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Green Sanctuary October 2025 News

Bywebmaster
Reorganizing Green Sanctuary

At our last Green Sanctuary meeting, we voted to see if we could become part of the Social Justice Team, a subcommittee focused on the environment. This would reduce the time spent organizing, promoting, and holding our own meetings and improve coordination with Social Justice issues connected to the environment. The idea will be considered by Social Justice at an upcoming meeting. We will continue to carry out our current projects and will welcome new ones.

Sustainability Bingo 3 – Sunday October 19

From our last two Sustainability Bingo events we know that over 75% of those filling it in are using LED bulbs, meeting regularly with friends, shopping local, recycling, donating to thrift shops, staying hydrated, aware of the causes of climate change, and interested in learning new stuff.

Some things to work on include getting to know neighbors, contacting representatives, learning to recognize native species, spending more time in nature, and trying more plant-based meals.

October Better Together – Halloween Candy

Each month of Better Together we have actions that members of the congregation can take to help the environment. Fall is about mitigating climate change and our focus for October is about how our food habits impact the world, Halloween Candy in particular.

So….Halloween Candy. For most of the 20th century, households handed out apples, nuts, small toys, even money. The high cost of chocolate, the depression, and sugar rationing in WWII combined to make candy rare through the 1950s. Then candy manufacturers started promoting candy. That plus a poisoning scare in the 1970’s pushed Halloween right into the arms of the wrapped candy makers.

Candy is problematic for environmental and social justice as well as health reasons. Like all commodity crops, growing sugar and cocoa contribute to habitat loss and water pollution, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. They can also be dependent on forced and child labor. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods/supply-chains/cocoa This year consider an alternative to candy. Here are some ideas:

  • Halloween themed Temporary Tattoos, Stickers, Pencils, an 8 box of crayons (less than 50 cents)
  • Nut Snack Packs or Boxes of Raisins
  • Legos (375 pieces for $42 – bag them up separately)
  • Craft Sticks (300 for $6 – bundle up 6-10 sticks with instructions for a craft, see stick puppets below)
  • Money – $1 per kid (Cost-wise, mini candy bars cost nearly 40 cents each when bought in bulk. If you give away several mini bars, you are easily spending $1 per trick or treater.
Social and Environmental Justice Sunday October 12

Green Sanctuary is collaborating with the Social Justice Team to hold Social and Environmental engagement activities on 2nd Sundays. Look for this sign and help us make good trouble by writing a letter, penning a postcard, or signing a petition for a SEJ cause. (SEJ is pronounced “sedge” like the plant.)

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