Camping is one of the best ways to spend your summer. It can bring a lot of joy to you and your family. But it’s important to respect the forest while you enjoy the area. There are plenty of ways to camp respectfully without endangering the forest.
National forests and grasslands are incredible places to explore and enjoy. We want to make sure they are around for future generations, too. It’s a shared responsibility to take care of these natural treasures. This means we can all have fun with our favorite outdoor activities, but we must do so with care. We must always have respect for nature.
It’s essential to be responsible when you’re camping. You might think that camping in the woods is harmless. But a family preparing food in the forest might not be as innocent as you think. Your campsite can kill vegetation that’s important to the ecosystem. Try to pick a spot that’s already an established campsite.
Respect the trees that surround you. Chopping or carving up trees is unnecessary. It damages the tree by cutting its crucial pathways. These pathways have water and nutrients inside. If you damage the tree, it may slowly starve to death.
Protect rivers and waterways. Make sure you’re at least 200 feet from rivers, streams, lakes, or wetlands. Do this when you choose your campsite, park your car, and wash up. Avoid harsh chemicals. Instead, use biodegradable soap or plain water when washing.
There are a lot of bacteria in human feces. They can cause salmonella, hepatitis, Giardia, and other gastrointestinal diseases. Then think about all these bacteria in the wild. Remember that water in lakes and streams can end up in your drinking water. If you need to go to the bathroom:
There are many types of waste-disposal products available. They include enzymes that break down solid waste. You can also use a leak-proof toilet or any other self-contained receptacle.
You may need to make a fire at some point. Campfires are great, but it’s crucial to keep them small and safe. Make sure to buy your firewood locally. If it’s not local, the wood may be infested with invasive pests. If you’re collecting firewood around your campsite, use downed or dead wood. Check with the local ranger to see if there are any fire restrictions. These restrictions can change on an hourly basis.
Use established fire rings. Clear a 10-foot area around them so the fire can’t spread. Don’t feed large logs into the fire. Have tools like a shovel, axe, and water ready. Never leave a fire unattended, even for a few minutes. A lot can happen in a few minutes. Make sure the fire is completely out before you leave it. Many forest fires start because someone believed a fire was out when it wasn’t.
Scrape away any litter or burnable material that’s anywhere around the ring. It’s easy to put out a fire by slowly pouring water over the flame. Then start stirring with a shovel and pouring more water if necessary. Continue until it’s cool to the touch. Do not bury the fire; the coals will only smolder and start over.
You may feel tempted to pet an animal or get a picture of them, but it’s rarely a good idea. Always observe wildlife from a distance. Do not approach. You don’t know how the animal will react to you. Especially avoid animals during sensitive times. That may be when they’re nesting, mating, or are with their young. A wild animal can be very dangerous when they’re with their young. That’s why it’s always best to leash your dog so that your pet is never in danger.
Wild animals know how to feed themselves, so it’s very important for you not to feed them. Avoid attracting animals to your campsite. Store your food in sealed containers. This is especially true if there are bears in the area. Some parks even require you to use a bear canister. Make sure you properly throw out your trash.
Weeds have a bad habit of multiplying. If you spread invasive weeds, they can displace the native plant life in the area. These native plants provide food and habitat for wildlife and livestock.
To avoid spreading weeds:
If you have pack animals, ensure that their food is weed-free. Even when you’re still home, feed your animals only weed-free food. Do this for up to 96 hours before you leave for a campground. Before you go camping, wash your vehicle, especially underneath. This will ensure you’re not transporting weed seeds into the forest.
Forests hold a magical history. No one wants that history erased. Sacred sites and archaeological or historical places are all part of America’s past. Don’t disturb these areas. Otherwise, we could lose some of America’s heritage forever.
It’s actually illegal to disturb anything on federal land. If you do, you could face severe penalties. It’s up to all of us to protect these sites. If you see anyone damaging the area, contact the nearest district ranger to report it.
There are many ways you can be considerate of others who are also enjoying the great outdoors.
