Toolkit for Taking Action to Protect the Northeast Canyons & Seamounts

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:

1. Write an op-ed or letter to the editor ​
2. Sign and share our petition.
3. Contact your members of Congress.
4. Share the Creation Justice Ministries video with your faith community.

New England state-specific toolkits include details on state media coverage and how your state's US Congressional delegation has responded.

CONNECTICUT

MAINE

MASSACHUSETTS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

RHODE ISLAND

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. Please see the following resources for helping to craft and pitch an op-ed. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected]

National Media Coverage:
​Trump's Move On Northeast Canyons And Seamounts National Monument Draws Criticism - National Parks Traveler
Trump moves to allow commercial fishing in conservation area - Associated Press
Trump to reopen Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument for fishing - The Hill
Trump Opens New England Marine Monument to Commercial Fishing - Bloomberg
Trump opens Atlantic sanctuary to commercial fishing - Reuters
Trump rolls back federal protections for marine conservation area off New England coast - MarketWatch
Trump lifts limits on commercial fishing at ocean sanctuary off New England - Washington Post
Selling off the future’: Trump allows fishing in marine sanctuaries - The Guardian
Trump to open Atlantic marine national monument to commercial fishing - National Geographic
Trump rolls back protections, opens Atlantic site to fishing - E&E News
In another step to reduce environmental regulations, Trump allows commercial fishing in nation's only marine monument in the Atlantic  - MSN News
Trump lifts Obama's fishing restrictions in marine monument - Law 360
Reverse course: Trump declaration makes way for commercial fishing in Atlantic monument - National Fisherman
President Trump Opens National Monument to Commercial Fishing - Courthouse News Service
TRUMP OPENS PROTECTED AREAS TO FISHING - Fisker Forum
Quietly Putting Hundreds of Species at Risk,' Trump Opens 5,000 Square Miles of Atlantic Ocean to Commercial Fishing  - Common Dreams

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

Call Your Member of Congress
Call your member 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. To reach both your Senators and your US Representative, call the Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121.

Here's a script you might consider using 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.

Watch & Share "Reverence for God's Marine Creation" Video