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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Shantha Ready Alonso, [email protected] 202-618-2501 (mobile) Washington, DC --- Today, members of the US House of Representatives Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released a recommendations report, Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America. Creation Justice Ministries Executive Director Shantha Ready Alonso said of the report, “At last, substantive, moral, federal climate policy leadership is emerging from Congress. We are grateful to the members of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis for the foundation they have laid through these crucial recommendations. Christian communities stand ready to advance climate solutions that are not only good for God's creation, but that also foster care for our neighbors, through racial and economic justice." Religious communities, including Creation Justice Ministries, have a long track record of calling on the US Congress for climate action. Many religious organizations maintain offices near Capitol Hill to engage with federal public policy matters of profound concern to congregants, including the climate crisis. While religious communities are deeply concerned about emissions reductions and are taking action to bring congregations, retreat centers, and other religious facilities to net zero, their main policy focus is on justice aspects of the climate crisis. Priorities in the report that religious communities most strongly support include: environmental justice policies that counteract devastating disproportionate pollution burdens borne by low-income communities as well as communities of color; nature-based climate solutions like increasing the resilience and mitigation capacity of land and ocean ecosystems that uphold the integrity of God’s creation; adaptation support for farmers and ranchers; planning for natural disaster resilience as well as just recovery; protections for communities’ physical and mental health; workforce development for a just transition to a more sustainable economy; and international climate finance measures such as the Green Climate Fund.  ###
Creation Justice Ministries represents the creation care and environmental justice policies of major Christian denominations throughout the United States. We work in cooperation with more than two dozen mainline Protestant, historically Black, Baptist, Peace, and Orthodox communions.
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On World Environment Day 2020, President Trump reversed conservation protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. To see how some faith leaders have spoken out on the decision made by President Trump, check out our press release. We need your help to take action to uphold protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts: New England state-specific toolkits include details on state media coverage and how your state's US Congressional delegation has responded.
We need your help to take action to protect the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts.
Write an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor One of the best ways to ensure that the spotlight on saving the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is to express to your local and regional media that you care. Please consider writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed about what the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts mean to you and why it’s important to protect them. We've included what local and regional media has said about the decision. We also encourage you to check out this resource for writing an op-ed. To see how some faith leaders have spoken out on the decision made by President Trump, check out our press release. See national news clips on this issue on our national toolkit page. Please see the following resources for helping to craft and pitch an op-ed. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected] Connecticut News Clips: Governing Like a Disney Villain - The Day (6.14.20) Conservationists Mull Lawsuits as Feds Roll Back Ocean Protections - Public News Service (6.9.20) Sign and Share Our Petition Build momentum! Sign our petition for the faith community on why the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts are so important. And once you’ve signed, share it with others on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram - wherever you show up in your community! Link to share petition: https://creationjustice.salsalabs.org/canyonsandseamounts Contact Your Member of Congress Call your members of Congress to tell them why protecting God's marine creation matters to you and your community, and that the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument needs strong conservation protections. Call the Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121. Here's a script you can use when making these calls/emails: Hello I'm ______ (name) with ________ (faith community affiliation) in ___ (city). I would like to leave an urgent message for the Member's communications staff. On World Environment Day, President Trump rolled back vital protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Faith communities worked hard to win this historic and vital biodiverse, climate resilience sanctuary for God's marine creation. I am appalled. I respectfully request the member publicly rebuke the President's action, then take further action to uphold and strengthen conservation protections for all national monuments, including this marine national monument. If you would like to follow up with me for next action steps on this issue, my contact information is __________. Thank you. Connecticut Congressional Delegation Updates 
We need your help to take action to protect the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts. We ask that you take action in these three ways. Please see details/resources within this document for more information.