Be part of the movement to build a better future. A future where forests are valued more standing than logged. A future where all people have clean air and water. Where we live in harmony with nature.
Act Now:: Demand your legislators take climate action to protect forests now.
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom for Black Americans. It carries more significance in the South. President Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery by executive order. But enslaved people in parts of the South in and near Texas didn’t know they were free until June 19, 1865. That’s why we celebrate Juneteenth on June 19th every year. We know racial injustice didn’t stop with the end of slavery. Segregation continued until the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Jim Crow laws in the South persisted despite more protections from the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Fast forward to today, and the legacy of that harm continues. Even now, the 13th amendment still allows slavery as punishment for crimes. And mass incarceration practices take advantage of that exception. Black Americans in the South still face health inequality and environmental racism. And those issues are getting worse with the demand for biomass energy and AI.
Children playing near homes in the shadow of the Drax Amite wood pellet facility in Gloster, MS
Wood pellet facilities are twice as likely to be in or near Black communities. These plants have a long history of polluting the areas they come to. Wood pellet plants emit dangerous chemicals and dust into the air. Black households near plants run by companies like Enviva experience daily dust. The dust causes health problems like asthma and cancer. Community members have to reduce their time outside to avoid the dust and chemicals.
These companies often ignore regulations. They also try to get permission to pollute more and more. Enviva is the biggest wood pellet producer in the world. They have a wood pellet facility in Northampton, North Carolina. It’s less than a mile from people’s homes. The plant is trying to expand and increase its emissions by 65%.
Drax is another bad corporate actor. They’re the second largest biomass producer in the world. Drax has violated US health and environment regulations11,000 times. The community of Gloster, Mississippi banded together to fight Drax. The company wanted to pollute even more, but the community won a stunning victory. The Drax permit was denied. Unfortunately, Drax isn’t taking no for an answer, so the community’s fight isn’t over.
When these companies come to communities they claim to bring jobs. This also proves to be false. Tulane University conducted a study on chemical plants in Louisiana. It showed that they offered high-paying jobs to white people who live farther away. People living near the plants are only offered low-paying jobs, if any at all. Many have had to leave their generational homes as these plants expand and pollute.
The demand for AI is making all these issues much worse at an alarming rate. AI data centers are spreading across the South. Many of them are close to or in Black communities. These centers use more energy and water than the people in communities they’re built in. Even worse, they pollute the air with gases that cause respiratory illness. The gases also warm our climate. This makes storms like hurricanes more destructive in the South. In Memphis, Elon Musk’s AI data center powers the Grok AI on X/Twitter. It uses over 30 methane gas-powered engines to run. This gas and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are getting into the air. This causes community residents to have trouble breathing. It can even trigger dangerous asthma attacks. These centers also strain power grids and deplete water. In South Carolina, residents living near data centers have higher power bills. This creates an economic burden on Black households that struggle to make ends meet. Some energy bills are increasing by 70% or more. Data center water usage is also creating a crisis in drought-prone states like Texas.
In 2021, after the George Floyd protests, Juneteenth became a federal holiday. The United States Capitol Historical Society describes Juneteenth as:
“a holiday for formerly enslaved Black Americans and their descendants to celebrate their freedom.”
But communities in the South are still fighting for it. True freedom means Black people in the South living safely without pollution. Our communities need more protection. The lack of federal regulations on AI and biomass pollution makes us all less safe.
Take action: Ask your lawmakers to oppose the expansion of data centers
In September 2024, the Georgia Public Service Commission (GA PSC) approved changes to Georgia Power’s energy plan. They approved an 80 megawatt addition of woody biomass. Altamaha Green Energy (AGE) wants to produce 70 megawatts in Jesup, GA. AGE plans to have a biomass (wood) boiler operating at the Rayonier site by 2029.
