In the news
You can get environmental news anywhere, but here we collect coverage of our program and our favorite pieces on local issues, environmental justice, and Catholics and creation care. Don't forget to follow us on social media to keep up with our continuous fight for environmental justice.
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Feminist Research Institute of UC Davis, Jun 29, 2023
Reducing Energy Burden and Creating Just Energy Futures
With summer here, many are dealing with rising gas prices and high electricity bills. This is particularly stressful for families on a tight budget who can’t afford electric vehicles or new energy-saving appliances. Alec Castellano and Diamond Spratling, two participants in this year’s UC Davis Environmental Justice (EJ) Leaders cohort, are working towards electric vehicle adoption and combating rising energy costs within communities of color.
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Feminist Research Institute of UC Davis, May 30, 2023
Making Diamonds: Celebrating Our Environmental Justice Leaders
Hosted by the UC Davis Feminist Research Institute and Institute of Transportation Studies, the celebration spotlighted each of the eight Leaders from around the United States who presented their visions and work in EJ within their communities.
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UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, May 31, 2023
Investments facilitate community-led climate action
New progress reports from UCLA show how the Transformative Climate Communities program deepens capacity in California communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
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Stocktonia, Apr. 26, 2023
Commentary: Stockton addresses historic redlining by Going Green
The city’s Stockton Rising program, along with 11 community partners, surveyed over 2000 residents on their needs and desires in order to create the city’s Sustainable Neighborhood Plan. Now with additional funding from the state, they are working to implement these suggestions.
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The New York Times, Aug. 12, 2022
The Coming California Mega Storm
California, where earthquakes, droughts and wildfires have shaped life for generations, also faces the growing threat of another kind of calamity, one whose fury would be felt across the entire state.
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Stocktonia, Jan. 19, 2023
Rep. Harder calls Delta tunnel project ‘Boondoggle’ during townhall meeting
Ector Olivares of the Catholic Charities’ Environmental Justice division said any version of the tunnel project is bad for San Joaquin Valley, accusing Southern California of abusing water resources. “They will drink us dry. They will turn us into a desert without putting a dent in their water use,” Olivares said.
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San Joaquin County Declares Local State Of Emergency
Effective January 1, 2023, the Directors of Emergency Services for San Joaquin County proclaimed an emergency due to the series of winter atmospheric rivers. The emergency was proclaimed because San Joaquin County was affected by a “public calamity” when the Board of Supervisors was not in session.
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Inside Climate News, Sept. 1, 2022
California Just Banned Gas-Powered Cars. Here’s Everything You Need to Know
The California rule only applies to new car sales, so consumers could still buy and own used cars that run on gasoline, and they could cross state lines to buy new cars that run on gasoline. And nobody is going to take that classic Corvette away from you.
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The New York Times, Aug. 30, 2021
Biden Opens New Federal Office for Climate Change, Health and Equity
Amid deadly heat waves and new evidence showing that wildfire smoke may contribute to premature births, the Biden administration is creating a new federal office to address the health consequences of climate change and their disproportionate effects on poor communities.
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Manteca/Ripon Bulletin, Mar. 18, 2019
Meninga wants to make sure there is environmental justice in Manteca
The Manteca Bulletin interviews a Manteca resident that wants to bring environmental justice to the table for Manteca’s future plans.
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The Record, February 20, 2019
Giving neighborhoods a voice: Environmental justice workshop focuses on practices, resources aimed at helping communities
The Record writes on the SB 1000 workshop provided at Stockton and interviews Jonathan, Catholic Charities, to discuss what Environmental Justice is.
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Curbed, December 21, 2018
How Climate Leader Chanell Fletcher gets around the Bay Area
Article discusses about Chanell’s weekly travel schedule.
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The Record, October 26, 2018
Vote on Stockton’s General Plan Put off Amid Concerns
The Record writes about the Stockton General Plan’s voting extension due to the letters of concern from the Sierra Club, the Healthy Neighborhoods Collaborative and the San Joaquin County League of Women Voters.
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StreetsblogCAL, July 9, 2018
Central Valley Regional Transportation Plans Aim To Cut Emissions, Driving
Minerva Perez, StreetsblogCAL, gives background information about the Draft Regional Transportation Plan/ Sustainable Communities Strategy
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Safe Routes to School National Partnership, July 5, 2018
Shaping Transportation Options in Central Valley
Safe Routes to School National Partnership writes a blog about the Regional Transportation Plans (RTPs).
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StreetsblogCAL, May 25, 2018
Advocates Push for Better Transportation Planning in San Joaquin Valley
ClimatePlan writes a blog about SJCOG’s RTP/SCS plan.
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ClimatePlan, May 9, 2018
San Joaquin Communities: the next 20 years
Christopher Escarcega, ClimatePlan, with Yolanda Park, Catholic Charities, gives a background on what the San Joaquin Communities look like in the next 20 years.
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Because We Are Catholic, September 8, 2017
Diocese of Stockton Focuses on Environmental Stewardship
Yolanda Park gives a background on Environmental Justice and the Program as a part of this newsletter.
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StreetsblogCAL, August 10, 2017
Stockton is building an All-Electric Bus Rapid Transit Route
Yolanda Park, Catholic Charities, and Jesus Andrade, Stockton Council-member, discuss the impact on a new route to disadvantaged communities in South Stockton.
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Stockton Record, July 26, 2017
Compromise on North-Side Development
Media Mention by Yolanda Park, Catholic Charities, discussing on future development north of Eight Mile Road.
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Stockton Record, May 10, 2016
Electric Vehicles a Growing Option for the Valley
OpEd by Jose Marin, Valley Clean Air Now, and Katelyn Roedner Sutter, Catholic Charities.
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Morning Consult, April 6, 2016
The Moral Urgency of Climate Action
OpEd by Bishop Stephen E. Blaire asking the courts to uphold the Clean Power Plan.
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Stockton Record, October 7, 2015
Ray of Hope for Solar Power
AB 693 by Asm Susan Eggman makes solar an option for low-income residents.
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The Guardian, September 5, 2015
Catholic Leaders Make Climate Change Plea to California Lawmakers
Bishops Soto and Blaire talk Laudato Si’ and SB 350.
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Catholic Rural Life Magazine, Summer 2015
Rural Reactions to Laudato Si
Rural residents and those who serve them, in partnership with Catholic Rural Life discuss Pope Francis’ Encyclical.
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Sacramento Bee, June 24, 2015
Climate Change is a Moral Issue
Bishops Blaire, Ochoa, and Soto’s OpEd following the release of Laudato Si’.
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Stockton Record, June 18, 2015
The Future of our World is at Stake
Bishop Blaire lauds Pope Francis’ call to climate action.
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The Guardian, June 18, 2015
The Pope’s Encyclical As it Happened
A play-by-play of the release of Laudato Si’, including comments from Bishop Blaire.
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National Catholic Register, June 10, 2015
21st Century Stewardship
Highlights how the Environmental Justice Program and San Joaquin Valley are preparing for Encyclical.
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Charities USA Magazine, Spring, 2015
Caring for God’s Creation
Catholic Charities caring for people and the planet (pg 19).
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Catholic Rural Life Magazine, Winter 2015
The Vocation of the Agricultural Leader
Highlights from the Food, Faith & the Environment Symposium, hosted by our partners at Catholic Rural Life .
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Communities of Salt and Light
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops recognizes the solar efforts of the Environmental Justice Program (www.wearesaltandlight.org is also a great parish resource).
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CatholicEcology.net, December 5, 2014
Lessons from a Model Eco-Friendly Diocese
Profiles the Environmental Justice Program (this is also a great blog to follow).
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Stockton Record, November 3, 2014
Much of San Joaquin County Can Apply for Cap-and-Trade Funds
San Joaquin County has a high number of disadvantaged residents, making state money a possibility.
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National Catholic Reporter, August 19, 2014
Solar Program to Power Up Stockton, CA Diocese
The Environmental Justice Program launches a new solar initiative (learn more about our partners Catholic Climate Covenantand Sungevity)
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Stockton Record, April 30, 2014
Pollution’s Victims: 92,903 SJ County Residents Face Higher Risk than 95 Percent of State
The California Environmental Protection Agency released their new environmental justice screening tool.