| Hello,
October is a month steeped in the celebration of our ancestral traditions. From closing out Hispanic Heritage Month, to the beginning of Día de Los Muertos, it is a time to reflect on the legacy we carry, and the antepasados that started it all. Some questions to consider exploring as a family to honor this special time could include:
- What legacy would we like to see our family continue?
- What traditions remind us of our time spent with family?
To learn more about Día de Los Muertos, make sure to visit our blog, where our Communications Coordinator, Amy Dominguez wrote about how her family has celebrated Día de Los Muertos.
At HECHO, land-based cultural traditions inform our advocacy. During Hispanic Heritage Month, HECHO Program Manager, Bianca McGrath-Martinez spoke with Artemis about developing her own hunting and conservation tradition. Listen to it here.
We often talk about the critical role public lands play in conservation. October heralded some major wins for public lands, like the restoration of Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase Escalante that will protect more than 2 million acres of national public lands. This same effort also included restoring protections from commercial fishing in the marine ecosystem and biodiversity hotspot: Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Earlier in September, we wrote a blog about how Caja del Rio in New Mexico should be protected under the Santa Fe National Forest management plan that is being rewritten for the first time in 34 years. In Arizona, we’re calling for the permanent protection of the Grand Canyon against the threat of uranium mining. You can learn more about it by reading this op-ed that HECHO Advisory Board member, Viviana Reyes recently published.
Latinos across the nation disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change – from air, water, and soil pollution to living in communities more vulnerable to climate-driven events – and disproportionately face economic and health disparities. Earlier this month, nearly two dozen leading Latino/a/x organizations joined together on the final day of Hispanic Heritage Month to announce the launch of a project to develop a comprehensive and inclusive Latino Climate Justice Framework (LCJF).While many excellent — and inspirational — policy frameworks have been developed to address the climate crisis, ours will focus explicitly on how the interconnected climate, economic, health, and social crises are affecting Latino communities across the US and the territories. Learn more about the Latino Climate Justice Framework by clicking here.
Below is a quick round up of what we’ve been up to:
- Earlier in October, our team visited Arizona to learn about the severe climate impacts affecting Coconino County and Phoenix residents, such as devastating wildfires and dangerous flash floods. To read the blog post we wrote about Coconino County’s wildfires, click here.
- Major events like Arizona’s Museum Fire, the Schultz Fire, and subsequent flash-flooding underscore the importance of the mitigation investments that nature-based infrastructure will achieve. The nature-based infrastructure solutions in President Biden’s Build Back Better Act present an opportunity to keep communities and natural landscapes safe from the climate-driven impacts that are sweeping the nation today. Read our statement about why nature-based infrastructure must be an essential component to the protection of our communities by clicking here.
- At the end of September, Tracy Stone-Manning was confirmed to serve as the director of the Bureau of Land Management. As a lifelong conservationist who has a proven track record in reaching collaborative solutions and brought groups together to solve issues facing our nation’s public lands, we’re eager to expand opportunities for the input of diverse communities under her leadership at the Bureau of Land Management. Read our full statement here.
- HECHO has continued to support the reform of our nation’s outdated oil and gas leasing system that for decades has impacted the health of our communities and our public lands. In Nevada, Senator Jacky Rosen announced her co-sponsorship of the Competitive Onshore Mineral Policy via Eliminating Taxpayer-Enabled Speculation (COMPETES) Act. This legislation would end the current practice of leasing non-competitive taxpayer-owned public lands to private oil and gas companies for as little as $1.50 per acre. Non-competitive leasing is often abused by companies who nominate lands for auction with no intention of bidding on them so they can acquire them later at a minimal cost. Read more from Senator Rosen’s statement here.
- Our cultural traditions depend on open spaces and our public lands. These connections inform our values and guide us in determining our future. That’s why we’re excited to have been featured in the Christian Science Monitor speaking about the significant role that Valle de Oro in New Mexico plays for urban, Hispanic and Latinx communities. Read more here. Additionally, we’re proud to be a part of Monumental SHIFT — a new coalition of diverse community leaders, thought partners, changemakers, and policy experts who are seeking to transform the way our country views, values, and enjoys national monuments to better reflect our history and our people. Together, we’ve launched our first Monument Endorsement Campaigns to urge the Biden-Harris Administration to designate and protect Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range. Learn more by clicking here.
- We’re excited to be continuing our Cocktails & Conservation series, and looking forward to our Utah C&C on Wednesday, November 17th from 5 pm to 7 pm that will focus on Environmental Justice and Policy in Salt Lake. We hope that our Utah based readers will join us for a conversation that will focus on how environmental studies can support strong policy measures to clean up our air and keep our communities healthy. The event is free but space is limited! Make sure to RSVP by clicking here.
Wishing you a smooth transition to the fall season.
Sincerely,
Camilla |
