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Familia,
Mother Earth just went over the 2.0 degrees barrier. We are in serious trouble - while the planet gets hotter and recurrent extreme weather events become normal, many in the US seem to be hunkering down on the values and culture of practice that birthed this crisis. While gleefully padding themselves on the back for their "innovative green tech fixes," they are in every way the keepers of the past and a threat to our future existence.
Who gets to live and who gets to die isn't just being determined in the barbaric wars we are protesting, but at international tables like the COP- all while the federal government is turning just transition opportunities into shiny, extractive pathways blinged out with carbon capture and other trendy false solutions. Carbon capture will not reduce emissions, but will, again, turn our communities into sacrifice zones in the interests of indulging greedy corporate polluters. From takings to trinkets, it seems like a good time to reflect on Thanksgiving.
In this season of gratitude, we thank our ancestors for grounding us in traditions and values that honor people and the planet. This month, UPROSE celebrates Indigenous Peoples Month and Puerto Rican Heritage Month recognizing the resistance, and invaluable contributions of these communities to our shared narrative. Their story - a story of generational extraction of land, labor, colonialism, enslavement is so much the story of Thanksgiving. It is playing itself out right now, as you read this Thanksgiving newsletter.
In this spirit, we share the concept of 'Thankstaking' β While we value coming together in gratitude, we also recognize that traditional celebrations have overlooked significant losses, especially among indigenous peoples. 'Thankstaking' is an opportunity to honor our collective strength and resilience, and to remember those who are not with us, and those we are losing because environmental racism is also an act of violence.
UPROSE stands in solidarity with global peace efforts, particularly highlighting the pressing need for a ceasefire in Gaza. Understanding conflict as not only a human tragedy but also a critical climate justice issue, we know wars and militarization exacerbate environmental degradation and are barriers to climate goals.
This month, consider drawing inspiration from Indigenous wisdom and celebrate Puerto Rican heritage, while actively seeking paths toward peace and mutual respect. We view climate justice as integral to global peace efforts, recognizing that real harmony includes the health of our people and the planet.
In this season of reflection, remember we have the collective power to transform our gratitude into action that ensures a world that honors and protects every member of our global community.
We are grateful to the diverse, loving and transformational community that makes it possible for us to get up every morning, head to work ready to roll up our sleeves and hold the work of revolutionary love. We are grateful that we are "in good company," that we have you, and together we are the frontline.
En Solidaridad,
Elizabeth and the UPROSE team
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