EJC Voices

Joe Wainio begins his wonderful article on TruthOut,  “Climate change activists should look to North Carolina for lessons on how to build a broad and diverse movement powerful enough to challenge the corrupt status quo on several fronts. Single-issue organizing won’t do.”

To make a difference in our current political climate takes massive numbers of people, and so far the environmental movement has not drawn the numbers and diversity needed.

In the article, he captures what we have been building in our North Carolina “Forward Together Movement.”

He concludes,

That’s the significance of what is happening in North Carolina. People from all different backgrounds are demonstrating their support and solidarity for everyone’s basic human rights and dignity. All those involved in the movement are educating one another about “their” issues and are getting a respectful hearing. That is how to build trust between previously separate groups. That is how to build a mighty force that cannot be contained by the oligarchy. If climate activists are paying attention, we will heed these lessons.

“The seemingly simple action of communicating with your elected representative is powerful, vastly underrated, and accessible to all.”

In October our executive director, Susannah Tuttle, was featured in the Indy Weekly, speaking about her efforts to forge ties between environmentally conscious faith leaders and conservative legislators. Since then, Susannah has been encouraging people of faith to meet with our legislators, to build relationships and share our faith voice on the importance of our quality of life for generations to come.

In February, Faith Street published an article by the Friends Committee for National Legislation (FCNL).   In it, they also ask people of faith to meet with their legislators and hold a simple converse about the legacy we wish to leave behind.  The authors, Jose Aguto and Emily Wirzba set out the goal of the FNCL clearly.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is partnering with other faith- and citizen-based organizations on a call to conscience on climate disruption to affirm the moral foundation for action. We ask that multi-faith delegations share their thoughts on climate disruption with their congressional representatives, discussing their beliefs from the basis of their religious, ethical or moral perspectives. Consistent with the Quaker belief in the Light that exists within every person, we ask that such meetings be based on our shared purpose and uplifting paths forward.

We ask people of faith to meet with their congressional representatives and converse around the following questions: What is the shared legacy we seek to leave for our children and future generations on climate disruption? Will you acknowledge that climate disruption is human-induced, already happening, and a grave threat to both present and future generations? Will you take a leadership role and call upon your peers to join a public, bipartisan declaration of concern about climate disruption and the need for congressional action? What kind of actions should Congress take?

By replicating this action in grassroots districts across the country, people of faith can create authentic political and moral will for congressional solutions to climate disruption. ….The seemingly simple action of communicating with your elected representative is powerful, vastly underrated, and accessible to all. For in a healthy democracy, the people create the political will to which elected representatives respond. If the faith community can come together to issue the moral call to conscience and action on climate disruption, we can work with optimism and resolve toward a thriving future.