Biomass boilers are expensive, inefficient, and create pollution. The costs of this project will be passed on to ratepayers. It’s unlikely AGE will be able to produce 70 megawatts of energy. Local residents will face increased pollution that is harmful to human health. Say “NO” to this biomass boiler scheme because:
GA Power is using the Rayonier site to test Biomass Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). They’re testing the soil for capability to permanently store carbon dioxide (CO2). This technology is largely unproven. It has not been viable in other locations. Carbon capture and storage is very expensive, not efficient, and can be damaging to the environment.
Send your written comments to [email protected]. Use the subject heading “Altamaha Green Energy Air Quality Permit” by 4:30 pm EDT on June 9, 2025.
Georgia EPD is accepting written comments on the draft permit through June 9, 2025 at 4:30pm. Don’t forget: send your written comments to [email protected]. Use the subject heading “Altamaha Green Energy Air Quality Permit”.
Sample Written Comment To: Steve Allision, Program Manager, Stationary Source Permitting Program [email protected]
Subject: Altamaha Green Energy Air Quality Permit
Please deny Georgia Power’s proposal to install a 70 MW biomass plant in Jesup, GA. The proposed biomass-burning plant in Jesup will harm communities. They will pay with their health and income.
Biomass burning produces toxic air pollution. These include particulates (fine dust), carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and other hazardous air pollutants. Pollutants like these cause many health problems. Fine dust, called PM2.5, is especially harmful. PM2.5 can get into lungs and bloodstreams. PM2.5 can hurt lung function, worsen asthma, and cause heart attacks and premature death.
The biomass industry has a history of violations. Every wood pellet plant in Georgia has been in violation of their air permit. The Beasley Group, the owner of FRAM Renewable Energy, is also the owner of Altamaha Green Energy. The Beasley Group has violated their air permits at all five of their locations across our state.
Research has shown that burning biomass is not clean, green, or renewable. Burning wood is a primitive and inefficient energy option. In a blackout during December of 2022, only 63 of 330 MW’s of biomass-produced energy was available. This is a 19% efficiency. Based upon the 20% efficiency rate, only 13.3 MW of the planned 70 MW from Altamaha will be available. The majority of the energy will be released as steam which will be sold to Rayonier.
Biomass burners are as dirty and problematic as coal plants. Wood pellets are not carbon neutral. The production and combustion of wood pellets creates 50% more carbon dioxide than coal.
The purpose and responsibility of the GA PSC is to ensure that rates are fair and reasonable. Biomass electricity is costly to ratepayers. This project will cost ratepayers more than 3x the avoided cost. It costs more than other proven renewable energy. Bioenergy has been an expensive failure in other cities. In Gainesville and Austin, biomass operations were money pits.
Logging, which includes logging for wood pellets, is the predominant cause of carbon emissions from US forests. This is more than insects, drought, fire, and wind combined. Logging for wood pellets has clearcut more than 900,000 acres in the US South in the last decade.
I oppose Georgia Power’s proposal to install a 70 MW biomass plant in Jesup, Georgia. This plant will harm local residents and increase costs to ratepayers across the state. It fundamentally conflicts with the public interest.
Thank you.
The GA Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) will hold a public hearing to hear comments on the proposed new boiler. GA EPD will consider all public comments before deciding whether to issue the permit, deny the permit, or issue it with amended conditions. You can make your voice heard by giving a spoken public comment at the public hearing.
Public Hearing: Monday, June 9, 2025, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Link to hearing: bit.ly/ga-public-hearing-2025 Meeting ID: 968 7024 7831 Passcode: 221662 Those joining via computer can use their computer audio, or may also dial-in. Dial-in number will be provided.
For additional information, contact Steve Allison, Program Manager, Stationary Source Permitting Program at [email protected] or by phone at (404) 363-7020.
Example 1: Biomass boilers are inefficient and inexpensive. This project is going to increase costs for ratepayers, and won’t even provide the amount of energy needed. The price customers will pay is more than 3x the value of the energy we will receive.
Example 2: The Beasley Group who is part-owner of AGE is a bad actor. They own five wood pellet mills in Georgia and three pellet mills just north of Jesup in Baxley, Hazlehurst, and Lumber City. They have had 24 GA EPD enforcements since 2012 due to breaking their air permit. We don’t want them adding more pollution to our community. We don’t trust them to keep our air safe.
