Environmental Activism
I became a lawyer to represent people in marginalized communities. As I
watched the environmental crisis intensify, meanwhile having children and
then grandchildren, my definition of pursuing justice deepened: I came to understand addressing
human injustice and discrimination, including racism and economic
inequality, requires a livable earth.
It can be hard to understand why we humans are not doing more to
address the accelerating climate crisis that threatens our very existence on this planet, and why we’ve let poor and marginalized communities bear the brunt of environmental
devastation; and why we’ve let so many magnificent animals
become extinct.
Every religious tradition views the
earth and its creatures as sacred — this is our “common home,” as Pope
Francis puts it. We’re all responsible for its stewardship; it protects and
gives life to us.
In Here: Poems for the Planet (Copper Canyon Press, 2019), Elizabeth J. Coleman, ed., (with a beautiful and hopeful foreword from His Holiness the Dalai Lama), and an activist guide by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we wanted to galvanize readers to address the environmental crisis
head on, with enthusiasm and without the paralyzing fear that leads
to indifference and inaction. We want to encourage a sense of urgency but
also hope. Our goal is to reach those already engaged, and those sitting on
the sidelines, in a new way.
Environmental Activism News and Events
