FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
CODEPINK to Bring War is Not Green! Genocide = Ecocide! Message to Congress for Earth Day
Washington, D.C. - On Earth Day, April 22, 2024, from 10:00 am to Noon (EDT), CODEPINK and other peace activists will gather at the Rayburn Cafeteria at 45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C., to deliver a dire message to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee & House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Under the banner "War is Not Green! Genocide = Ecocide!" activists will present a petition urging immediate action to address the environmental devastation caused by warfare, mainly focusing on Israel's ongoing genocide campaign in Gaza and the broader impact of global conflicts.
Despite mounting evidence of the catastrophic environmental consequences of armed conflict, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee & House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition have yet to address the profound ecological harm resulting from Israel's actions in Gaza and the broader ramifications of war worldwide. Instead of prioritizing environmental protection, these committees continue to allocate resources towards militarism and imperialism that fund genocides and forever wars.
The petition, signed by concerned U.S. citizens, condemns the hypocrisy of lawmakers who pay lip service to environmentalism while actively funding weapons and perpetuating global warfare. Citing a recent study published on the Social Science Research Network, the petition reveals that the carbon emissions generated by Israel's genocide campaign in Gaza surpassed the annual footprint of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations within the first two months alone. The destruction of Gaza's infrastructure, including farmland, energy, and water resources, has inflicted irreparable harm on the environment and the health of its inhabitants.
The petition also underscores the ecological devastation caused by the war in Ukraine and the significant contribution of the U.S. military to the escalating climate crisis and environmental destruction worldwide.
As Earth Day approaches, CODEPINK and its allies call for genuine accountability and action from elected officials as well as environmental organizations who continue to ignore how US foreign policy is the biggest contributor to the climate crisis. Along with the petition delivery in Congress, CODEPINK chapters across the country will engage in actions, teach-ins, and community events aimed to highlight the need to end war in order to defend and protect the people and the planet.
For further information about the petition delivery, please contact Michelle at [email protected]. For more information about the War Is Not Green campaign or other Earth Day actions, please contact Melissa at [email protected].
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