Interfaith Scroll 7 9-25-18 Print
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Bill Ford, Executive Chairman Jim Hackett, CEO Ford Motor Company, Dear Mr. Ford, and Mr. Hackett, In 2011, Ford Motor Company was part of a historic breakthrough in cooperation on climate solutions when the company supported the Clean Car Standards, which would raise fuel eciency standards to an average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. As people of faith who care for Earth and all of its inhabitants, we cheered this progress. Then, under the current Administration, Ford began lobbying for a review of the standards, asking for “additional exibility” in meeting them. Despite the debt Ford owes to the American taxpayers for billions of dollars to invest in advanced vehicle manufacturing, you now seem ready to go back on your commitment to cleaner cars for American drivers. This is unconscionable. We call on you to stand by the Clean Car Standards. The Ford name carries a legacy of innovative technological advancements for the good of society. The Clean Car Standards gave Ford an opportunity to continue this legacy of innovation and bolster its stated commitment to sustainability. We hoped that Ford would look to the future and compete with China and Europe on the clean cars of tomorrow, while cleaning up our air at home and saving families money at the pump. Today, the transportation sector is the single largest and fastest growing source of carbon pollution in the U.S. Cars and pickup trucks account for 47 percent of oil used in the United States and nearly one third of our greenhouse gas emissions. This trend makes the Clean Car Standards we adopted seven years ago even more prescient and important. The standards are also a step towards meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord, which you have stated as a priority for Ford. The Clean Car Standards are set to nearly double vehicle eciency by 2025, save 6 billion metric tons of dangerous climate pollution, keep 12 billion barrels of oil in the ground, and save drivers $34 billion at the pump. The additional “exibility” you request means weakened standards that increase air pollution, worsening symptoms for the 24 million Americans — including 6.3 million children — who suer from asthma. Weaker standards will contribute to the rising global average temperature, which is directly tied to droughts, wildres, catastrophic hurricanes, and other forms of extreme weather. In 2017, Mr. Ford said, “We know climate change is real and a critical threat, and we will continue to work with leaders around the world in support of ambitious global greenhouse gas reduction targets.” As people of faith we carry a legacy that spans generations. We have a moral obligation to care for God’s Creation and concern ourselves with the world our children inherit. We are called to love our neighbors and the most vulnerable among us, and that means not polluting the air they breathe or making their homes uninhabitable. We are deeply disappointed by Ford Motor Company’s eorts to weaken our country’s environmental protections. We call on you to end Ford’s lobbying to undermine our Clean Car Standards and instead to work to engineer and build the clean, ecient cars we need. Your legacy, and our future, depends on it. Faithfully, Faith Leaders Rev. Susan Hendershot, President, President, Interfaith Power & Light Rev. Matt Russell, Des Moines, IA Theresa Saltsgiver, Treasurer, WinGS United Methodist Women, South Sioux City, NE Elsie Standley, President, Beaver United Methodist Women, Beaver, PA The Rev. Sally Bingham, Canon to the Environment, Episcopal Diocese of California Pastor Britt Vickstrom, Davenport, IA Barbara Miller, Worship Team Chair, UMC at Newfoundland, Franklin, NJ Ethel L. Malone, Coordinator, New Vision United Methodist Women, Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Marvin Goodman, Chair, Northern California Board of Rabbis Rita Carter, Social Action Coordinator, Central District Iowa Annual United Methodist women, Windsor Heights, IA Betty Merring, Vice President, Belvidere United Methodist Women, Belvidere, NJ Frances Whittington, President, District United Methodist Women, Chester, PA Rev. Traci Blackmon, Executive Minister of Justice and Local Church Ministery, United Church of Christ Dawnye Sturtz, Secretary, Brandon United Methodist Women, Brandon, IA Rev. Kathleen STone, Pastor, Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church, Wharton, NJ Gretchen Mackey, Vice President, Susquehanna Conference United Methodist Women, Chambersburg, PA Rev. Jim Moos, Executive Minister for Wider Church Ministries, United Church of Christ Dee Ann Wilson, Iowa Conf Nominations, Iowa Conference United Methodist Women, Windsor Heights, IA LA Bivins, Nominations Chair, United Methodist Women - Local Unit, Manville, NJ Joy Jannotti, President, Temple