Write an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor One of the best ways to ensure that the spotlight on saving the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is to express to your local and regional media that you care. Please consider writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed about what the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts mean to you and why it’s important to protect them. We've included what local and regional media has said about the decision. We also encourage you to check out this resource for writing an op-ed. To see how some faith leaders have spoken out on the decision made by President Trump, check out our press release. See national news clips on this issue on our national toolkit page. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected] Rhode Island News Coverage Point Judith Fishermen Optimistic as Restrictions Lifted (6.13.20) Sign and Share Our Petition Build momentum! Sign our petition for the faith community on why the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts are so important. And once you’ve signed, share it with others on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram - wherever you show up in your community! Link to share petition: https://creationjustice.salsalabs.org/canyonsandseamounts Contact Your Member of Congress Call or set up a virtual visit with your members of Congress to tell them why protecting God's marine creation matters to you and your community, and that the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument needs strong conservation protections. Call the Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121. Here's a script you can use when making these calls/emails: Hello I'm ______ (name) with ________ (faith community affiliation) in ___ (city). I would like to leave an urgent message for the Member's communications staff. On World Environment Day, President Trump rolled back vital protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Faith communities worked hard to win this historic and vital biodiverse, climate resilience sanctuary for God's marine creation. I am appalled. I respectfully request a forceful public statement rebuking the President's actions. If you would like to follow up with me for next action steps on this issue, my contact information is __________. Thank you. Updates from Rhode Island Congressional Delegation
We need your help to take action to protect the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts. We ask that you take action in these three ways. Please see details/resources within this document for more information.
Write an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor One of the best ways to ensure that the spotlight on saving the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is to express to your local and regional media that you care. Please consider writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed about what the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts mean to you and why it’s important to protect them. We've included what local and regional media has said about the decision. We also encourage you to check out this resource for influencing the media. To see how some faith leaders have spoken out on the decision made by President Trump, check out our press release. See national news clips on this issue on our national toolkit page. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected] So far, we have not found any New Hampshire-specific media coverage. Please help change this! Sign and Share Our Petition Build momentum! Sign our petition for the faith community on why the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts are so important. And once you’ve signed, share it with others on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram - wherever you show up in your community! Link to share petition: https://creationjustice.salsalabs.org/canyonsandseamounts Contact Your Member of Congress Call, snail mail or email your members of Congress to tell them why protecting God's marine creation matters to you and your community, and that the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument needs strong conservation protections. Call the Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121 or check out this website to find your representative's websites! Here's a script you can use when making these calls/emails: Hello I'm ______ (name) with ________ (faith community affiliation) in ___ (city). I would like to leave an urgent message for the Member's communications staff. On World Environment Day, President Trump rolled back vital protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Faith communities worked hard to win this historic and vital biodiverse, climate resilience sanctuary for God's marine creation. I am appalled. I respectfully request a forceful public statement rebuking the President's actions. If you would like to follow up with me for next action steps on this issue, my contact information is __________. Thank you. Comments by New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Tweet by Senator Shaheen (5.6.20)
We need your help to take action to protect the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts. We ask that you take action in these three ways. Please see details/resources within this document for more information.