Example 3: The Beasley Group has violated pollution laws 24 times at their other plants in GA. Why does GAEPD continue to give them permits when they are not able to comply with their existing permits?
Example 4: Studies show biomass boilers are bad for human health. Biomass burners release toxins and pollution that are harmful to human health. The draft air permit does not require AGE to control their pollution at the highest level. GAEPD should not approve permits for projects that are harmful to human health.
Example 5: Building a larger biomass boiler will cause an increase in pollution. Burning wood, especially pine wood, releases many dangerous pollutants into the air. Burning woody biomass is dirtier than burning coal.
Example 6: This project will not provide any new jobs. Existing staff at RYAM will run this biomass boiler. This project will cost millions of dollars only to increase energy rates, increase pollution, and provide no local benefit.
Example 7: The state of Georgia is in an energy crisis. Georgia Power wants taxpayers to subsidize them so they can line their pockets while ratepayers pay more for dirty energy. Domestic biomass burning is being touted as a new alternative at the cost of deforestation, increased pollution, climate change and higher electricity rates.
We need Georgians to raise their voices! The state of Georgia must stop handing out taxpayer funding and greenlighting permits for the expansion of the wood pellet industry. Take action now!
There is a rich history of LGBTQ+ climate activism in the US. Many early leaders in the environmental justice space identified as LGBTQ+. That history can be hard to find if you’re not looking for it. Let’s explore the interdependence of LGBTQ+ and green activism.
Audre Lorde (1934 – 1992) was a poet and activist. Lorde proudly identified as a “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” She used poetry and language to advance civil rights. But her activism also extended to the environment. Her poems advocated for better stewardship of the Earth. She believed in the connection between protecting the Earth and equal rights.
Audre Lorde’s work also explores the overlap of queer and environmental issues. Her 1982 book, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, is considered an early ecofeminist work. Her writing also embodies queer ecology.
What is queer ecology? Ingrid Bååth explains:
“Mainstream ecology has often reinforced narrow ideas of what counts as “natural.” For centuries, scientific studies assumed heterosexuality and gender dualism as biological norms — sidelining or ignoring the vast diversity of sexual, reproductive, and gendered behaviour in the more-than-human world. Queer ecology…sees queerness not as an exception in nature, but as part of its very fabric.”
Rachel Carson statue in Waterfront Park, Massachusetts
Rachel Carson (1907 – 1964) is one of the more well-known biologists and conservationists. Although not “out” at the time, she sent over 900 letters to her lover Dorothy Freedman since the summer they met. Namesake of Rachel Carson Council, she was a talented writer. Carson had a gift for combining science and writing. Her early works were an exploration of the sea and marine life. Her last book, though, was Silent Spring. It was about the damage chemical companies were doing to the environment. That made her an early environmental activist.
Our next highlight, Trees for Queens, was an all queer environmental liberation group. It was active during the 1960s when homosexuality was illegal. One night, men with chainsaws cut down the trees in Kew Gardens, a park in Queens, NY. They targeted the park because it was a meeting spot for queer people in the city. This activated the LGBTQ+ community in Queens. The group organized tree replantings in the park. Many of which were dogwood trees! The group organized a rally on August 10, 1969. This was almost two months after Stonewall. They had a rallying cry they chanted through the day:
“Homosexuals Have Rights—And So Do Trees!”
“Nothing in nature exists alone.”
The legacy of queer environmental activism is thriving today. Dean Jackson is a non-binary activist. They founded Hilltop Urban Gardens (HUG) in Tacoma, WA. They established HUG to address racial justice and food apartheid. Drag Queen Pattie Gonia uses entertainment to raise awareness on environmental justice issues. Pattie Gonia uses the slogan:
“Make nature gay again.”
Rachel Carson wrote in Silent Spring, “Nothing in nature exists alone.” Our fight for justice is intersectional. The work of environmental justice shares its roots with the work of LGBTQ+ equality. The identity of many activists fuels their fight for equality and the planet.
