Environmental Justice and Compassionate Voting
What is “environmental justice?” According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice is defined as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys: (1) the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and (2) equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.” (source)
From a Christian theological point of view, environmental justice is most basically grounded in the notion of “loving one’s neighbor as oneself,” the second of the fundamental commandments (Mark 12:31). According to GreenFaith, “Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves is an act of faith, to be lived out through an intentional approach that seeks to understand our neighbor’s suffering and joy. In the building of these relationships, we discover and comprehend how our individual good and fates are tied to each other, by our own Creator’s will.” (source)
While many gains have been made since the 1970’s in protecting our clean air and water, it is apparent that these gains have not been enjoyed equally. Lower-income communities and those of color, including those in South Jersey, disproportionately bear the burden of a societal lifestyle that calls for ever-increasing demands on our natural resources. Such neighborhoods have higher densities of polluting facilities such as power generators, incinerators, and waste disposal. They experience higher rates of exposure to air and water pollutants, leading to increased rates of disease such as asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and even serious illness or death from COVID-19. Even within these communities, it is typically children and the elderly who are most vulnerable. As explained in a 2003 Pastoral Letter from the Episcopal Bishops of New England, “Exploitation of the poor is closely linked to exploitation of the earth, and our quest for social justice and economic sustainability must rest on a foundation of ecological stability. As baptized Christians, we are clearly called to care for creation, loving our neighbors as ourselves.” (source)
Moreover, those most vulnerable are often under-represented in the decision-making processes that impact their communities. They also are more often disenfranchised from participating in the democratic electoral process. To help overcome these inequities, GreenFaith has launched a call to action for faith communities to “Vote Compassionately” in the 2020 election cycle, which they characterize as
follows:
- “Caring for one another and for the planet is central to our collective faith traditions and our beliefs. Therefore, voting compassionately–with those values in mind–is critical to living out our faith and protecting our future.
- We may hear people say, “I’m not voting – it doesn’t matter.” However, when the act of voting is held as a fulfillment of the golden rule, we realize that we are voting for our neighbors, and in so doing, we walk the pathway to a better world for all, ourselves included.”
Voting – and encouraging and empowering others to vote – is one of the most important actions we can take for the environment. First, be sure that you are able to participate! Check your registration and get assistance at the non-partisan website: https://www.vote.org/. Make a plan to vote, and if you need help or have questions, reach out to others including fellow congregation members. Next, encourage loved ones (children and grandchildren, neighbors, friends, congregants) to vote. Finally, if you would like to learn more or become involved in GreenFaith’s 2020 Compassionate Voter Campaign, start by reading this Organizing Guide)
“As people of faith, we believe that a compassionate vote – one informed by our morals and values – puts us in right relationship with others, the earth, and the divine. We believe that a compassionate vote builds enough power to transform culture and influence decision makers here at home and around the world. And we believe that a compassionate vote is what we need right now.”
From the GreenFaith Compassionate Voter Pledge, accessible at: http://bit.ly/GFVoterPledge
—Brian Lestini, chair