Passion Projects Ecological Activism

By Marjorie McCoy

Environmental justice and ecological healing have been on my radar since I helped plan my college’s first Earth Day celebration in April 1970. Then, for many years, the concerns of family, education and career took center stage. Yes, I recycled, became a vegan and drove small Asian cars – and eventually only a Prius would do. But I didn’t really let in the reality of climate devastation and species extinction until I couldn’t deny it any longer. And then I was paralyzed by dread, shame and grief. My Buddhist practice eventually led to ways of working through my despair, and of addressing the seemingly intractable issues involved in ecological activism.

Almost two years ago, I helped gather an ad hoc local group of persons struggling with the same issues. We each believed that people of Spirit share a unique responsibility to care for the Earth and all its beings. We formed in the Upper Hudson Valley and Berkshires an affiliate of the international environmental justice group GreenFaith (greenfaith.org). In October 2021, our local group led a march by more than 100 spiritual/ religious leaders and their congregants over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in support of climate justice. Just last October, we held a march in Albany, again attended by over 100 people from area religious/spiritual communities. We’re doing it again in Albany this March, in conjunction with the nationwide demonstration currently being organized by noted author and environmentalist Bill McKibben’s Third Act, which focuses on what we in our elder years bring to the climate table (thirdact.org). In the meantime, our Rivers and Mountains GreenFaith contingent continues to hold local forums, reach out to spiritual communities, and educate ordinary people like us. Interested in joining us?

Check out www.rivers-mountains-greenfaith.orgif only to see our gorgeous website!