By Nicole D. Batey,
Special to the AFRO
On February 22, more than 50 faith leaders representing a variety of faith communities joined together virtually to support the Protecting the Gift of Creation initiative. Environmental Human Rights Amendment (HB-596/SB-783).
Too often, low-income neighborhoods, which include a majority of Black, Brown, and Latino residents, are subject to additional pollution burdens. These communities are often the target of dirty power plants, clogged highways, toxic wastelands, and other pollution. This Amendment The Maryland Constitution would guarantee that all Marylanders have the right to a healthy environment, not just those in the most powerful and resourceful areas.
Delegate Wanika Fisher stated that unlike environmental regulations which only address a specific issue, the amendment to environmental human rights would create a framework in which people’s environmental rights must be considered. Bay Journa} article.
Climate Equity at Interfaith Power and Light DMV and Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human rights hosted a virtual rally of state-wide faith leaders in an effort to get the General Assembly of Maryland to adopt HB596/SB783.
The rally opened with the song Ive Got a Right to The Tree of Life. It was followed by a welcome by Nina Beth Cardin, an ordained rabbi, and Director of MD Campaign for Environmental Human Rights. (MDEHR).
We all share in the creation of the earth, and we should not be unfairly or excessively burdened with environmental destruction. Cardin stated in her opening remarks that we should take care of the earth as much as we can so that it can care for us.
The Rev. Dellyne Hinton (pastor of Gwynn Oak United Methodist Churches and Arlington-Lewin United Methodist Churches), member of the advisory circle of MDEHR, and proud earth keeper, was the rally’s emcee.
Leaders of faith from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim Unitarian Universalists, Quaker communities and other religious groups spoke out about how their faith traditions value taking good care of creation, our lands, and especially our fellow humans who depend on a healthy and stable environment.
These voices are all different. Some are young, others old, and some are more experienced. While each voice is unique and different, they all have one thing in common: caring for God’s creation in ways that will benefit all of Creation, not just humanity, Hinton reminded participants.
Karie Firoozmand was the first speaker. She is a member and leader of Stony Run Friends Meetinga Quaker Community regarding the climate crisis. Firoozmand used sacred silence to calm her spirit and listen while she spoke at the rally. This allowed everyone at the rally, speakers and listeners, to pause and take a moment to listen. She continued to share with raw emotion the challenge of getting people to embrace the earth-care and person-to-creation work.
Next, Rabbi Michael S. Webber of Columbia Jewish Center noted that it is Jewish tradition to pray the Shema Yisrael (detailed in Deuteronomy 6;4) three times a days.
Webber reminded the crowd that the Lord is our God, and the Lord is one. We are reminded that we can only be a small, but important part of a sacred system. Our actions have a direct impact on the wellbeing of the whole system. What we breathe out, we breathe in. Webber stated that this sacred inter-breathing is essential for all living things.
The Rev. Mary Gaut is a former Maryland Presbyterian Church pastor who was also a board member of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake. She said that she believes it is a divine mandate for us to care for one another and the world as it was created.
Gault stated that the beauty of the proposed amendment is its non-ambivalent nature. The language is based on core values such as caring for each other and taking care of ourselves. This amendment recognizes that every person has the right to a healthy, sustainable environment.
Dr. Shahid Rafiq is the president of the United Maryland Muslims Council and Director for Stroke and Neurology at Holy Cross Hospital in Frederick Health Care Systems. He offered his perspective on the need to amend the law.
We are so passionate about conserving the environment, and keeping it clean, especially water. Rafiq stated that Muslims need to be more aware of the fact that it is not about being a good citizen. It’s also about reaching out beyond their community. We are in favor of this bill.
The Rev. Ken Phelps, Jr., is a member the Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network and had a message that encouraged people to continue fighting.
Now is the right time to put Annapolis on our faces about our environment and our rights in enjoying it in all its beauty and wonder. We have already made too many strides on this journey and it is impossible to go back. This message must be carried to the finish. Phelps stated, “We must mobilise those whose vote will determine whether this amendment moves beyond Congress or dies under special interests.”
The Rev. asked how justice and equity could be achieved if one side reaps all of the benefits while the other pays all the expenses. Paige Getty is minister of Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia. Environmental degradation is a major problem for marginalized communities. It happens with alarming frequency and intensity. We know that these communities, due to years of racial discrimination have not the resources to pursue expensive and lengthy legislative remedies for the environmental pollution that causes them to die.
Getty stated that this injustice can and must be rectified. Legislators, please vote for this amendment so that all faithful can vote for it in November.
MDEHR and the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club submitted a joint petition of support to the House with more than 2,300 signatures. They need to collect 4,000 signatures in order to submit them to the Maryland State Senate. The amendment must be approved by sixty percent of the Senate and House. The passage of this amendment will ensure that every person has the right to a healthy, sustainable environment. HB596/SB783 The Environmental Human Rights Amendment go to www.MDEHR.org.
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