Protecting sacred land, livelihoods and traditions

January 12, 2024

Along with Garo men, women are traditionally associated with agricultural work in the fields and nature conservation in Bangladesh. (Stephan Uttom Rozario)

An "eco-park" sounds like something that would be in line with conservation goals and ecological justice, but that's not the experience of the Indigenous Garo people in central Bangladesh. Members of the community told Stephan Uttom Rozario for EarthBeat that the proposed government project in Madhupur threatens the natural Sal forest where Indigenous Garo have been living for more than a century. During their protests to protect their homeland, people have been permanently injured and one tribal leader died from the injuries sustained.

"We want to ensure living in peace with the forest, we don't like any harm accruing to the forest. Forest and mud is our mother, we are ready to protect our mother instead of our lives," said Utpal Nokrek, a Garo Indigenous Catholic who was paralyzed by police bullets fired during a protest march in 2004.

Across the ocean, native families in Hawaii are working to preserve a sacred tradition connected to the land and sea they call home, reported Deepa Bharath for The Associated Press. The Hanapepe salt patch, one of the last remaining salt patches in Hawaii, has been under threat for the past decade due to development, pollution from a neighboring airfield, sand erosion from vehicle traffic and littering by visitors to the adjacent beach. In addition, climate change threatens to obliterate the cultural and spiritual practice of salt making, with rising sea levels and modified weather patterns. For generations, 22 families have dedicated themselves to the cultural and spiritual practice of salt making, and despite lower yields, they continue that work today.

What else is new on EarthBeat:

Gluttony turns people into mere consumers, exploiters of planet, pope says

by Carol Glatz, OSV News

One of the most dangerous vices is gluttony, turning people who are meant to be custodians of creation into mere consumers and even exploiters and predators, Pope Francis said Jan. 10 at his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall.

Devotions on creation from Kat Armas: 'The Creatures Teach Us'

by Kat Armas

No created thing was void of value or purpose for Christ. Observe the birds, Jesus advised, notice the lilies of the field. What if we took him seriously in our daily routines and did just that? What if we truly considered what wisdom might be found in all created things?

What's happening in other climate news:

2023 smashes record for world’s hottest year by huge margin —Damian Carrington for The Guardian

Good news, bad news: U.S. emissions shrank last year, but very slowly —Evan Bush for NBC News

Bottled Water Contains More Plastic Particles Than Previously Thought —Coco Liu for Bloomberg Green

Real winter finally roars into the United States —Bob Henson for Yale Climate Connections

Trump leans into climate denialism —Scott Waldman for E&E News

Final Beat:

In case you missed it, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced Dec. 17 that beginning this month it would be switching all of its electricity needs for its parishes, schools and other buildings to renewable energy — primarily sourced from the wind.

"As an expression of our commitment to the sanctity of life, the Archdiocese of Chicago has chosen to do all we can to ensure generations to come have a future," Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich said in a statement.

Thanks for reading EarthBeat!

Stephanie Clary
Environment Editor
National Catholic Reporter
sclary@ncronline.org
Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr