Create Climate Justice Net Launch Date (re)set to World Biodiversity Day – May 22, 2018

Dear Reader,

For many months, a small dedicated team of UU Ministry for Earth and Unitiarian Universalist Association (UUA) staff, contractors, and volunteer visionaries collaborated to build a new platform intended to radically catalyze and support our Climate and Environmental Justice ministries. It is called Create Climate Justice Net (CCJnet) and it will go live on May 22nd at CreateClimateJustice.net.

.We decided to move our launch date to May 22nd for three reasons:

1. May 22nd is World Biodiversity Day, which feels like a very appropriate day to launch. After all, the first principle of Environmental Justice established by the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit held on October 24-27, 1991, is:
   

   Environmental Justice affirms the sacredness of Mother Earth, ecological unity and the interdependence of all species, and the right to be free from ecological destruction.

2. We have a set of new things to bring to the new launc. One of these things — which is very exciting! — is that we have just brought onboard a new part-time Outreach Specialist for CCJnet, Diane Brooks, who some of you may know from her work with the Northwest UU Justice Network as their communications coordinator. Diane just joined the team last week, so she is still getting her bearings and we are all working out our process for providing support and consultation to new members joining Create Climate Justice Net.
3. May is an important month in the Poor People’s Campaign’s 40 Days of Moral Action! UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, and many other people of faith and conscience participated in non-violent moral direct action at the US capitol and at forty state capitals around the US. Each week, until June 23rd, the Poor People’s Campaign will be engaing in moral direct action, educational teach-ins, song and worship, uplifting a different theme each week. This week the theme is SOMEBODY’S HURTING OUR PEOPLE: Children, Women, and People with Disabilities in Poverty. Find out more about the weekly themes, or find an event near you, on the campaign website. For folks who cannot travel to participate in one of the events taking place today in-person, you can tune in via LiveStream on the Poor People’s Campaign’s Facebook (no need to have an account).You can also learn more and stay updated about UUA participation as an endorser and active participant in the Poor People’s Campaign, at this page on the UUA website.

In gratitude, solidarity, and faith,

Aly Tharp
UU Ministry for Earth Program Director