Write an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor One of the best ways to ensure that the spotlight on saving the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is to express to your local and regional media that you care. Please consider writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed about what the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts mean to you and why it’s important to protect them. We've included what local and regional media has said about the decision. We also encourage you to check out this resource for writing an op-ed. To see how some faith leaders have spoken out on the decision made by President Trump, check out our press release. See national news clips on this issue on our national toolkit page. Please see the following resources for helping to craft and pitch an op-ed. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected] Massachusetts Media Response: In Another Step to Remove Environmental Regulations, Trump Moves to Allow Fishing in New England Conservation Area By: David Abel, Globe Staff “Why the New England Aquarium is Fighting Back Against the Trump Administration” By Nik DeCosta Kilpa, Boston.com staff “Trump gutted protections for the Atlantic’s only marine monument — now what?” Op Ed By Miriam Goldstien in the Boston Globe Statement on Trump Administration’s rollback of protections for Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument New England Aquarium Sign and Share Our Petition Build momentum! Sign our petition for the faith community on why the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts are so important. And once you’ve signed, share it with others on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram wherever you show up in your community! If you’re a faith leader, consider adding the petition to your newsletter or website. To see how other faith leaders have spoken out on the decision made by President Trump, check out our press release. Link to share petition: https://creationjustice.salsalabs.org/canyonsandseamounts Contact Your Member of Congress Call, snail mail or email your members of Congress to tell them why protecting God's marine creation matters to you and your community, and that the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument needs strong conservation protections. Call the Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121 or check out this website to find your representative's websites! Here's a script you can use when making these calls/emails: Hello I'm ______ (name) with ________ (faith community affiliation) in ___ (city). I would like to leave a message. On World Environment Day, President Trump rolled back vital protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Faith communities worked hard to win this historic and vital biodiverse, climate resilience sanctuary for God's marine creation. I am appalled. I respectfully request you do what you can to uphold and strengthen national monument conservation protections, including this important marine monument. If you would like to follow up with me for next action steps on this issue, my contact information is __________. Thank you. What MA Decision-Makers Are Saying
We need your help to take action to protect the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts. We ask that you take action in these three ways. Please see details/resources within this document for more information.
(6.5.20
We need your help to take action to protect the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts. We ask that you take action in these three ways. Please see details/resources within this document for more information.
Write an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor One of the best ways to ensure that the spotlight on saving the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is to express to your local and regional media that you care. Please consider writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed about what the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts mean to you and why it’s important to protect them. We've included the statements made so far from congressional members as a great starting point to respond to, as well as what local and regional media has said about the decision. We also encourage you to check out this resource for writing an op-ed. To see how other faith leaders have spoken out on the decision made by President Trump, check out our press release. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected] Maine Media Response: “Trump Didn’t Save Maine’s Fishing Industry” Editorial Board of The Bangor Daily News (6.5.20) In Maine. Trump rescinds protections on marine national monument off Cape Cod News Center Maine (6.5.20) Trump Opens Atlantic Marine Monument To Fishing During Maine Roundtable Maine Public Radio (6.5.20) Trump opens marine monument to fishermen, promises trade relief Portland Press Herald (6.5.20) Opinion: Trump Rights a Wrong by Opening Monument to Commercial Fishing Portland Press Herald (6.10.20) Suit Claims Trump's Decision to Open Up Seamounts Unlawful Maine Public Radio (6.17.20) Environmental Groups Sue Trump (6.17.20) What The Maine Delegation Has Said So Far: Chellie Pingree: Representative, District 1 Link to official statement June 5, 2020: “President Trump spent much of his roundtable saying he could fix trade policies that have hurt Maine fishermen with the stroke of a pen, but it is his failed trade policies that caused China to retaliate with a lobster tariff. The congressional delegation wrote to him last June to help our fishermen and he did nothing.” “President Trump had four years to meet with Maine fishermen who have been devastated by his reckless trade and commerce policies, but