Killing people kills the planet. The first two months of Israel’s genocide campaign in Gaza generated more planet-warming emissions than the annual carbon footprint of the world’s top 20 climate-vulnerable nations. This number has certainly grown since Israel's destruction has continued for over 6 months now.
With Earth Day around the corner, we are bracing ourselves for the virtue signaling from US lawmakers who will inevitably offer shallow sentiments about their love for our planet despite funding weapons and genocide. To mark this Earth Day, we are exposing members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition for their hypocrisy and failure to address the environmental devastation caused by Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza.
Destroying the earth is just another tactic to accelerate genocide, as now nearly all of Gaza’s farmland, energy, and water infrastructure has been destroyed or polluted. This will continue to have detrimental effects on the health of Gazans, even years after the bombing stops. Despite this, US lawmakers have failed to take significant action to stop sending weapons to Israel and continue to invest in war globally.
Tell Congress: Enough is enough! No more weapons to destroy the Earth!
The environmental devastation of war is not confined to Gaza, either. Rockets, missiles, and ammunition used in the war in Ukraine emit tons of carbon and particulate matter that pollute the air and increase greenhouse gasses. Bombings and fires have led to deforestation and the loss of carbon sinks. The environmental impact of war extends beyond both the time and the location of war, meaning war anywhere is a global environmental issue. US lawmakers are putting us on track to live in a wasteland and it’s up to us to stop them.
The US military is responsible for spreading the disease of war globally:
- Its emissions exceed those of over 140 nations.
- It is the world’s largest oil consumer.
- Its emissions primarily stem from fueling weapons and equipment.
- The Pentagon is the largest institutional consumer of fossil fuels globally.
The inaction of Congress has allowed this to carry on with seemingly no consequences, contributing to the US military’s legacy of destroying the environment!
Sign the petition to tell Congress War is not green! Genocide=Ecocide!
If you live in DC or the surrounding area, join us to deliver this message in person for Earth Day!
One thing Israel’s genocide campaign in Gaza has taught us is that there is no room for anyone, especially US lawmakers, to evade accountability. This moment demands we challenge Congress to a higher standard and force them to recognize that the weapons and wars they are funding across the globe are the exact opposite of environmentalism. These weapons both damage the earth and sever the important tie between indigenous people and the environment, effectively killing both. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee & House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition have yet to even discuss the detrimental effects Israel’s genocide campaign in Gaza has on the earth, let alone the combined effect of the wars and weapons the US has funded globally. This Earth Day, we reject the protection of imperial interests and demand true protection of the earth and humanity.
Check out our Earth Day 2024 page for more resources and information!
Towards Peace,
Ann, Danaka, Farida, Grace, Isra, Jasmine, Jodie, Julia, Marcy, Mark, Medea, Melissa, Michelle, Nancy, Nour, Nuvpreet, Ryan, Teri and Tim
P.S. Be visible for Earth Day by rocking our "War is not Green" t-shirt!
