Environmental Activism
I became a lawyer to represent people in marginalized communities. As I
watched the environmental crisis intensify, meanwhile having children and
then grandchildren, my definition of pursuing justice deepened: I came to understand addressing
human injustice and discrimination, including racism and economic
inequality, requires a livable earth.
It can be hard to understand why we humans are not doing more to
address the accelerating climate crisis that threatens our very existence on this planet, and why we’ve let poor and marginalized communities bear the brunt of environmental
devastation; and why we’ve let so many magnificent animals
become extinct.
Every religious tradition views the
earth and its creatures as sacred — this is our “common home,” as Pope
Francis puts it. We’re all responsible for its stewardship; it protects and
gives life to us.
In Here: Poems for the Planet (Copper Canyon Press, 2019), Elizabeth J. Coleman, ed., (with a beautiful and hopeful foreword from His Holiness the Dalai Lama), and an activist guide by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we wanted to galvanize readers to address the environmental crisis
head on, with enthusiasm and without the paralyzing fear that leads
to indifference and inaction. We want to encourage a sense of urgency but
also hope. Our goal is to reach those already engaged, and those sitting on
the sidelines, in a new way.
Environmental Activism News and Events
This poem about winter in a time of climate change touches on the devastating fact that more frequent and severe natural disasters can and will cause entire communities to be displaced, leading, among many disturbing outcomes, to the loss of languages and cultures. And the poem alludes to the idea of not appropriating the languages of other cultures.
2023 was the hottest year on record by a significant margin. With Cop 28, is the world finally ready to make desperately needed changes?
“Nearly 200 countries convened by the United Nations approved a milestone plan to ramp up renewable energy and transition away from coal, oil and gas.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/climate/cop28-climate-agreement.html
Ann Fisher-Wirth, Laura-Gray Street, Ruth Nolan, Craig Santos Perez, and I came away energized by the response to our panel at #AWP22 on The Value and Use of Eco Poetry Anthologies in a Time of Environmental Crisis. For a compilation in process of Eco Poetry Anthologies and Eco Literature see the bibliography below.
It was thrilling to meet Nancy Lynee Woo at AWP 2022 at the panel I moderated entitled, “The Value and Use of Eco Poetry Anthologies in a Time of Environmental Crisis” and to read her MFA thesis for Antioch/LA, “The Emergence of Hopepunk in Poetry, ” Winter/Spring, 2021.
This is a wonderful poetry newsletter by Eunice "Nicie" Johnson Panetta which I recommend, called the Frugal Chariot: Your weekly guide to exceptional books about nature, climate, and place.
At a time when protecting trees is crucial to protecting life on our planet, this is a rich and varied forest of words by 130 terrific poets speaking about and to the trees they have known.
“Just in time for Earth Day and Arbor Day, Grayson Books has published Tree Lines: 21st Century American Poems, an anthology that includes work from 130 contemporary poets, including U.S. Poet Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and other outstanding writers.
The bookʻs editor Elizabeth J. Coleman will also be present to share about the inspiration behind the book. Each poet will read a few selected poems and will participate in a Q&A with the online audience.
Ann Fisher-Wirth, Laura-Gray Street, Ruth Nolan, Craig Santos Perez, and I came away energized by the response to our panel at #AWP22 on The Value and Use of Eco Poetry Anthologies in a Time of Environmental Crisis. For a compilation in process of Eco Poetry Anthologies and Eco Literature see the bibliography below.
Please join us for this AWP Conference event Saturday, March 26, 2022.
https://www.elizabethjcoleman.com/blog/awp-con-2022
Elizabeth will be moderating a panel on Eco Poetry Anthologies with poets/anthologists Ruth Nolan, Ann Fisher-Wirth, Craig Santos Perez, PhD., and Laura-Gray Street.
@ruthnolan @TerrapinBooks @craigsperez @awpwriter @RClgstreet
Five ecopoetry anthology editors will discuss editing and publicizing anthologies (international, national, or local) encouraging action on our environmental crisis and environmental injustice that can help readers feel a sense of both urgency and hope. Some of us have collaborated with scientific or environmental organizations, donating royalties and developing action guides. We will discuss organizing the book, finding a publisher, and working with the publisher to develop a unique point of view.
Elizabeth was one of the poets invited to the UCS event Poetry of Science, on October 2021.
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a national nonprofit organization founded more than 50 years ago by scientists and students at MIT. Follow UCS @UCSUSA on Twitter and on Instagram @unionofconcernedscientists.