did not. When Congress approved $300 million in COVID-19 relief money for the fishing industry, the Trump Administration dragged its feet to release that money. Forget the fact that the President doesn’t have explicit legal authority to unilaterally open up a national monument for commercial fishing, this will be tied up in the courts for years. This move will not provide economic benefits to the fishing industry at a time when markets have been lost, the global supply chain in shambles, and boats are tied up at the dock.” Jared Golden: Representative, District 2 Link to statement “While I’m glad to hear that the president will also hold a roundtable with representatives of Maine’s fishing industry while he’s in our state, I have to ask: where has he been for the past four years? Lobstermen have been raising the alarm with the White House for some time, and I have been asking for help from the Trump Administration since I came to Congress. Last July, I led the Maine delegation to formally request that the president intervene to block his own administration’s proposed regulations on the lobster fishery. Nearly a year later, we still haven’t received a response or seen any action against these harmful regulations. I genuinely hope the president commits the full power of the presidency to protecting Maine’s lobster industry, and I am ready to work with him — as I have been for some time now — if he will commit to taking action. This debate has been going on throughout his presidency. We are long past the time for roundtables — Maine lobstermen need action.” – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) (6.4.20) Members of Maine’s congressional delegation panned the decision. U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from the 2nd Congressional District, said the policy change would mostly benefit fishermen in Massachusetts. (Bangor Daily news 6/5 article) Angus King: Senator, Independent “The President’s decision today to roll back the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument designation won’t improve the prospects for our fishermen a fraction as much as reconsidering the tariffs that have wiped out years of time, toil, and energy invested by our seafood industry in developing new markets around the globe. To make matters worse, while other agricultural producers, who are suffering similar losses as a result of these trade wars, receive significant support – financial and otherwise – Maine’s seafood industry has largely been left to weather this storm alone. If the President truly wants to take action to help Maine lobstermen, I’d urge him to start with those tariffs.” Maine Senator Angus King (6.5.20 in News Center Maine) Susan Collins: Senator, Republican “I have worked closely with Maine fishermen, lobstermen, and industry leaders on the most pressing issues they face, which include addressing trade barriers with China and the E.U., ensuring the impending right whale regulations are based on sound data and do not impose an unfair burden on Maine’s lobstermen and women, and providing direct financial relief to help offset the economic harm caused by COVID-19. The federal government should direct its focus to resolving these challenges rather than reopening the debate over this national marine monument.” ~ Maine Senator Susan Collins (6.8.20 in Bloomberg Law) Sign and Share Our Petition Build momentum! Sign our petition for the faith community on why the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts are so important. And once you’ve signed, share it with others on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram - wherever you show up in your community! If you’re a faith leader, consider adding the petition to your newsletter or website. Link to share petition: https://creationjustice.salsalabs.org/canyonsandseamounts Contact Your Member of Congress Call your members of Congress to tell them why protecting God's marine creation matters to you and your community, and that the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument needs strong conservation protections. Call the Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121 or check out this website to find your representative's websites! Here's a script you can use when making these calls/emails: Hello I'm ______ (name) with ________ (faith community affiliation) in ___ (city). I would like to leave a message. On World Environment Day, President Trump rolled back vital protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Faith communities worked hard to win this historic and vital biodiverse, climate resilience sanctuary for God's marine creation. I am appalled. I respectfully request you do what you can to uphold and strengthen national monument conservation protections, including this important marine monument. If you would like to follow up with me for next action steps on this issue, my contact information is __________. Thank you. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Shantha Ready Alonso, Creation Justice Ministries 202-618-2501 (mobile) [email protected] Washington, DC --- Today, the US Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422) with a strong bipartisan 73-25 vote. This bill, for the first time, will permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) with $900 million annually. The bill also will create a five-year fund to reduce the current $20 billion deferred maintenance backlog on federally managed public lands. Now, the US House of Representatives must pass the companion bill, so a final version can be signed into law. Creation Justice Ministries Executive Director Shantha Ready Alonso commented on the passage of the bill, “Religious communities strongly support increasing peoples' access to parks. Faith communities know first-hand that in this time of a pandemic and profound reckonings with our country’s racism, we are all in desperate need of the physical and mental healing power of God's creation. