A looming danger is silently lurking behind outdated infrastructure, inequitable emergency response systems and impervious built environments. For many years, news coverage about climate change has omitted the crude reality about the lack of preparedness for the myriad of challenges a changing climate could present. In Stockton, the atmospheric rivers from earlier this year led [...]
Read article →Aug 29, 2023
In recent years, the staggering growth of e-commerce has given rise to new mega-corporations, such as Amazon, and upended the ways that traditional retail entities do business. Our demand for quick shipping, either 3-day or overnight delivery, necessitates that there is the infrastructure available to accommodate that demand. What the consumer rarely sees is the [...]
Read more →Oct 18, 2022
It is time to raise our voice against poor air quality in the San Joaquin valley which has been known to exacerbate Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), as well as increase risk of respiratory tract infections. Air pollution is the release of pollutants such as gasses, fine particles or droplets into the air. [...]
Read more →Sep 13, 2022
Why is it important to reduce energy consumption? It’s important to reduce our own energy usage because it will help in not only putting less strain on the power grid but also in reducing air and water pollution. This in turn creates a better living environment for people. After just experiencing one of the hottest [...]
Read more →Mar 15, 2021
An Iowa technology company has proposed a first-of-its-kind bioenergy project in McFarland that’s expected to help cut a significant source of local air pollution while also reducing diesel emissions, burying carbon and employing about 50 local residents. The project spearheaded by Iowa-based technology company Frontline BioEnergy proposes to “gasify” about 300,000 tons per year of [...]
Read more →Dec 24, 2020
We’ve got a long way to go to reach net-negative emissions in California by 2030 and increase resilience for communities bearing the brunt of climate change, as outlined in The Climate Center’s Climate-Safe California campaign. One key goal is annually sequestering an additional 100 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. PUENTES, a local nonprofit organization [...]
Read more →Oct 22, 2020
OCTOBER 21, 2020IN SUMMARY I grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, and the air pollution there has had very real impacts on my own health and the health of my family. By Cynthia Pinto-Cabrera, Special to CalMattersCynthia Pinto-Cabrera is a policy assistant with the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, cynthia@calcleanair.org. California’s wildfires have resulted [...]
Read more →Sep 29, 2020
Broad community involvement is key By Davis HarperSan Joaquin County community organizer for The Climate Center The City of Stockton is just months away from a vote to decide whether to continue pursuing Community Choice Energy, which would bring millions of dollars in power generation revenues into local control. Community Choice programs (known by the [...]
Read more →Aug 11, 2020
By Veronica Tovar There is no doubt that these are incredibly challenging times. Our society, our families and our souls are being challenged and stretched to their limit. We are all standing in shifting sands, looking for a rock to which we can anchor ourselves. And, we – as faith leaders – have hope. We [...]
Read more →Mar 26, 2020
This blog was written by Nicole Chang from ClimatePlan. For more information on ClimatePlan, check out their website. Thanks to the work of advocates, Southwest Stockton has been approved to be a part of the 2019 Community Air Protection Program (CAPP). This program stems from AB 617 (Garcia, 2017); This important air quality legislation laid [...]
Read more →Sep 13, 2018
The following message was written by Eric Parfrey from Campaign for Common Ground. We have copied it here. The process to update the Stockton General Plan and finally replace the sprawl-driven 2007 General Plan has now moved into critical hearings before the Stockton Planning Commission. We need activists to attend and speak out at the Planning [...]
Read more →Sep 13, 2018
Hearing for EPA’s Clean Car Rule Repeal is Monday, September 24th from 10 AM – 5 PM at 1401 Fulton St, Fresno, CA 93721 The Trump administration is proposing to undo national air pollution rules, called CAFE standards, that had us on track to make future passenger cars and light trucks cleaner and more fuel-efficient than ever. [...]
Read more →May 18, 2018
The Farm Bill and Pesticides by Yolanda Park The Farm Bill is a huge program that benefits millions of the most vulnerable communities. However, the House, influenced by corporate interests, has inserted wording that is no longer compatible to supporting families and low-income, vulnerable communities, and so we are now looking at HR 2, [...]
Read more →Apr 6, 2018
From the Catholic Legislative Network: Catholic Advocacy Day is quickly approaching, and background information is now available for the six bills that are the focus of this year’s event on April 24. Delegates from various dioceses throughout California will meet with their elected officials to be a voice for life and dignity in the state Capitol. [...]
Read more →Apr 5, 2018
Veronica Tovar, la coordinadora del programa de la Justicia Ambiental de Caridades Católicas entrevista a Pedro Hernández, miembro del Consejo de Liderazgo sobre SB 623. Pedro comparte información tocante al origen de la crisis en estado de California sobre el agua potable y su asequibilidad. Pedro explica los puntos más destacados y el efecto [...]
Read more →Mar 8, 2018
Dear Friends and Colleagues, I would like to cordially invite you to the 2018 Environmental Law Symposium, Humans & Their Environment: Protecting Our Planet and Its Inhabitants. The symposium is happening this Friday, March 9th, from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and is being brought to you by the Environmental Law Society at the UC Davis School of Law, in partnership with [...]
