EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Six, Number Two January/February 1997 Call to Action: Work in Coalitions for Ecojustice The stories in this newsletter on mega-hog farming and inner city brownfields illustrate the need and opportunity for churches to work with other organizations on behalf of social and environmental justice. Secular organizations very much want the faith communities involved. Working for justice is an essential part of Christian witness, though many congregations limit themselves to charity. There are usually only a few people in a congregation actively concerned with ecojustice. It is easy for them to become overwhelmed or burned out. However, if they seek out members of justice or outreach committees in surrounding churches, they will discover people concerned with the same issues, willing to work together. There is nothing more inspiring than to discover you are not alone. Your committees thereby become an interfaith team, motivated by love for community and creation. You don't have to be experts. Experts are usually available in academic, professional, civic and government sectors. Consult them in doing your research. Many answers are found by asking many questions. Racial, religious and economic diversity in your team is an asset. We need the gifts of all people of good will, all religious denominations and community organizations, to address the complex problems at all levels of our economy. It is very hard for politicians to write off an effective, inclusive, regional coalition that is challenging the gods of capitalism – even at the national level. The 105th Congress has the same anti-environmental leadership as the 104th Congress. The majority party has made no secret of their agenda. They will continue to use their committee chairmanships to push legislation that suspends environmental protections in all national forests in order to allow more clearcutting. They will try to privatize our national parks, making them dependent on oil, mining and timber industries. They will continue their efforts to block environmental laws in the name of "regulatory reform." They will try to weaken the Clean Air and Clean Water acts, up for re-authorization, and to repeal the acid rain clean-up and ozone layer protection programs. Joining local or regional coalitions that can create strategies for local, regional and national issues, on behalf of the integrity of creation, in spite of the risks and challenges, ultimately strengthens the Christian witness of the local parish. Home     Table of Contents