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is particularly suited to provide much-needed access to safe, well-maintained parks in communities of color, and it is long past time to rectify disparities in access to outdoor recreation opportunities. I look forward to a near future when park planners can leverage these new resources to prioritize recreation spaces in under-served communities.” Religious communities know much is at stake for their local communities to benefit from public lands funding. In years leading up to the bill’s passage, religious communities have shown support, most recently with a letter from 50 Arizona clergy to Senators Kyrsten Synema and Martha McSally which stated, “Beloved places such as South Mountain Park, Cortez Park, Sahuaro Ranch Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, and Veterans Memorial Park have benefited from LWCF, and this must continue.” Organizer of this letter Rev. Katie Sexton of Arizona Faith Network said of the Senate Bill's passage, "As people of many faiths, we are grateful that our Senators recognize the sacredness of creation and have worked to protect it. In these anxious times, God's creation helps to heal our wounds. Today's vote brings us one step closer to ensuring God's creation continues to endure as a place of Sabbath, refuge, and joy for generations to come.” Religious communities are responding pastorally and practically to economic distress from the pandemic, and also welcome the job opportunities that will come from this legislation. The bill will put tens of thousands of people back to work and deliver real, enduring benefits to our public lands and the US economy. Research on the impact of the LWCF shows that $1 spent generates $4 in economic value from natural resource goods and services alone. A just-released economic analysis shows that every $1 million invested in LWCF could support between 16.8 and 30.8 jobs. Alternative uses of the funds would create fewer jobs - for instance, the oil and gas industry would support half as many jobs per $1 million investment. ###
Creation Justice Ministries is a membership organization that represents the creation care and environmental justice policies of 38 Christian denominations, communions and fellowships from Orthodox, Mainline Protestant, Baptist, Peace, and Historically Black church traditions. Through its members, it serves approximately 100,000 congregations and 35 million people. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 2020 Contact: Shantha Ready Alonso [email protected], 760-408-0688 (cell) Creation Justice Ministries Rebukes Decision by Trump Administration to Rollback Protections for Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument Washington, DC - Today, President Trump rolled back protections on the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. This decision comes on World Environment Day, and on the fifth day of National Ocean Month. Christians strongly support upholding national monument protections, and many specifically urged President Trump to uphold the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. New England-based faith-based organizations including the Rhode Island Council of Churches and Inter-religious Eco-Justice Network of Connecticut strongly backed the national marine monument proposal throughout 2016, having offered a public prayer service, a teach-in with scientists at Save the Bay in Providence, delivered supportive sign-on letters, published opinion media pieces, a Massachusetts kids’ ocean conservation art campaign, and participated in stakeholder meetings leading up to the monument designation. Interim Executive Minister for the Rhode Island State Council of Churches Rev. Chontell N. Washington offered the following response: “The Rhode Island State Council of Churches (RISCC) is saddened to hear the announcement that President Trump is rolling back vital protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. We worked very hard with many other faith-based and environmental organizations to enact legislation that protected this vital marine life area. As God’s stewards of this beautiful planet, we will continue to stand with Creation Justice Ministries and all others fighting the rollback of this monument as well as loss of protection for this diverse and important marine habitat.” Pastor of New Roots African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts Rev. Mariama White-Hammond said of the decision, "President Trump's rollback of conservation protections for our Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument stifles our communities' climate justice and biodiversity needs. Underwater sanctuaries are necessary for God's creation to be resilient and regenerate. We depend on God's marine creation for food, for spiritual sustenance, and for half the oxygen we breathe. In a week when the words 'I can't breathe' have been ringing in our ears, Trump's violation of our marine sanctuary protections is yet one more example of how anti-life his actions continue to be." Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts & Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas remarked on her experience of Trump’s actions this week: "Like many Christians, I am appalled that President Trump seems intent on desecrating all things sacred. Just days ago, he deployed armed law enforcement officers to forcibly clear a crowd of non-violent protesters exercising their First Amendment rights and calling for justice for Black lives. The officers used tear gas on some of my fellow Episcopal priests outside a church where they were offering hospitality to peaceful protesters, all to make way for the President to have a photo taken, in which he used a Bible and the Episcopal church as a prop to lend moral legitimacy to his violent rhetoric and actions. Today is World Environment Day and the fifth day of Ocean Month, yet President Trump saw fit today to roll back conservation protections for this underwater sanctuary for God's marine creation. We treasure this monument, which, like Noah’s ark, protects and shelters a precious diversity of life, including endangered species. People of faith and conscience see through these callous actions, and we vigorously oppose them."  Ocean protection efforts are supported by 95% of Americans. The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was historic as the first national monument in the Atlantic Ocean, and the first marine monument designated for scientists to learn how to support climate resilience. Many scientists now agree that to prevent widespread misery and catastrophic biodiversity loss, we must provide strong conservation protections for the natural world, starting with at least 30 percent of marine and terrestrial natural world by 2030. Today’s decision was a setback on that goal. Creation Justice Ministries Executive Director Shantha Ready Alonso said of today’s decision, “It is deeply frustrating to see our community’s historic conservation victory that was the fruit of years of organizing efforts un-done in an announcement in which President Trump seems to barely understand the implications of his action. Unless we change course quickly and dramatically, our children will look back at our short-sighted squandering of God’s creation and ask us: ‘How dare you let this happen?’” Creation Justice Ministries represents the creation care and environmental justice policies of 38 Christian communions, including Baptist conventions, mainline Protestants, Historically Black Churches, Peace Churches, and Orthodox communions. By Creation Justice Ministries Executive Director Shantha Ready Alonso  “I can’t breathe.” These were the heartbreaking recorded words spoken by George Floyd and Eric Garner in their last moments before being murdered at the hands of police officers. Jogger Ahmaud Arbery was out to breathe some fresh air when he was murdered by white supremacist vigilantes. Yesterday, many Christians observed Pentecost, the day a great rushing wind -- the life-giving breath of God -- called the Church into being. Today, we begin Ocean Month, and remember with gratitude that approximately half the oxygen we breathe on God’s good Earth comes from marine photosynthesizers, like phytoplankton. To be Church, we are called to rightly share and sustain the life-giving breath of God that flows through each person, and animates all of creation: both spiritually and materially. We have a moral responsibility to end conditions contributing to so many Black people being forced to breathe their last breath before their time has come. White supremacist vigilantes, police, and the prison system are continuing to regularly perpetrate horrific violence against Black people. African Americans are perishing from COVID-19 at approximately twice the rate of the general US population. Generations of environmental racism and economic inequity compound other life-threatening forces. Black bodies bear the health burdens that come from disproportionate exposure to pollution and inequitable distribution of healthy food. Black communities also disproportionately labor in unsafe work environments and need access to quality healthcare. Communities of color have received fewer emergency preparedness resources and less disaster relief from the government, which has proven to be a deadly under-investment. In everyday interpersonal interactions, discriminatory exchanges in workplaces, neighborhoods, parks, the media, commerce, and public policy forums take their toll on chronic stress levels as they repeat over and over. Now is the time to act with urgency to restore breath to the people, affirming that Black Lives Matter, too.  Rev. Dr. Terri Hord Owens prays by the Pacific Ocean. The Creation Justice community has a unique role to play in upholding reverence for Black lives: We must end environmental racism. We cannot rest until Black communities have equal access to safe air, water, and soil. We will support Black food justice. We will hold government accountable for just climate resilience planning, and equitable disaster relief. We will support Black workers calling for protections from exposure to toxins. We will demand government stakeholder processes for environmental decisions that truly include the guidance of Black communities that will be impacted. We will defend opportunities for Black communities to benefit from the healing power of God’s creation. This means the outdoors are accessible, welcoming places that not only uphold Black safety, but also foster Black wonder, Black Sabbath rest, Black heritage-sharing, and Black joy. We begin the June "Ocean Month" Creation Justice Actions by centering Black lives, so all can BREATHE. In addition to our usual bulletin insert, education and action resources, we have included in our Action Center a round-up of ways our members are upholding reverence for Black lives, which we will continuously update as resources are posted. We support the efforts of the ecumenical community in seeking justice for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others. We also uphold the efforts of our members on policing reform, as well as transforming our broken criminal justice system.  A poem to express our grief during Ocean Month. |
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