Looking Ahead to the Future of  Maine's Environment

The Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition, in which MCC is an active participant, has released a new 5-year vision of specific steps for Maine policymakers to take to create new jobs, protect our health, and preserve our environment.Read the full report, Investing In Maine's Environment: A Trail Map to Prosperity, online at                       http://www.protectmaine.org/ourfuture/report/

 Calling on our Senators  to Support Human Rights

During Torture Awareness Month in June we collected postcards to Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, asking them to support legislation ensure access to all U.S. detainees by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This access is provided by Executive Order of the President, but is not yet law and can be revoked at any time. We also collected over 100 additional signatures in our ongoing call for a nonpartisan Commission of Inquiry into abuses of detainees since 2001.

To learn more about our anti-torture campaign, including resources available for your congregation to study this issue, visit our anti-torture page.

Immigration Reform

MCC is a member of the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, working toward comprehensive reform of our immigration laws and policies. There are resources available from denomination and Maine organizations to help your congregation study, discuss, speak, and act on this issue.
Saturday, May 1, MCC joined nearly 600 others at the Maine March for Immigration Reform in Portland. Read the Bangor Daily News  coverage and watch video of the event.

---

A Covenant

for Civil Discourse

The Board of the Maine Council of Churches believes the fate of our democracy depends upon truthful and respectful interactions among us all, especially when we hold differing views.  To express this belief, we created and adopted a Covenant for Civil Discourse. MCC encourages and invites our member denominations, political leaders and others to endorse, share the Covenant and asks those who pledge to live by these principles to publicly express support by adding your name below.

Read and endorse the Covenant for Civil Discourse

---

Fishes and Loaves:

a study of the covenant between sea and land

This spring MCC worked with churches and communities along the Maine coast to study the changing realities of life in and on the water for fish and fishing families.

This new study program look at our sacred relationship with sea, how ocean ecosystems are affected by climate change and ocean acidification, and what local communities can do to support fisheries that are environmentally and economically sustainable. The first communities to use this resource are Kennebunk, Topsham, and Bar Harbor. Learn more about this program and how your church can participate.