Earth Day, WRJ, and the Power for Purpose 2023 Campaign for Climate Justice

Earth Day, also referred to as "Mother Earth Day," takes place annually on April 22. This year, there is no better day than Earth Day for all of us at Women of Reform Judaism to connect with and bring our unique voice to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s “Power for Purpose 2023 Campaign for Climate Justice.” I serve on the Campaign Leadership Team, along with Abby Fisher, our WRJ representative on that team, and other climate leaders from across the Reform Movement.

It would be easy to tell you that I believe in doing everything possible to reverse climate change because it is the right thing to do; because those that have little are suffering the most; and because I want to preserve the wondrous natural wonders I have been so fortunate to see and continue to see during my lifetime for future generations. What moved me to take action, however, was my maternal instinct. My need is to protect and enrich the lives of those that depend on us to do so. The moment I knew I had to get more involved was when I watched a news story of a mother holding a child that was sick and limp after years of drinking contaminated water. I have seen too many of those news stories and have known too many people suffering because of what has been done to our environment. To me, fighting climate change is synonymous with fighting for others to be able to live as full and long a life as possible. 

Earth Day was inaugurated 53 years ago in 1970 to raise awareness about the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. It also highlights the work being done by the environmental movement globally. The first Earth Day marked a time of growing awareness of the responsibility we must protect our environment. WRJ issued its first major environment-related resolution around the same time, in 1969, entitled “Environmental Pollution,” calling on our sisterhoods to educate themselves about the issue, act in collaboration with other community organizations, and advocate for our earth. We have spoken out on the issue numerous times, raising environmental awareness over the years on everything from children’s health issues to the need to green our homes and synagogues, to the ethical issues in science and technology that “increase[e] dangers to the environment, the ecosystem, and the safe quality of everyday living.” (Ethics in Science and Technology, 1987) And, in 2022, we added to our “Global Issues” Advocacy High Priority bringing a “gendered lens to issues of international importance including such matters as climate change.”

While numerous positive changes are being made, scientists suggest that the actions being taken are not enough since they are not outpacing the damage that pollutants and deforestation have had on our planet. Furthermore, they warn us if significant changes aren’t made in the next 10-15 years, these effects may become irreversible. You don’t need to be a scientist to bear witness to: the increases in severe weather events, temperature changes, polluted air, dirty drinking water, increase in disease, and food insecurity.

 Our health, economy, equality, stability, and quality of life are threatened. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each of us in Women of Reform Judaism to act in some way. Why?

• Because we are Jewish. According to yaleclimateconneconnections.org, “Judaism is founded on the basis of an agrarian society,” as evidenced by many of our holidays being agricultural celebrations. In Genesis, humans are put into the Garden of Eden to take responsibility for the Earth’s protection, its well-being. Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, a professor at the Center for Jewish Studies at Arizona State University, said, “The concept is founded on the conviction that the way humans till the Earth relates to moral integrity; lose their moral compass, and humans will harm the Earth, themselves and their society.”
   
• Because we are women or identify as women. It is now widely accepted that climate change is not gender-neutral. The same societal inequalities that affect women and marginalized communities across various sectors, such as lower pay, access to and bias in education and job hiring, disparities in agriculture, inadequate access to and research funding for healthcare, access to resources, vulnerability to gender-based violence, and mobility, are exacerbated by climate change. Gender bias also excludes women from decision-making roles, including incorporating their unique perspectives into climate policies, strategies, and financing options. This is ironic. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “As workers, farmers, consumers, producers, and household managers, women are key agents of change in implementing climate-resilient pathways. Better integration of women and marginalized groups into decision-making at all levels would help improve climate mitigation and adaptation policies.” Working towards gender neutrality in climate change will break down barriers of inequality across all sectors. We bring this gendered lens to the table and help ensure all our voices are heard.

So, where do we start? Climate change is a massive undertaking with many layers. It can be overwhelming – which is why for over fifty years, WRJ has reminded us that this is not work that we do alone.  WRJ is joining the Religious Action Center’s 2023 Campaign for Climate Justice, Power for Purpose, and we encourage you to join as well, individually and with your sisterhood, congregation, or community.

Power for Purpose gives us an opportunity to join with others from across the Reform Movement to demand that our government strengthen regulations that will limit soot, smog, carbon, and mercury from our air and water despite political calculations for the 2024 Presidential election. The goal is to join our partners over the Spring and Summer to demand that steps be taken to cut pollution in half by 2030.

We want to show the White House that we are a powerful constituency with reach in communities nationwide that sees climate change as a high-priority issue. Our action plan includes direct engagement with the Administration, mobilizing community support to submit comments, encouraging community leaders to submit comments, Zoom programming to encourage individual comments, and participating in local actions when possible.

Our first call to action is to join WRJ leaders from across the country in Washington, DC, for a “Day of Action” on May 10th and 11th.  Detailed information and registration can be found here. In addition, both RAC-California and RAC-New York are focusing on climate and the environment in 2023, with RAC-New York holding a climate summit with Dayenu on Sunday, April 23, 2023.

For more information:

• RAC’s Power for Purpose: 2023 Campaign for Climate Justice 
• WRJ’s webpage on Environment, Sustainability & Climate Change
• Blog on “The Intersection of Climate Change, Gender & Poverty”
• In WRJ’s Yammer Advocacy group, Leslie Brier (head of WRJ’s U.N. delegation) shares monthly ideas from the U.N.’s Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World. Her post from March 21 includes additional information and recent reports from the U.N. April suggestions include to share, don’t just like, social media posts about climate and the environment. You can take action RIGHT NOW by sharing this article on your social media!