United Methodist Women, POTTSTOWN, PA Harriett Olson, CEO/General Secretary, United Methodist Women Doris Jones, Social Action Coordinator, United Methodist Women, Urbandale, IA Laurel Kearns, Professor, Drew Theological School, Maplewood, NJ Linda Cox, District VP, United Methodist Women, Glenshaw, PA Bishop David Bard, Bishop, Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church Nancy Stockdale, President, Iowa Central District United Methodist Women, Des Moines, IA Linda Bindhammer, President, UCW Wharton United Community Church, Wharton, NJ Lorrie Topolin, trustee, Solebury UMC, New Hope, PA Jeanne Long, Conference President, West Ohio Conference United Methodist Women Carrie Dubert, Director of Connectional Ministries, United Methodist Church, Boise, ID Pat Grant, Treasurer, Hopewell United Methodist Churh, Lawrenceville, NJ Rev. Mark Terwilliger, Pastor, Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, Clarks Summit, PA Marlene Ward, Conference President, Cal-Nevada Conference United Methodist Women Linda Hansen, Program Resources, Local United Methodist Women, Coeur d'Alene, ID Pat Schutz, Co-President, Skyland's District United Methodist Women, Sparta, NJ Rev. Myra Kazanjian, Pastor, Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, BETHEL PARK, PA Marchelle Phelps, Conference President, Detroit Conference United Methodist Women Catherine Inserra, Deaconess, Trinity UMC, Wilmette, IL, Park Ridge, IL Rosalie Haller, Social Action Coordinator, Local United Methodist women, Belvidere, NJ Phyllis Terwilliger, Social Action Coordinator, United Methodist Women, Clarks Summit, PA Lynne Grandsta, Conference President, Central Texas Conference United Methodist Women Charmaine Schreiner, president, Local United Methodist Women, Rockford, IL Yvonne Bouknight, PAG, United Methodist Women, MONTCLAIR, NJ Susan Grubb, Treasurer, Calvary United Methodist Women, Duncannon, PA Marsha Timm, Conference President, Dakotas Conference United Methodist Women Christina Krost, Be Just Be Green Jurisdiction Guide, United Methodist Women, Harrisburg, IL The Rev. Roger Burkhart, Rochester, NH Susan Hill, President, North District United Methodist Women, Long Pond, PA Cathy Burris, Conference President, Indiana Conference United Methodist Women Delores Livengood, Spiritual Growth Coordinator, United Methodist Women, Godfrey, IL Pastor Thomas Forsyth, Gostown, NH Susan Kepner, Conference social action, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference United Methodist Women, Millersville, PA Cheryl Ferguson, Conference President, New Mexico Conference United Methodist Women Fallon Bush, Treasurer, Local United Methodist Women, Princeton, IL The Rev. Dale Hempen, Durham, NH Susan S, Treasurer, Calvary United Methodist Women, Duncannon, PA Ja net' Crouse, Conference President, Pacic Northwest Conference United Methodist Women Jane Duy, Vice-President, FUMC Elgin United Methodist Women, Elgin, IL The Rev. Suzanne Lamport, Peterborough, NH Susan S Grubb, treasurer, Calvary United Methodist Church, Duncannon, PA Ellie Young, Conference President, Rocky Mountain Conference United Methodist Women Janice Gintzler, Local Unit president, United Methodist Women, Crestwood, IL Chaplain Matty Giuliano, Hazlet, NJ Sr. Elizabeth Conyers, North Providence, RI Catherine Berkey, Conference President, Susquehanna Conference United Methodist Women Jean Gewin, President, Local United Methodist Women, Princeton, IL Sr. Cecelia Lavan, New Rochelle, NJ The Rev. Dr. Dan Cottrell, N Scituate, RI Linda Darrow, Conference President, West MI Conference United Methodist Women jung Kim, Lay leader, Korean Central UMC, Morton Grove, IL Sr. Diane Matera, Bradley Beach, NJ Sr. Mary Pendergast, Pawtucket, RI Diane Miller, Conference President, Western PA Conference United Methodist Women Juquita Johnson, Secretary, Hazel Crest Community United Methodist Church, Markham, IL Sr. Sister Josie P, Jersey City, NJ The Rev. Alex Stevenson, Greer, SC Paul Perez, Associate Director for Mission & Ministry, MI Conference of The United Methodist Church Kathryn Gossard, Vice President, Vermilion River District IL Great Rivers United Methodist Women, Bloomington, IL Sr. Mary Sullivan, Caldwell, NJ Cathy DeHart, Vice President, Grace United Methodist Women, Summerville, SC Sr. Rosemarie Abate, Detroit, MI Leah Deuel, Treasurer, United Methodist Women Sisters of Grace, Carrier Mills, IL The Rev. Anita Amstutz, Albuquerque, NM Gerry Ferguson, Secretary, Local United Methodist Women, North Myrtle Beach, SC The Rev. Robert Alltop, Grosse Pointe, MI Lisa Ginet, Vice President, Local United Methodist Women, Oak Park, IL Rabbi Neil Amswych, Santa Fe, NM Joan Naugle, Secretary, local United Methodist Women, Summerville, SC Brother Phillip Alward, Fenton, MI Lois Voss, President, Elgin District United Methodist Women, Cary, IL Sr. Rene Backe,