Continue the work of these activists by taking action to keep US forests standing.
Every day, people and organizations work hard to preserve nature and wildlife. Yet, what is the history of conservation in the US? Let’s explore some of its aspects.
In the 1800s, industrialization was on the rise. Different ways of thinking emerged. Transcendentalism was a philosophical literary movement. It promoted the preservation of the natural world. You may recognize the names of its most famous writers. Writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman. Thoreau especially saw the importance of conservation. In his essay “Walking,” Thoreau famously said:
“In Wildness is the preservation of the world.”
The Industrial Revolution was at odds with wilderness. Cities grew. Factories popped up everywhere. This change in the landscape deepened appreciation of nature. Some saw the growing consumption of natural resources as exploitative and harmful. George Perkins March wrote Man and Nature. His book showed the ways humans were destructive to nature. It urged people to be stewards of nature.
Drawings, paintings, and photography brought awe-inspiring images of nature to the public. George Catlin was a prominent painter in the 1830s. He traveled throughout the West and Southwest. Much of his work depicts Indigenous people and tribes. His legacy is complicated. But Catlin was the first to suggest creating a national park. He proposed:
“a nation’s park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature’s beauty.”
William Henry Jackson’s photographs were the first published of Yellowstone. Thomas Moran’s striking paintings captured the beauty of Yellowstone. Both were influential in preserving Yellowstone as a national park in 1872. John Muir was a famous writer and naturalist. He brought the government into his conservation efforts. He urged Congress to preserve Yosemite as a national park. And Muir succeeded. Yosemite became a national park in 1890.
Yosemite National Park
After the Civil War, natural resource extraction intensified. This boosted economic growth. With westward expansion, land developers seized land for private use. Mining companies damaged habitats and waterways. Conservationist concerns grew. So they recruited President Theodore Roosevelt to help.
President Roosevelt enacted the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902. This law reserved the proceeds of public land sales. The proceeds went to the construction of irrigation projects. And the law led to more government involvement in determining land uses. The formation of the Inland Waterways Commission helped assess waterways. President Roosevelt wrote about the Inland Waterways Commission. He said:
“Our streams should be considered and conserved as great natural resources.”
President Roosevelt created the US Forest Service in 1905. He established 230 million acres of public lands. That’s why he’s considered one of the leaders of early conservation.
There was a national conservation conference in 1909. It gathered state senators and experts in science and education. They discussed forestry, waterways, and soil erosion concerns. This resulted in states creating conservation commissions.
In 1962, Rachel Carson published the groundbreaking book Silent Spring. She wrote about the harms of chemical pesticides. The public’s environmental awareness grew. This spurred the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. The 1960s also birthed the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. These created protections and regulations for the safety of natural areas. Many new conservation organizations formed. The first Earth Day was in 1970. It had 20 million supporters. Activities and demonstrations advocated for environmental protection around the country. Earth Day is still a reminder to be conscious of the environment. It’s a day to nurture an appreciation for nature. It’s a reminder that we can create positive change.
The Endangered Species Act protected vulnerable wildlife from extinction. In the 1990s, conservationists prevented the extinction of several species. Some endangered species then increased their population. This led to the reintroduction of wildlife back into the wild. Major successes include grey wolves and bald eagles. The work of conservationists and environmental policies has led to many successes. The strength of the regulations sometimes improves the environment. At other times, the government has weakened regulations. Through it all, conservationists keep working to protect natural areas and wildlife.
Many of the conservation movement’s greatest figures were problematic. They were racist and believed in eugenics. Some advocated for immigration restrictions and segregation. Their beliefs influenced the conservation movement. Conservation has a long history of unjust policies. These have prevented Black and Indigenous people from owning and keeping land. So their forest ownership has dwindled. Some conservationists also focused on preserving particular lands. This sometimes displaced Indigenous people from their homelands. Conservation efforts also neglected Southern forests. They neglected the Black and Indigenous people who depend on them. Be we don’t have to continue this destructive pattern.
Today, many conservationists are taking new approaches. Returning swaths of land to tribal stewardship is one of those approaches. Dogwood Alliance is collaborating on a community conservation model. We’re conserving land with environmental justice communities. We have a shared vision with community leaders. This model puts justice at the heart of conservation.
We’re at a crossroads. This moment in time is full of pressure, overwhelm, and disconnection. Threats abound. Southern forests and communities face daily challenges from industrial logging. Corporations want to expand their dirty and destructive impacts across the South. Everyday, I hear from concerned people about these growing threats. Our community partners worry about the expansion of the dirty biomass industry. What happens if these companies keep building new facilities in their backyards? What happens to their forests, homes, and families? How will this expansion affect the entire region?
What can we do about it? Let’s take a lesson from nature.
It’s spring. Spring always brings a sense of renewal and an energy of optimism. I love spring flowers. I eagerly go outside each day to check on my flower garden. Every bit of growth brings me such joy and excitement.
Spring is a time for new beginnings. Spring is a time for new growth. We cannot let fear drive us into silence. We cannot let despair make us passive.
Spring is a time for action.
Hundreds of people from across the country gathered for Break Big Biomass: A National Call to Action. We talked about ways we can unite to stop the polluting biomass industry. We heard from community leaders on the frontlines of pollution and forest destruction. They stressed the importance of community education and personal action. It was inspiring to find that each one of us has a role to play. It could be contacting your local elected officials. Maybe it’s writing a letter to the editor of your favorite publication. It could even be having these crucial conversations around the dinner table. Every one of us is essential to this movement. And that includes you.
To meet this moment, Dogwood Alliance and our partners have put together an Action Packet. This resource gives you information and opportunities to get involved and #BreakBigBiomass. Do you want to protect our forests and our communities from destructive logging? Do you want to build a healthy, sustainable future? It’s going to take all of us. Spring is the time for action. Nature’s doing its thing. Now it’s time for you to do yours!
Get involved today.
Download the Break Big Biomass action packet. Watch the recording of Break Big Biomass.
Mississippi DEQ Permitting Board Denies Drax Expansion in GlosterJackson, Mississippi. Mississippi DEQ denied Drax its request to increase pollution in Gloster, MS. Drax is a UK wood pellet manufacturing giant. Gloster is a rural community that’s been fighting this Drax facility for years. The wood pellet plant has faced fines repeatedly for pollution violations. Drax expected this hearing to be a formality. The company expected MDEQ to rubber stamp the permit. But the final decision was a surprise. MDEQ overwhelmingly rejected the permit request.
Residents shared the dangerous ways Drax has harmed their sleep, health, and community. They called on the board to deny the permit. After a marathon hearing and extensive deliberation, MDQ denied the permit. Five of six members voted against the permit, and one abstained. This is a hard-won victory for the local community.
Dr. Krystal Martin of Greater Greener Gloster
Dr. Krystal Martin of Greater Greener Gloster said:
“We did it! Drax, your permit has been denied. When we fight, we win. This wasn’t just a win for Gloster. It was a win for every community fighting the wood pellet industry from Mississippi to Alabama to Georgia and North Carolina.”
Drax is the world’s largest importer of wood pellets. They burn over 8M tons per year at their UK power station. They are also the second largest wood pellet manufacturer. They face logging and pollution controversies wherever they work. Land & Climate Review did an investigation on Drax. They found that the company broke environmental rules 11,378 times in the US since 2014.
Drax Amite wood pellet facility in Gloster, MS
This is a major win for communities in Mississippi and the South. The permit board denied Drax. They based their decision on the company’s past compliance issues. MDEQ expected that Drax would exceed pollution limits again, even with the new permit.
Naya Black, Gulf South Organizer at Dogwood Alliance, said:
“It was such an emotional experience to see the state of Mississippi stand with the people. They put the health and future of a small rural town over corporate profit. Seeing the community come together and win this much-needed victory was TRULY heartwarming.”
Drax has 15 days to appeal the decision.
The world is experiencing many crises linked to increased climate change.
Drax is a biomass corporation that intends to build 20 new facilities in the United States. Georgia Power announced approvals for more biomass facilities in GA. Also, there are now reports of a Biolabs building in Georgia putting chlorine gas in the air. This will have dangerous impacts on health, safety, and the environment. Drax and Georgia Power are driving us towards dependence on biomass technology. Drax promises to capture their carbon emissions. But this false climate solution doesn’t fool impacted communities.
Companies like Drax don’t want to take accountability. They greenwash their business practices. It can be hard to fight their lies. But if they keep it up, we’ll continue to witness devastating climate events.
These industries are selling us harmful technologies and making excuses about their actions. This doesn’t help us make a sustainable and caring world a reality.
We can’t become overwhelmed and lose our will to resist. We must come together to fight climate change. Only together can we tackle these systemic problems.
All these strategies can help break down barriers in our minds. It can be overwhelming to think about how to engage with big and complex issues. Things like climate, environmental, and racial justice can be larger than life. Yet, people are still caring and passionate about building a better world. We can shed our fears and reach for that hope together.
Eid Mubarak to all who observe. Eid marks the closing of the holiest month in Islam, Ramadan. Ramadan is a time of fasting and deepened reflection for Muslims around the globe. From sun up to sun down, there’s no water or food. On the surface, some might view this as a time of sacrifice. But it’s actually a time of deep reflection. It’s an exploration of a different way of being. It’s a tradeoff of empty stomachs for full souls.
I’ve been reflecting on how Ramadan rejects the dog-eat-dog status quo. About how Ramadan practices are at the root of a better relationship with the earth.
“All living beings roaming the earth and winged birds soaring in the sky are communities like yourselves. We have left nothing out of the Record. Then to their Lord they will be gathered all together.” – Quran · Al-An’aam (The Cattle) · 6:38
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, discipline, and renewal. For me, it’s also one of conscious consumption, rest, charity, and a slower pace. Our society’s structure doesn’t leave much room for these practices.
Our world is full of food waste. Being a conscious consumer is exactly what we need. Being mindful of the food we eat and of how much we eat. Ramadan helps us understand what our bodies truly need to sustain life. And it surprises us with how little our bodies need to survive. We don’t want to do this year-round, but it shows us what can be different if we really try.
We live in a capitalist system. This system drives excessive consumption. Conscious consumption shows us how our entire society could be different. Do we need 20 shirts? Or that new watch? How about that new car? Instead, can we make do with what we have? Then we can consider why we even consume something in the first place. Why do trees have to be profitable to be valuable? Why is community health less important than money? Do things have to stay the way they are now? What would happen if we shifted our relationship to the natural world?
“O Children of Adam! Dress properly at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but do not be excessive. He does not love the excessive.” – Quran · Al-A’raaf (The Heights) · 7:31
Lunar cycles guide the Islamic calendar. Ramadan begins with the first sighting of the crescent moon in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. The moon shifts, and so does our journey. This guides us through phases of reflection, renewal, faith, and better ways of being. It’s a reminder that nothing remains unchanged. Not even us. Like the cycles of the moon, we ebb and flow. We wax and wane. Like the moon renews, so do we. In times like today, the chaos of the world is on full display. It’s unsustainable to maintain a high octane output. Unlike machines, we need our rest. Unlike machines, we need reflection. Unlike machines, we can find renewal within ourselves.
Ramadan observes the natural cycles of our world. It reminds us that we should also follow natural cycles. Because we’re part of nature, too.
Rest is almost forced upon those fasting. Activity is still possible. I still make it to the gym, and play recreational league soccer. I work and continue to show up in my life. But it requires an adjustment. Our bodies can’t behave and perform like when they’re eating and drinking water through the day. A hot or cold day makes it hard in its own ways. On a hot day, you might get thirstier. On a chilly day, you may feel more cold because you’re without food. So we must adapt our rest, our needs, and ourselves.
