Baltimore Monthly Meeting, Homewood Minute to Reduce Fossil Fuel Reliance Baltimore Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Homewood unites with the spirit of the Minute Against Hydraulic Fracturing approved by Gunpowder Friends Meeting. We affirm that we are called to continuously examine, maintain, and improve our relationship with Nature. And we recognize and embrace our role as witnesses for the care of the Earth. Specifically, we seek to: • • •

Reduce significantly in the near term and progressively over time, our reliance upon fossil fuels for transportation, heating, cooling, and other energy uses; Increase significantly in the near term and progressively over time, the development, availability, and percentage of total use of clean and sustainable energy; and Reorient our economy substantially in the near term and progressively over time to be green, sustainable, and just.

In this year and in the near future, we commit ourselves to the following action steps: • • • • • •

Join with Friends Meetings in Maryland and many others to oppose the Cove Point Natural Gas Liquefaction and Transport Project in Lusby, Maryland; Join with Friends Meetings in Maryland and many others in supporting an extension to the Moratorium on Hydro-fracturing in Maryland and increased funding to study whether to allow “fracking” for natural gas in Maryland; Support legislation that increases the development, availability, and expansion of clean and sustainable sources of energy in Maryland; Reduce further the dependence of our Meeting on fossil fuels for energy, reduce our overall energy use, and increase the percentage of our energy that comes from green and sustainable sources; Reduce significantly our investments in companies that are part of the fossil fuel industry and increase our financial investment in clean and sustainable energy sources; and Encourage and support Friends in understanding their own carbon footprint and exploring ways to reduce energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels in their own lives.

Approved by Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business, 2/16/14