speak their language or are afraid to
  offend them
• Lack of success engaging faith community in the
  past
• They shy away from advocacy sometimes
• You dont know where to begin

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Changing the Debate Values on Health Issues

• Created in Gods image
• Care for the vulnerable
• Love of neighbor and self
• Legacy to future generations
• Choosing a better way

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Created in Gods image

• We were knit together in our mothers womb, but
  some of the chemicals in our environment and
  tobacco smoke are destroying the weave of Gods
  creation
• Btzelem Elohim (humanity in the divine image)
• Honor Gods creation by not exposing the body to
  the toxins in tobacco smoke and chemicals used
  in our society
• Children connect us with/to Gods creation

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Care for the vulnerable

• When you care for the orphan, widow and others on
  the margins, you care for God
• Toxic pollution and tobacco smoke have greater
  impacts on poor health and death because of lack
  of access to good healthcare
• We have a responsibility to use our resources and
  abilities to care for the vulnerable (young, old,
  sick and poor) and advocate for justice

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Love of neighbor and self

• You can protect yourself and others by not
  smoking or using harmful substances
• Subjecting someone to tobacco smoke is selfish
  and inconsiderate
• Our bodies are temples to be protected
• We are called to a higher standard of
  self-control in regard to things that are not
  beneficial to us and our neighbors

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Past future generations

• We are connected to our past and our future
  through the generations
• Ldor va-dor Lolam va-ed (covenants from
  generation to generation eternity and beyond
• We have inherited a great legacy and are stewards
  of creation for our children and future
  generations
• We have a responsibility to heal the brokenness
  in the world through our actions
• Have faith in the future through our works

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Choosing a better way

• Our choices have direct implications as something
  that affirms life or death so we must choose
  carefully. Choose life that you and your
  descendants might live
• Dont be conformed to the world, but be
  transformed as a living witness
• Stewardship of the earth we have a
  responsibility to care for creation and take
  action to protect it

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Partners on Tobacco

• United Methodist Church
• www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid1756
• Seventh Day Adventists
• www.adventist.org/beliefs/statement/main_stat23.ht
  ml?templateprinter.html
• Presbyterian Church USA
• www.pcusa.org/pcusa/ga210/comres98/tobacco.htm
• Union of Reform Judaism
• uahc.org/cgi-bin/resodisp.pl?filesmokingyear198
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• Faith Not Tobacco (Campaign for Tobacco-Free
  Kids) www.faithnottobacco.org

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Partners on CEH

• Catholic Coalition for Children and a Safe
  Environment (CASE)
• www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/04children.htm
• Evangelical Environmental Network
• Healthy Families, Healthy Environment educational
  website
• www.healthyfamiliesnow.org
• Natl Council of Churches EcoJustice Work Group
• www.webofcreation.org
• National Religious Partnership for the
  Environment
• www.nrpe.org

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How to get started

• Start with faith traditions that have policy and
  statements on environmental health and tobacco
  (see partners list for groups/denominations to
  approach first)
• Approach congregations that house smoking
  cessation, new moms or preschools that may be
  natural allies
• Develop programs or materials that educate the
  congregation, integrating religious themes into
  presentations

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Rules of engagement

• Honor the limited time faith leaders have to
  devote to this work environmental health is
  important, but not at top of their agenda
• Be prepared to help educate the faith community
  and create resources for them
• Encourage true engagement in the issues
• Dont just call for the photo-op or sound bite in
  the press release unless they have asked to be
  included this way

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About the presenters

• Jayne Mardock is the Manager of National Advocacy
  for the American Lung Association. She received
  a Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard
  Divinity School and has worked on health and
  environmental issues for over 12 years
• jmardock_at_lungusadc.org
• Daniel Swartz is a rabbi in the Reform Jewish
  tradition. He is initiating Greater Washington
  Interfaith Power and Light, which promotes the
  use of clean energy and was the Executive
  Director of the Childrens Environmental Health
  Network
• dswartz_at_wesleysem.edu
• Both have worked for the National Religious
  Partnership for the Environment in the past.