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.

Earth month (some call it April) is always a busy time for ICEJ and this year is no exception. We are tabling at the South Bay Earth Day fair on Sat. April 12 and then at EarthFest in Balboa Park on Sat. April 19. If you are in the neighborhood do drop by and see us. And Co-Chair Yusef Miller just spoke at the NCCCA Launching Earth Month event and our other Co-Chair Phil Petrie will give a sermon, Grounding Vision: From Earth to Earth Justice at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego on Sun. April 13. That’s just the start – more in-depth events below. 

Blessings,

Phil Petrie, ICEJ Co-Chairperson

For Earth Month Hands in the Soil is promoting the April 19th Earth Day Celebration with Project New Village at Mt. Hope Community Garden, 4261 Market, from 9 am to 1pm.  Garden activities, arts and crafts, music, food, and drinks are included in this family friendly event, as well as gardening giveaways. “Project New Village envisions Southeastern San Diego as a community of active neighborhoods supporting and contributing to the health, wealth and well-being of community members.” Hands in the Soil will be offering future work events in the coming months.

For more information, contact dianelopezhughes@gmail.com

On Saturday, April 26 we will mindfully walk in the Tijuana River Estuary on the North McCoy Trail. There are 2 walking distances for people to choose from:

For those who enjoy a moderately-paced walk we will gather at 9 AM at the Visitor Center at 301 Caspian Way Imperial Beach, then head to the River Mouth trail for 1/2 hour out and 1/2 hour back. We’ll  join the rest of the group by 10 AM.

For those who prefer a short, easy trail we will meet at 10 AM at the Visitor Center and end with a blessing ceremony of the river and its estuary by 11 AM.

This will be a time of rising tidal waters midst spring blooms and resident as well as migrating wildlife. We will call forth blessings for peace and health for all inhabitants, both human and wild, in the embrace of the Tijuana River estuary. The Visitor Center has displays and information including maps. The two trails are dog friendly.

Sponsors: ICEJ, The Creation Care Community of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, and Sweetwater Zen Center

For more information contact Diana Hartel: email Diana.hartel@gmail.com or call (541) 301-8276

Each year in April, St. Paul’s Cathedral has a Creation Care Sunday with a service focused on creation care issues and a Sunday forum which does the same.  This year’s Creation Care Sunday will be held on April 27 and ICEJ will present a forum (9-10 AM) on faith traditions of creation care/earth care and how both faith traditions and creation care are threatened by the Trump administration.  We will close with an activist piece.  Confirmed panelists are Rev. Diana Kosei Hartel (Buddhism), Phil Petrie (Christianity) and Imam Taha Hassane (Islam) with Diane Lopez Hughes moderating.  This event, sponsored by the Cathedral’s Simpler Living ministry, is FREE and open to the public–we will be in the Guild Room of St. Paul’s at 2728 6th Ave, San Diego.

For more information, contact dianelopezhughes@me.com

Fight for our Future at the UNITE FOR CLIMATE March on Saturday, May 3rd at 11 AM at Waterfront Park, San Diego, CA. Thousands of San Diegans will rally together, march in unity, and enjoy live music, organization booths, inspiring speakers, face painting and more!  From scorching wildfires to devastating floods, climate disasters are no longer distant threats - they are happening here and now. The Trump administration has launched an all-out assault on climate action, rolling back decades of environmental protections, firing federal workers who stand for climate science, and shamelessly calling the climate crisis a “hoax.” We march for clean air and water, for the protection of our homes, for a just economy with good-paying green jobs, and for a world that puts people before polluters. Join us – register below!!!

Sponsored by SanDiego350 and almost fifty other organizations including ICEJ.

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.