Read more →Jan 29, 2018
https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/listening-sessions-repealing-clean-power-plan From EPA: Listening Sessions: Repealing the Clean Power Plan EPA will hold three listening sessions on the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan. EPA has proposed that the Clean Power Plan is not consistent with the Clean Air Act. Please hold February 28 on your calendars if you’re interested in attending one of three listening sessions the [...]
Read more →Oct 25, 2017
Houston, Texas hosted this year’s Catholic Charities USA Conference, a month after Hurricane Harvey. And in fact, CCUSA changed and rearranged their entire schedule to participate in disaster relief efforts. See the full photo gallery! When I first registered for the Catholic Charities USA Conference, it was an exciting prospect. I’d never been to Texas. I [...]
Read more →Jul 31, 2017
We know that rising temperatures can cause ailments like heat stroke But we also have to look out for our feet and the paws of our pets Sometimes it just feels cooler to go outside with bare feet. If you have green grass, it may be tempting to let your toes try cooling off by [...]
Read more →Jul 13, 2017
Many resources are just a Google search away, but sifting through it all can be time consuming. Never fear. We’ve put together a toolkit for you! Teaching creation care is not necessarily new, but it usually hasn’t been a high priority. Thankfully, with Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, this subject has increased dialogue ranging from [...]
Read more →Jun 1, 2017
The news has hit. But take heart, we will continue forth. We are saddened and disappointed to hear that President Trump has announced the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. However, Pope Francis has said: “We must continue to be aware that, regarding climate change, there are differentiated responsibilities. As the [...]
Read more →May 31, 2017
On Friday, May 26th, the EJ Program hosted a walking tour together with Jasmine Leek, Founder of Third City Coalition. When it comes to getting around, we know that Transportation Equity and Health issues go beyond boundary lines. Last month the EJ Team went on a Transportation Advocacy day, requesting legislators to support bills that would provide [...]
Read more →Apr 7, 2017
There are so many issues advocates have to work on: jobs, homelessness, life, healthcare, etc. How do we fit Environmental Justice in? The good news is, it’s not too hard to do. Environmental Justice basically means ensuring that all communities, no matter their race, origin, income, or location be given fair environmental treatment. It gets [...]
Read more →Mar 10, 2017
The World Meeting of Popular Movements and Lent are two hefty subjects by themselves, but together? Mind blown… For about four days, people came together from all over the world, from different walks of life, from different faiths, to speak for those whose voices need and want to be heard. Started by Pope Francis, the [...]
Read more →Feb 27, 2017
Does this item go in the landfill? Or can it be recycled? The city of Stockton has lots of resources whether it’s residential, business, industry, or outside city limits. Generally, we know that items like water bottles and soda cans are (and should be) recyclable. But sometimes we’re not sure about things like plastic bags [...]
Read more →Feb 15, 2017
We hear talk about ozone, but what actually is it? Isn’t it something high up in the sky? It can be confusing to hear on one hand how ozone is good and there’s a hole in the layer of it, and then on the other hand ozone is bad and harmful. So what then, is ozone? Well, [...]
Read more →Oct 26, 2016
Halloween fast approaches! Whether you are decking out your yard with the scariest ghosts and ghouls, or providing but a simple bowl of candy for sweet-seekers, you can show your neighbors and candy-visitors that fairies and vampires cannot magic or scare away being mindful of our common home. Here are ten ways you can have [...]
Read more →Jul 29, 2016
Most of us are aware that the drought has affected our livelihood. We can’t use as much water for various activities such as jumping around in the sprinkler, washing cars, or watering plants. The rare rain we had last winter brightened the landscape with a kind of spring-green brilliance that we’d all but forgotten about, [...]
Read more →Jul 12, 2016
“Let us review, however cursorily, those questions which are troubling us today and which we can no longer sweep under the carpet. Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and [...]
Read more →Jul 7, 2016
I was sure I wasn’t to going to make it but I prayed anyway. When she told me my flight had been cancelled again, I groaned inwardly and sighed aloud. But let it be known, that the answer to our prayers is sometimes yes! The travel lady told me there was one flight yet that [...]
Read more →Jul 6, 2016
For one week in June, 2016, I had the lucky opportunity to gather together with over 50 participants hailing from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, all working towards the same thing: learning and sharing about climate change affects, networking and engaging in ideas on how to move forward in our communities in the realm of [...]
Read more →Jun 15, 2016
Esta semana, estamos celebrando el primer aniversario del lanzamiento histórico de la Encíclica, del Papa Francisco “Laudato Si:” En el cuidado de nuestra casa común. El Papa Francisco anima a todas las personas de buena voluntad aprender más acerca de las consecuencias de nuestra casa común y para descubrir cómo podemos responder al llamado del [...]
Read more →Jun 15, 2016
This week, we are graciously celebrating the one year anniversary of the release of Pope Francis’ historic Encyclical, ‘Laudato Si:’ On Care for Our Common Home. Pope Francis encourages all people of good will to learn more about the consequences of our common home and to discover how we can answer Pope Francis’ call to [...]
Read more →Oct 15, 2015
Hello and welcome to the Environmental Justice Program blog of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Stockton! We in the EJ Project look forward to bringing you the latest environmental justice news, reflections on Catholic Social Teaching and the environment, and ideas for how you can care for Creation. For any and all posts, we’d love to [...]
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