-
Methane Matters: Let’s Learn Why
What is methane? Methane is the main component of “natural gas,” which is a significant source of heat and energy in the U.S. and globally. It is a colorless, odorless gas that is lighter than air and is chemically composed of one molecule of carbon and four molecules of hydrogen. Methane is generally stable but can be explosive if enough mixes with air. Because of its potential for combustion, natural gas utilities add scents to it as a safety feature. What does it do to our climate? Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Anthropogenic methane emissions are likely responsible for 0.5° C of warming since the industrial revolution. After carbon…
-
A Primer on the Utah Fair Districting Litigation
In the speech that resurrected his political career, Abraham Lincoln argued that Americans must “[a]llow ALL the governed an equal voice in the government, and that, and that only is self-government.” Similarly, the Utah State Constitution Article 1, Section 2 establishes that “[a]ll political power is inherent in the people; and all free governments are founded on their authority for their equal protection and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform their government as the public welfare may require.” The vote is the critical mechanism that enables self-government and preserves citizen capacity to direct, alter, or reform their government. Drawing congressional maps: fair districting vs. gerrymandering Voting…
-
Voter Registration Flow Chart
This year will be marked by the midterm elections. While these are often overlooked or dismissed as unimportant, they are likely more consequential in our daily lives than other elections. Midterms focus more on our representation at state and local levels. We believe electoral systems should be structured to maximize the greatest participation, but no matter how robust the process is, it is meaningless without participation. The first step to participating in the electoral process is to be registered to vote. Depending on where you live, this may be a simple process that can be completed online, or it may require gathering identifying information and submitting your registration in person…
-
Press Conference Statement on Utah Fair Districting
Today, Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), League of Women Voters of Utah (LWVUT), and individual voters filed a lawsuit to block Utah from implementing a congressional redistricting map that constitutes an extreme partisan gerrymander and to reinstate the citizen-led initiative that established an independent redistricting commission and binding anti-gerrymandering requirements. The following statement was read by MWEG Utah chapter communications specialist, Laura Lewis, at a joint press conference: MWEG is an organization dedicated to peacemaking. Peacemaking can sometimes be counterintuitive, because peace isn’t just an absence of conflict — it can be messy, requiring hard and complicated work to create resilient and cooperative societies where citizens solve problems without resorting to coercion.…
-
Official Statement From MWEG on Fair Districting Litigation in Utah
Today, Mormon Women for Ethical Government joins the League of Women Voters of Utah and seven individual plaintiffs in a suit challenging the congressional maps drawn by the Utah State Legislature in November 2021. This challenge is a manifestation of our deep commitment to peacemaking. We are seeking redress through the courts on behalf of our members in Utah’s four congressional districts who have been denied access to representative government. In 2018, Proposition 4 was passed by Utah voters with an aim to create a redistricting process that was neutral and fair. This represented an effort by the people to alter and reform a government process in direct response to…
-
Climate Change Policy Options
As legislative sessions are open in many states, we are offering a brief overview of some of the environmental policies that may be on the table. None of these solutions is one-size-fits-all — we will have to implement a combination of policies in order to combat climate change. (If you need more background on climate change and fossil fuels, you can read our FAQ here.) Further, different policies can be implemented at different levels of government — federal, state, local, and even global. To the extent that we have provided examples, they are for reference only; MWEG is not necessarily endorsing them. Natural Climate Solutions Forests, wetlands, and other natural…
