[San Francisco CODEPINK at Youth Vs. Apocalypse Action 04/19/2024]

To Defend Earth, We Must End War

As Earth Day unfolded this year, CODEPINK chapters across the United States took to the streets, parks, and community centers to celebrate our planet and highlight the crucial link between the climate crisis, war, and genocide. They educated, mobilized, and advocated for a more sustainable and peaceful world through engaging activities, ranging from die-ins to potlucks.

In San Francisco, the Youth vs. Apocalypse movement, with CODEPINK's support, made a bold statement with their all youth-led action. Their march down Market Street, decorated with signs and banners, directly confronted financial institutions like BNY Mellon. By staging a symbolic 'die-in,' they effectively underscored the human cost of investments in industries perpetuating violence, sparking a call for divestment.

New York CODEPINK members organized another powerful Earth Day die-in event in the Upper Hudson Valley, emphasizing the intersectionality of the climate crisis and ongoing conflicts in Palestine. Dubbed "Gaza to Green: From a Liberated Palestine to a Liberated Planet," the gathering drew attention to the urgent need for a global ceasefire and climate justice. Participants, lying down in solidarity, conveyed the message that peace and environmental sustainability are inseparable.

In South Florida, members held an Earth Day potluck and gardening event that offered a unique platform for community activism. While painting pots and planting seeds, attendees participated in discussions about imperialism and its connection to the climate crisis. The workshops on composting and educational sessions fostered a deeper awareness of the intertwined nature of war, imperialism, and environmental degradation, leaving participants inspired to take action. 

In Los Angeles, the "War Is Not Green" message reverberated through Venice CicLAvia. With vibrant signs and informative flyers, CODEPINK activists engaged the public, highlighting the environmental toll of militarism and advocating for peace as a prerequisite for ecological stewardship.

CODEPINK Denver hosted a teach-in for Earth Day, providing education about the relationship between war and the climate crisis. They examined the environmental impact of conflicts, particularly Israel's genocide in Gaza, sparking much needed conversations about the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to military and financial support for Israel. 

Monday night we were joined by activist, journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin on our bi-weekly Missing Peace Monday community call. Abby discussed her upcoming documentary Earth’s Greatest Enemy, a damning expose on how the U.S. military directly contributes to the ever-growing climate crisis and environmental degradation . Abby explained how it isn’t just war’s obvious destruction of the earth that is killing the planet but also the daily maintenance and upkeep of our general and unnecessary defense systems that exacerbate the climate crisis.  

On Tuesday, the D.C. team delivered our Earth Day petition to members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Both committees have yet to even discuss the detrimental effects Israel’s genocide campaign in Gaza has had on the planet, let alone the combined effect of the wars and weapons the US has funded globally. Despite members belonging to groups specifically concerned with the environment, they prioritize imperial interests over true protection of the earth. The petition urged members to take a hard stance against sending more weapons to Israel, Ukraine, the US-Mexico border, and everywhere else. 

These Earth Day actions, spanning from coast to coast, are a part of  a growing movement recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental sustainability to peace and justice. By addressing the root causes of conflict and advocating for systemic change, CODEPINK and its members are paving the way for a more just and verdant future for all. 

As we reflect on Earth Day and its significance, let us heed the call to action, standing in solidarity with Palestine and all of the other countries and communities on the frontlines of environmental destruction and imperialistic struggles. 

WAR IS NOT GREEN! END THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA!