elections matter to safeguard public health & advance environmental justice: EPA Testimony8/14/2024 It shouldn't be partisan to say that government ought to protect public health, and ensure long-term sustainability and equity and justice across the land. The details are definitely debatable, but morally and Judaically, the basic case is clear. Some administrations take this responsibility seriously; others downplay or even subvert it. The current one wishes to grant California, and by extension numerous other states, a Clean Air Act "waiver" to tighten tailpipe emissions regulations, reduce climate pollution, address historic racial harms, and save thousands of lives. By contrast, the previous one sought to eliminate the chance for high-pollution states to do this at all, while putting spuriously low dollar values on future generations in their cost-benefit analyses. Whatever your party preference, please bring your ethical-spiritual values into the political process and the ballot box - as we recall the difference it makes for the climate, for society, for marginalized citizens and for our own progeny. Below, for the record, is the testimony I offered on today's virtual EPA hearing - alongside numerous NRPE and IPL and faith advocates. (We had but three minutes each, so the last few paragraphs here were k'tiv v'lo k'ree, written out but not vocalized). Hope it's one more useful example of how, without partisan rancor but with prophetic purpose, we might advance our deepest-held values in the public sphere. Rabbi Fred’s COEJL testimony for the EPA, to grant the ACF waiver – 8/14/24
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CategoriesAUthorRabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, an eco-Jewish teacher-writer-organizer for over three decades, is COEJL's new Rabbinic Consultant. Fred serves on the national board of Interfaith Power and Light, and remains active in Jewish and multifaith efforts toward justice and sustainability. Please reach out if he or others at COEJL can work with you in some way, raising eco-Jewish awareness and action. authorIsrael Harris (he/him), a community and advocacy organizer, is COEJL's new Advocacy Director, and NRPE's new Policy Director. As an educator and youth advocate, Israel also supports Reform youth at the URJ, and continues working in support of our Jewish, multifaith, and justice-focus communities striving for equity and sustainability. |