Testimony by William Rosenow . ................................ email - biljan9rose@gmail.com Retired Pastor - ELCA

- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 1119 Royal Court, Harrisonburg, VA 22802-8313 --- Cell Phone (540) 209-3779 Thank you for the opportunity of testifying at this gathering. AII of us present are deeply grateful for the work that you are doing. We want the EPA to know that many of the Churches of our nation are willing to assist you in the Care of the Earth. We are keenly aware that the Biblical directive we all have received from a loving God, is to care for this fantastic planet - as long as we live. We are also acutely aware, that you must weigh choices, and make decisions that affect life here on planet earth. We know that it is not easy, for evil in the form of money and power always presents itself as an attractive option. Know that we support you in all you do.
We have a lot of work to do. We know that we must choose between a RENEWABLE ENERGY and the present form of energy known as FOSSIL FUEL (i.e. oil, gas, and coal) that has served us for centuries, but is one of the primary causes of Climate Change. I know that the adult members of our churches will help us educate the young people and their families regarding the care of the earth. In 1971 the Mission congregation that I was serving formed a recycling agency known as Ecocycle. We operated 6 recycling collection sites in Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, McLean, Sterling and Vienna. (Please reference the Washington Post during the years of 1971-1973.) We cooperated with Fairfax County Conservation, who had been doing programs in the public schools to teach the students about Wild Life conservation. They joined us in doing a program in the schools near the collection sites, to involve the students and their families in a contest to determine which class would recycle the most recovered materials. It was a very effective program that involved the families with school age children to 

### REDUCE solid waste, 

### RE-USE containers, and, 

### RECYCLE to conserve resources and energy. One of the statements that was always effective in getting their attention was, "Do you 

### know how much energy and raw materials it takes to make throw-away containers?" They were always amazed to learn that it takes 250 times as much water to make a paper cup, as it does to WASH a reusab/e one.In 1973 Ecocycle contracted with the City of ALEXANDRIA to set up 6 centers in the city, for collecting recyclables. We began implementing education programs in the public schools. Within a few weeks, the compartmentalized containers were filled to overflowing. That wonderful program came to an abrupt end when the Arab Oil embargo caused fuel prices to rise, and we could no longer afford to operate the system. Most pew sitters of the time were not ready to listen. Times have changed and awareness has changed. We DON'T have the luxury of waiting until everyone is in agreement to act. We need YOU to step up and make NEW policies: Policies that make it mandatory for every town to provide easily accessible recycling facilities; Policies that say all emissions from buildings and vehicles MUST meet the new carbon restrictions;
Policies that are incentives for EVERYONE to convert to renewable resources for their heat and lights.
THIS WOULD BE A GREAT START! It will not be easy, and there will be many who will sound all kinds of alarms. But the instructions are clear and simple:

TAKE CARE OF PLANET EARTH The responsibility falls on YOU, the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Finally, PLEASE keep us informed. When YOU make the RIGHT decisions the clergy and the churches STAND READY to support you. As long as I am God's agent here among you, 

### I will work to preserve PLANET EARTH Thank you for listening, it has been a long time coming.