Southwest Environmental Justice Initiative
Transformative Advocacy Southwest, September 18-28, 2008
The Southwest Environmental Justice Initiative is the only environmental justice-focused pro bono advocacy initiative in the United States Southwest, providing unprecedented opportunities for the intersection of Native American women environmental activists and pro bono technical legal advocacy. From September 18-28, 2008, the Southwest E ...learn more
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Feb 09, 2008
Updated: Nov 09, 2009
Membership: Open
Semi-Private
Group Info
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About
The Southwest Environmental Justice Initiative is the only
environmental justice-focused pro bono advocacy initiative in the
United States Southwest, providing unprecedented opportunities for the
intersection of Native American women environmental activists and pro
bono technical legal advocacy.
From September 18-28, 2008, the Southwest Environmental Justice (SEJ) Initiative brought together a remarkable delegation of women public interest attorneys from throughout the United States, WEA staff and Native American women grassroots leaders for a profound journey of witnessing, dialogue and action. The relationships built on the journey are sustained through our Advocacy Network, a container for facilitating long-term partnerships between Native American and professional women to address urgent environmental justice and human rights abuses affecting Native American communities. When women work together on projects this way, having built a foundation of mutual trust and respect through face-to-face meeting, not only will the initial projects garner success, but they will lead to other advocacy projects that will continue to further the success of the grassroots to define and lead the change they wish to institute in their communities.
In the first five months following our journey, 50% of the Native American groups we've met with proposed advocacy projects and 60% of our attorney delegates stepped up to partner with them on these projects. Some of the projects include research on the viability of using the Clean Water Act in defense of sacred land; investigation of the legality of the Office of Surface Mining's Life of Mine permit granted to Peabody Coal in Black Mesa, AZ; research on the Federal Green Jobs Act; to support the Navajo Green Jobs Campaign; research on legislators' stance on particular legislation and how to leverage support for grassroots interests. Our delegates have also participated in educational report backs to their local communities and publishing articles about their experiences.
As conventional dirty models of industry continue, as well as the growing market demand for domestically-sourced energy finds its way to the doorsteps of Native communities, the Southwest Environmental Justice Initiative will provide critical, supplemental advocacy to Native American grassroots environmental leaders who are working diligently to make sure that outdated and dirty conventional methods are put to rest and that the alternatives are healthy, sustainable and honor the humanity of their communities - ensuring the health of the interconnected biosphere, that has shown us that what happens in Native lands directly impacts everyone.
From September 18-28, 2008, the Southwest Environmental Justice (SEJ) Initiative brought together a remarkable delegation of women public interest attorneys from throughout the United States, WEA staff and Native American women grassroots leaders for a profound journey of witnessing, dialogue and action. The relationships built on the journey are sustained through our Advocacy Network, a container for facilitating long-term partnerships between Native American and professional women to address urgent environmental justice and human rights abuses affecting Native American communities. When women work together on projects this way, having built a foundation of mutual trust and respect through face-to-face meeting, not only will the initial projects garner success, but they will lead to other advocacy projects that will continue to further the success of the grassroots to define and lead the change they wish to institute in their communities.
In the first five months following our journey, 50% of the Native American groups we've met with proposed advocacy projects and 60% of our attorney delegates stepped up to partner with them on these projects. Some of the projects include research on the viability of using the Clean Water Act in defense of sacred land; investigation of the legality of the Office of Surface Mining's Life of Mine permit granted to Peabody Coal in Black Mesa, AZ; research on the Federal Green Jobs Act; to support the Navajo Green Jobs Campaign; research on legislators' stance on particular legislation and how to leverage support for grassroots interests. Our delegates have also participated in educational report backs to their local communities and publishing articles about their experiences.
As conventional dirty models of industry continue, as well as the growing market demand for domestically-sourced energy finds its way to the doorsteps of Native communities, the Southwest Environmental Justice Initiative will provide critical, supplemental advocacy to Native American grassroots environmental leaders who are working diligently to make sure that outdated and dirty conventional methods are put to rest and that the alternatives are healthy, sustainable and honor the humanity of their communities - ensuring the health of the interconnected biosphere, that has shown us that what happens in Native lands directly impacts everyone.