Greetings from FUSE

Fuel consumption is at the core of the most pressing issues that confront people and governments all over the world – global security, human rights, the environment, health, and the economy.  The time to make a difference is now.

We believe that these humanitarian and environmental effects on society and the Earth are moral issues that must be immediately addressed by faith communities.  Through education, organization, and action, faith communities can make their voices heard, leading the movement toward a clean and sustainable future throughout the world.

The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level. – Al Gore

Mr. Gore, we accept your challenge.

We’re here on Daily Kos to introduce ourselves and to let you know that we have started a new non-profit organization called Faiths United for Sustainable Energy (FUSE).  Our mission is to educate, mobilize and unite communities of faith to act on the increasingly harmful effects of our society’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Although we’ve only been “live” for a short time, we’ve already had some huge successes.  FUSE has been featured on the StepItUp2007.org blog.  In addition, we have secured Graciella Chichilnisky, an internationally-known professor and a Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Program on Climate Change (IPCC), to chair our advisory board.  We are also being featured in a Jewish magazine for teens, JVibe.

To get a taste of what we’re all about, here is an excerpt from the soon to be published JVibe article:

Inspired by the need to act, two former Hebrew School teachers started an organization to address these issues.  Faiths United for Sustainable Energy (FUSE) is committed to educating and mobilizing faith communities to act on the increasingly harmful effects of our country’s dependence on fossil fuels. 

“We believe that faith communities have a unique opportunity to take the lead in promoting sustainable, clean, socially responsible, and economically viable solutions because of our religious commitments to compassion, peace, and justice,” explains Jesse Glickstein, FUSE’s co-founder. 

Joe Naroditsky, FUSE’s other co-founder, says FUSE finds its inspiration in the historical success that faith communities have had in joining together to address global challenges.  “Faith communities have done it before, and we can do it again.  Ending apartheid in South Africa, marching for civil rights in the United States, and raising awareness of the genocide in Darfur were movements spearheaded by people of faith.  We have a track record of creating serious social change.”  The two men recognize that the power in this movement is in the passion and desire of young people across the country, and across the globe, to do good things for humanity. 

FUSE is all about education that inspires action, and believes that it is extremely important for young Jews to understand the issues connected to energy consumption and the responsibility they have as Jews, from both religious and social perspectives, to inspire change. 

Glickstein wants us to know that there is a chance to change the world at every turn.  “There are so many opportunities to take action and make an impact.  From small changes in our homes like switching out old light bulbs for more energy efficient Compact Florescent Light Bulbs (CFL’s), to initiating bigger actions like letting our elected officials know that we support sustainable energy such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric.”

Input from the Netroots is extremely important to us.  We hope to post regularly here and on other progressively minded and faith centered blogs.  To learn more about how FUSE makes an impact, please visit our website at www.fusenow.org and sign up for our email updates.  We encourage you to browse the site and contact us with comments and feedback.  Or better yet, leave your impressions below!

cross-posted at Daily Kos and Street Prophets