Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice (ICEJ) is a volunteer organization of San Diego faith leaders and communities that advocate for climate and environmental justice both in policy and in the public square. We believe that the values held in common by all faith traditions include the care for creation and care for the most vulnerable in society.

On the anniversary of Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr's birth., 50 people participated in our pre-inaugural vigil Bringing Light into the Darkness, in Balboa Park, in collaboration with GreenFaith. Our witness - and that of the devastating LA wildfires - raised a call for each of us to come together to counteract harmful policies that would set back environmental advances already made; while at this critical time we must be significantly increasing our efforts to reduce climate disruption. Six faith leaders from Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish or Christian traditions - reflected on the symbol of light as we enter a dark time in our history

If you were there, we thank you for adding your witness on that cold evening (by California standards!)  Your presence amplified the good work we try to do in the world.  If you couldn’t attend, we hope you’ll join us in the future when we are called to initiate or collaborate with other groups that must speak truth to power, especially in these dark days with so much to lose. If you weren't able to attend in person you can watch a short video of the vigil here

As always, you can also support the work of ICEJ through your generous donations!

- Diane Lopez Hughes, ICEJ Working Group

Image courtesy of FUMC

Part of ICEJ’s mission is to mobilize people and faith communities to take action on the environmental crisis.  To that end, our co-chairs Yusef Miller and Phil Petrie will be part of a panel discussion, The Power to Act: Earth Justice in San Diego with members of SanDiego350 and CleanEarth4Kids.  The event is sponsored by the San Diego School of Christian Studies, a ministry of First United Methodist Church and will be held at FUMC in Linder Hall, 2111 Camino Del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108 and livestreamed – to receive the link please register below.  More info follows.

How can you get involved in earth justice issues right here in San Diego? Why should persons of faith care? And how are youth stepping up to create a better future for all of us? 

This panel presentation will explore four key issues:

• Fossil fuel divestment
• Toxic pesticides
• Transportation justice
• Banning oil extraction in California

We’ll hear personal stories, what inspires these eco-activists to keep going, and concrete steps each of us can take to make a difference.

Photo courtesy of Surfrider

Last fall ICEJ started an initiative we’re calling Hands in the Soil that pairs volunteers with monthly opportunities at various local not-for-profits providing an opportunity to get a little dirty to make our community cleaner (and more earth friendly).

For February – Saturday, February 15 from 9-11 AM to be exact – we join Surfrider for a beach clean up at two locations: Moonlight Beach, Encinitas and Imperial Beach – so take your pick.  Someone from Surfrider will talk briefly about what to pick up, supply you with gloves, bags, and pickers, and set you free to clean the beach. Just look for the table with the big Surfrider sign on the beach and someone from ICEJ (we’ll have signs) will be there to meet you also. If you can't stay for the whole time, that's never a problem either.

For more information from Surfrider go here. 

To contact a representative from ICEJ, reach out to Susan Cass at Susanpanniercass@gmail.com

Donate to support Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice and the work we are doing to educate, equip and mobilize our communities of faith to advocate for earth justice.