By Ilka Vega
I grew up in the El Paso and Ciudad Juárez borderlands, and I often visited my grandparents’ ranch in Chihuahua. There, I was introduced to many living things that make up the world around us. I learned that every plant, animal and community is a relative and full of beauty. My love for God’s creation was born between the mountains and the desert.
I am clear that love is not just bubbly feelings. It requires action. The question is, what should we do because of our love for the Earth? In the simplest terms, I am compelled to raise my voice in support of creation and to champion care for the world around me.
As such, during Earth Day this week I reflected on my early memories learning about other living things. With so many environmental protections at risk, it is essential that every person — including faith communities — joins in the fight to protect our Earth and our neighbors.
There is no denying that disasters and dangers are increasing in number and intensity because of climate change. This year, we have already seen devastating wildfires on both coasts of the country with floods and tornadoes sweeping across the interior. We know that women, children, people of color, and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by climate disasters and environmental health issues.
The nation’s exit from the Paris Agreement and cuts to environmental justice diminish trust in our government’s ability to protect us from environmental harm. People fought hard to develop regulations, laws and protections that would protect communities from pollution and exploitation. Now, these resources are being taken away, and it is jeopardizing our fight for a better environment.
It can be discouraging to see a rollback in protections in the midst of all these environmental harms. However, we can’t let our fears and worries hold us back from taking action. There is a vast community of people who are doing their part to protect our values, our neighbors and our Earth.
We must keep working to safeguard the resources we have. United Women in Faith, along with other faith communities, is doing so through calls to action and work such as the Breathe Again Collaborative. We know that we are tasked with stewardship of the Earth, and we must hold ourselves and our leaders accountable to that mission.
We are not the only ones. Across the Southwest and the nation, groups are taking this same message to heart and using their strengths to advocate for environmental justice.
Last month in Houston, groups organized events throughout CERAWeek, when CEOs of oil and gas companies were meeting. I was there to see how people shared their stories and their passions. From indigenous groups to dancers, from environmental groups to faith groups to community members, people were using their arts and their voices to protect the places and people they love from the toxicity of fossil fuels.
In Oak Flat, Arizona, an Apache stronghold is resisting a destructive copper mine project threatening to destroy their sacred lands. Through a legal defense of religious freedom, supported by many faith groups and allies, the Apache people are refusing to cede control of the land.
Participants in the recent nationwide “Hands Off!” protests named climate change as a top motivator for joining. It is beyond partisanship — the issue is unifying groups over our needs for health and safety.
All of us fighting for environmental justice are in this together. There is a place for everyone in the movement, whether it’s using art, faith or experience. No matter who you are, you have a community where you can act boldly for the good of all.
Let’s take the time to celebrate the beauty that is worth fighting for. Then, let us raise our voices together and show our leaders that we are strong. We cannot and will not be silent in this mission for environmental justice.
Ilka Vega is the executive for economic and environmental justice at United Women in Faith, which is the largest denominational organization for women in the country.
The post Opinion: Earth Day reminds us to appreciate our world. It’s about accountability, too appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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