Love is the Framework for Climate Justice: Recording and Resources
On August 19th, Side with Love hosted our August GS2030 Community Gathering, Love is the Framework for Climate Justice! Following our grounding, we focused on the Justice Essential and celebrated the marvelous climate justice work of the UU Fellowship of Hendersonville, NC. Our main programming ultimately asked us how we want to love our neighbors. Elio Farley, Side with Love's Climate Justice Fellow, shared lessons from years of solidarity organizing and anti-white supremacy work. He called us to develop accountable relationships with our neighbors.
Here's how Elio explains Climate Justice:
“Climate Justice is ultimately an ethic of love that refuses to leave anyone behind when the water rises and the fires come. Climate Justice is how we love every neighbor, both human and beyond-human. The neighbor across the street, the neighbor across town, the neighbor around the world...
Climate Justice is a Universalist commitment to the dignity and interdependence of all life.
Too many communities have been systematically excluded from structural dignity – both climate justice and Unitarian Universalism must lovingly attend to that reality. Our faith is a life-affirming tradition. Organizing with love at the center allows us to faithfully center justice and humbling seek accountable relationships with our neighbors.”
Genuine appreciations:
“Great modeling of justice seeking in Hendersonville!” - Shirley Adam
“Elio, your opening question — how do we want to love each other in … — and your stress on humility and accountability were perfect for a situation I find myself in at this moment. Your stories of experience were spot on. Your questions at the end gives us further pause to consider what we need to do individually. Thank you. Beautiful presentation. Well done.” - Sharon Givens
“Elio, great job demonstrating how radical solidarity and collective liberation are accessible, challenging, and absolutely essential!” - Dorothy Swain
“Thank you for focusing on how you listened to the people you were supporting for what they needed from you - your talents, etc. That is hard sometimes.” - Nora Bird
Watch the recording here and view the presentation slides here.
This year, our community meetings are organized to explore one Essential. This meeting focused on Justice, next month is on Community Resilience, and so on. Of course, the Essentials are intersectional, so the others will show up, too. Side With Love is strengthening these explorations with a monthly email including congregational examples, videos, toolkits, and more to support you to take action on the Four Essentials in your community. Watch for that email the first week of each month!
If you haven’t already, take a moment to sign up for all of the Community Meetings this year. All are welcome to join these virtual meetings to explore the Four Essentials of Climate Action and find ways we can create climate justice in our communities.
Image description: A light blue, green, and yellow gradient background bordered by multicolored striped ribbons on the top and bottom. Large green text on a white background at the top says, “GREEN SANCTUARY 2030: Mobilizing for Climate Justice.” Below are semi-transparent white bubbles with black text that reads, “AUG. 19 Love is the Framework for Climate Justice, Elio Farley, UUA Climate Justice Fellow. SEP. 16 Creating Hubs of Climate Resilience and Community Care, Hubs of Climate Resilience Peer Learning Circle. OCT. 21 Protecting Public Lands Standing Rock Anniversary, Deb Cruz, JUUStice WA. NOV. 18 Fractal Practices for Faithful Climate Justice - Adult Faith Formation, Rev. Deanna Vandiver, Ever Unfolding. JAN. 27* Green Sanctuary Celebration! FEB. 17 Racial Justice is Climate Justice, Rev. Michael Crumpler, UUA LGBTQ & Multicultural Programs Director. MAR 17. What Does Your Money Believe? Faith, Wealth, and Climate Justice, Mathew Jensen, Senior Investment Officer, UUA Investment Office & Common Endowment Fund. APR. 21 To Be Determined!” Green and black text on a white background at the bottom reads, “Office Hours: 1st Wednesday. Community Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of most months* at 1HT - 3AKT - 4PT - 5MT - 6CT - 7ET.” The UUA and Side With Love logos are in the bottom corners.
Guided by UU values, the Green Sanctuary community nurtures resilient, thriving communities through climate actions that prioritize justice. All are invited to join our monthly community meetings to learn together, support each other, and celebrate progress.
