EarthBeat Weekly: Environmentalism and mental health are interconnected

Environmentalism and mental health Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change June 14, 2024 On Thursday, I had the opportunity to highlight the climate and mental health coverage that EarthBeat has published this year with a short presentation to Solution Journalism Network's Climate Peer Network. A facilitator from SJN's Youth Mental Health Initiative suggested the presentation, noting the intersectional approach highlighted by EarthBeat's coverage. That recognition meant a lot to me, since as a Catholic publication, we strive to demonstrate with our coverage the "integral ecology" necessary to live out the Catholic call to care for creation. The particular project of interest to SJN included consideration of young people, mental health, faith, climate change and other environmental issues, and included both a news article and six short videos that posted to social media. In case you missed it, NCR senior correspondent Heidi Schlumpf reported in March that in community, young people find antidotes to climate anxiety. And some high school and college students have found that community through faith-based programs, activism and support groups. In the weeks following Schlumpf's report, EarthBeat published six video interviews in our "Coping with climate anxiety" series, but if you aren't following the @EarthBeatNCR Instagram page, you might have missed them. Here are the direct links, or you can find them by scrolling through the "reels" section of the account. Episode 1 Episode 2   Episode 3 Episode 4   Episode 5 Episode 6 This week at EarthBeat, a new "Small Earth Story" shared how, during graduate school at the Pacific School of Religion, Jessie Ratcliff explored the intersection of environmentalism and mental health as a trans youth teacher at a summer camp in California. It seems the type of support and accompaniment mentioned by many of the young people interviewed for EarthBeat's video series was also found in this setting. Ratcliff recalls, "this experience shaped my understanding of the interconnectedness between mental health and environmentalism. Summer 2022 marked a pivotal chapter for me — intertwining my journey in both fields and igniting a commitment to inclusive environmental education and mental health advocacy." Read more: As a trans POC minister, my environmentalism is rooted in spirituality and identity     What else is new on EarthBeat:   Holy Family Sisters plan 22-acre community solar project in Louisiana by Kevin Fitzpatrick The Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans have caught the attention of Pope Francis for a planned community solar project. An estimated 350 neighbors could lower their bills through a subscription to the solar grid.   Vatican convenes astrophysicists to discuss black holes, quantum theory by Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service ‘We think we have put together a dream team,’ said organizers of the event, which hopes to reconcile quantum theory and cosmology.   Why Americans of faith need to care about reducing harm to the environment abroad by Bridget Moix, Religion News Service Investing in international climate assistance is fundamentally about justice.   On Eid al-Adha, Senegal's star sheep are for luxury, not sacrifice by Monika Pronczuk, Associated Press As Muslims worldwide prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha this weekend, the second most important holiday in the Islamic calendar, the Ladoum get their moment to shine.   The warming ocean is leaving coastal economies in hot water by Charles Cogan, The Conversation The future of some jobs and businesses across the ocean economy have also become less secure as the ocean warms and damage from storms, sea-level rise and marine heat waves increases.   What's happening in other climate news: Paris is aiming for the most sustainable Olympics yet. Organizers acknowledge the plan isn’t perfect —John Leicester and Peter Prengaman for The Associated Press The Plastics We Breathe —Simon Ducroquet and Shannon Osaka for the Washington Post Water, chemical industries challenge Biden's rule to restrict 'forever chemicals' in drinking water —Rachel Frazin for The Hill In Mega-Hot Arizona, Climate Is Not on the Ballot. But It Might as Well Be —Marcus Baram for Capital & Main Europe's Swing to the Right Threatens Global Climate Policy —Bob Berwyn for Inside Climate News In Indonesia, women ranger teams go on patrol to slow deforestation —Victoria Milko and Dita Alangkara for The Associated Press     Final Beat: The United Nations' Bonn Climate Change Conference took place in Germany from June 3–13. It's seen as a sort of mid-year checkpoint between the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change's COP climate conferences that take place annually in November. Griffin Thompson, a retired U.S. State Department official who was a former U.S. lead climate change negotiator at the U.N.F.C.C.C. and who in 2023 served as expert (climate change) of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the U.N., thinks the Vatican should do more to influence international climate action through the U.N. Read his op-ed for EarthBeat. Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr     Featured Advertisers       Advertisement