Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Refugia Podcast Episode 33

3 3

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · 16d

Such a great conversation with the inspiring Heber Brown!
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...

The Garden Became the Steeple: Heber Brown and the Black Food Security Network

Homegrown National Park, Sun Day fun, more good news about clean energy transition, church resilience hubs, and one super chill squirrel

1 2

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · 18d

Sun Day! This week's newsletter is a celebration of the clean energy transition that is happening, right now, despite... all the things.

refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #102

Game-changing energy transition advances, myth-busting resources, agrivoltaic-improved wool and grapes, a youthful celebration of the sun, and salute to the moon

1 1 2

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · 26d

Season 4 dropping Sunday! Find the Refugia Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and listen to conversations about Christian communities doing great climate work! Or sign up for my Substack newsletter to get episodes sent directly to your email inbox: refugianewsletter.substack.com.

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Sep 6

Need a boost of sunshine and mental vitamin D? Check out this week's newsletter.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #101

1 1

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Sep 5

Wow! This is good news.

Oil & Water Don't Mix @owdm.bsky.social · Sep 5

We have an announcement to make... www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/over_92000_c...

Grand Rapids adopts climate action plan

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Aug 14

Great news! Grand Rapids, Michigan, (where I live) has an ambitious climate agenda, just passed by the City Commission.
www.michiganpublic.org/environment-...

The plan sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 62.8% per capita by the end of the decade, but doesn't come with any requirements yet.

www.michiganpublic.org

3 20

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Aug 11

Faith/climate news in manageable doses with lots of opportunities to dive deeper.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #99

Endangered endangerment, legal triumph, research on faith leadership, oysters, river parks, and a gigantic owl

Scientists Say New Government Climate Report Twists Their Work

2 4

Reposted by Debra K Rienstra

David Roberts @volts.wtf · Jul 30

It is endlessly hilarious to me that the 5 denier scientists they are able to dig up for this ... are the same 5 denier scientists they were able to dig up 10 years ago, and 20 years ago.

One might ask why no new scientists are joining this faction. Must be the global conspiracy.

18 170 500

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jul 30

Please do not be fooled by the "report" coming out of the White House on how high levels of CO2 are actually fine and we all have nothing to worry about so we should keep burning fossil fuels. This report is bogus. See below.

molly taft @mollytaft.com · Jul 30

NEW: i spoke to nine (!) scientists across several disciplines whose work was cited in the new Department of Energy report that downplays the severity of climate change. all of them say their work was misrepresented, cherry picked, and/or lacked context —

A new Department of Energy report “fundamentally misrepresents” climate research and leaves out key context, multiple scientists cited in the report tell WIRED.

www.wired.com

1 2

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jul 29

Really appreciate this good news about the fight against the insanity at the current EPA. Thanks to @jeremysymons.bsky.social.

Need Some Good News?
open.substack.com/pub/jeremysy...

Need Some Good News?

Here's how the fight to Save Lives, Save EPA is gaining momentum

open.substack.com

1 1 3

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jul 27

Just good news and beautiful photos this week: you need a break as much as I do.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #98

Good news only with a dose of ordinary wonders

Bishops from the Global South call for climate justice and the common home on the occasion of COP30 - River Above Asia and Oceania Ecclesial Network

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jul 3

"Without climate justice there is no peace, without ecological conversion there is no future, without listening to the people there are no real solutions."

Powerful document from the Catholic bishops of the global South ahead of COP 30.
www.raoen.org/2025/07/03/b...

Catholic episcopal conferences and councils of Africa (SECAM), Asia (FABC), Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM) published a document A Call for Climate Justice and the Common Home: Ecological conv...

www.raoen.org

2 5

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jun 30

Besides the usual stuff, two great books, two great interviews, and a killer graph. Plenty of inspiring and clarifying goodies this time!
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #96

Ocean conservation, women and climate action, epistemic anthropology, farm refugia, and climate art

Juneteenth and Its Role in Environmental Justice—for All - Inside Climate News

2 2

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jun 20

So excited to see this excellent interview with the fabulous Rev. Mariama White-Hammond on Juneteenth and environmental justice!

insideclimatenews.org/news/1906202...

Why the Rev. Mariama White-Hammond believes Juneteenth and celebrating the end of slavery is a way to lead broader society to freedom from the destruction of the environment and climate change.

insideclimatenews.org

Green The Church is the premiere organization at the intersection of black faith and environmentalism.

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jun 19

On Juneteenth especially, much gratitude for @greenthechurch.bsky.social, the Black Church Food Security Network, Soul Fire Farm, and so many other orgs fighting hard for climate justice and climate action.
blackchurchfoodsecurity.net
www.soulfirefarm.org
www.greenthechurch.org

Home

www.greenthechurch.org

2 3

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jun 18

I'm reading "Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America" by sociologist Christian Smith (from Notre Dame). It is SO GOOD. I feel like it's explaining all the cultural upheavals I've seen from my parents' generation to my kids'. Essential reading for faith leaders, imo.

Patheos.com @patheos.com · Apr 10

Is organized religion obsolete? ✝️ Sociologist Christian Smith says yes—and backs it with data. ⛪ Church decline isn’t just local, it’s cultural. What’s next for faith in America?🇺🇸

#Faith
#ChurchDecline
#FaithTrends
#Christianity
#GenZFaith
#SpiritualShift
#Patheos

✍️
www.patheos.com/blogs/closet...

Sociologist Wonders If That Old-Time Religion Is Now Extinct

If church isn't the same experience as your parents, well...it isn't. People are leaving, but there's a book saying now that it doesn't matter at all.

www.patheos.com

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jun 17

Nice! Thank you--I hadn't seen this one. I have promised not to talk about beavers for the next few newsletters, but we will come back to them, I'm sure. Thanks for reading!

Visualising how the climate has changed for every country across the globe

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jun 17

This Saturday is Show Your Stripes Day. Climate stripes on flags, socks, ties, etc. can help start a conversation.

showyourstripes.info

Show Your Stripes

showyourstripes.info

1 1

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jun 16

Yes. Called my senators today. It's easy, and it matters.

Rewiring America @rewiringamerica.bsky.social · Jun 16

Lower bills. Local jobs. Resilient homes.

The 25C and 25D home energy tax credits make these good things possible for millions of American households. We can't lose them.

Call your Senators and tell them to defend the home energy tax credits: www.rewiringamerica.org/defend

Protests, protecting IRA, global energy transition, Sun Day, and yet more beavers

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · Jun 16

Protests, defending the IRA, and other good stuff about faith and climate in this week's newsletter. Also: this photo of the Mediterranean (actually the Aegean).
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #95

Italy, Greece, ruined civilizations, Black food security, outdoor worship, and a dragon with indigestion

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · May 31

OK, I indulged in few travel photos, yes, but there's also helpful faith/climate news here.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #94

Pope Leo XIV and climate, stalwart scientists, businesses doing good climate work (and not), whooping cranes, and yet more beavers

Debra K Rienstra @debrakrienstra.bsky.social · May 19

In which I say hopeful things about the new pope, attempt to highlight some positive choices by businesses, and of course, feature a story about beavers.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #93