A Small Step Toward Justice

Earlier this week the GIPL team, like many of you, sat anxiously awaiting the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trail, hoping there might finally be some accountability for the murder of George Floyd. Learning that he received a guilty verdict on all three counts is a small, but long awaited step on the road to a more just society.  People of Color are so often ignored, so often silenced. This moment offers a chance to take a small sigh of relief, a moment to breathe, and most importantly, a reminder of how much work we still have before us as a country, as members of the environmental community, as people of faith, and as an organization. We must continue to dismantle the structures, policies, and ideals of white supremacy, police brutality, and racism. We must look to establish a society of justice in which Black and Brown communities can thrive, fully live, and flourish in every way in every place and without fear. So the work continues. For GIPL, the phrase “there is no environmental justice without racial (or social) justice” rings true again. We, as people of faith and people that care about G-d’s Creation, must acknowledge the intersectionality of our work. We must recognize that the same systems that perpetuate police brutality and devalue Black and Brown life, are the same systems that perpetuate environmental injustice.GIPL is committed to the work of anti-racism, and we want to support your faith community in its efforts to advance this work as well. If you are curious about how you can be a part of this work or how these issues are related we invite you to participate in one of our many classes and workshops, such as Environmental Justice 101, Climate and Health, Good Food, and This Little Light of Mine: Green Power for Black Churches, which offer insight into the intersections of race, economic status, health, energy burden, and so much more. Additionally, the GIPL team is available to suggest and lead book discussions and/or film screenings (see below for ideas) around issues of environmental justice and environmental racism. The fight for justice continues, and we must commit to it together. _____________________________________________________________________If you say you love God’s Creation, you must love your neighbor. If you are dedicated to fighting for environmental justice, you must also be dedicated to fighting for racial justice. To love God’s Creation, is to love Black Bodies. This quote comes from a blog post written by GIPL's Codi Norred, shared following George Floyd's death on May 25, 2020. He reflects on the intersections of environmental justice and racial justice in Sins of the Same Vine.GIPL Suggested Reading“An Anti-Racist Reading List” from National Catholic Reporter (NCR)[embed]https://youtu.be/YrHIQIO_bdQ[/embed]