I’ve now realized how much time I occupy with screens, food, and distractions. When I stop prioritizing those things, reflection comes naturally. I think about the state of the world and my role in it. I consider my responsibility as a Muslim to be in right relationship with the world. We’re encouraged to cry during prayer. To feel and be in our emotions. There is so much pain in the world. So many are suffering. It feels wrong to not embrace how that affects all of us. This Ramadan, I’ve felt that and reflected on it. I’ve sought a path to ways I can help build a better world.
Finally, Ramadan is a time of renewal. We shouldn’t be the same at the end of Ramadan as we were in the beginning. No, it’s our responsibility to come out of it better. We should have softened hearts, more wisdom, and more knowledge. We should have more love and better practices to reflect the strength of our faith.
Organizers doing good work inspires me. Tricia Hersey is the founder of The Nap Ministry. She wrote Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto, which sums it up pretty well:
“You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect.”
I wasn’t raised Muslim, so I’m still forming my reflections and understandings. I come to my faith as someone who’s struggled with my spirituality. I’ve felt that I needed to shun faith to be progressive in my ideals. I let the negativity of religion cloud the benefits of faith. Now I’m finding new ways to be in right relationship in this world. My organizing work, like my faith, comes out of failure. I’m a long-time organizer who’s struggled with burnout. I’ve worked so hard that exhaustion has forced rest upon me – physically or mentally. But I’ve had the privilege to show up differently to organizing. To be mindful of my whole self. To be fully present with those facing the worst impacts of this destructive system.
In finding my faith in Islam, I also found the benefits of balance. The systems of oppression we live under mold us into beings of extremes. Ramadan reminds me that our greatest strength is nurturing balance within ourselves. That balance lets us show up for other people, for nature, and for community in powerful ways. Balance reminds us to speak truth to power and to actively listen. Balance reminds us that we can be strong individuals and strong together. It shows us that we can take from the world what it offers and give back with a mindset of abundance. The Quran, reminds us the importance of maintaining the delicate balance of nature. It warns against exploitation. It warns against disruption of the natural order of things.
Ramadan is about following the rhythms of nature. If we can tap into it, maybe we can change the world around us. Change the world so that it, too, slows down and lets nature take the lead.
“So do not transgress in the balance.” – Quran · Ar-Rahmaan (The Beneficent) · 55:8
Join our email list! We’ll keep you up-to-date on news and actions you can take. Let’s build a better world together.
The Trump Administration is firing its Environmental Justice (EJ) staff at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This shows the administration values profits more than people at any cost.
Dr. Treva Gear, Georgia Campaign Manager at Dogwood Alliance, said:
“Marginalized communities across the country were finally seeing positive changes. There were opportunities for justice and hope for better health and quality of life. Administrator Zeldin and President Trump have decided it’s fine to pollute our communities. They choose to poison our air and water. They chose to abandon the most vulnerable people in the country.”
Communities advocate for environmental justice at the Georgia State Capitol
The environmental justice movement began in the 1980’s. It emerged from the civil rights movement. Polluting industries often choose low-income communities of color for their worst toxic sites. The neighborhoods in these places are called environmental justice (EJ) communities. These industries took resources from EJ communities and never gave back. This is still happening today. The EPA first opened the Office of Environmental Equity in 1992. It became the office of Environmental Justice in 1994.
The Environmental Justice staff at the EPA have critical expertise and understanding. EJ communities suffer the most from our nation’s environmental harms and pollution. The EPA has aided many EJ communities. It helps them understand tricky policies and find resources. This support reduces pollution and makes neighborhoods safer.
Many EJ communities in the South face the bioenergy and wood pellet industry. They have caught the EPA’s attention. These industries have been polluting the communities in which they operate. Many wood pellet mills are in rural EJ communities of color. These areas already deal with high pollution from other industries.
Enviva wood pellet mill in Northampton, NC
Many states have failed to take action. Instead, the EPA has had to protect communities that face environmental injustices. The EPA helps states that can’t afford the resources to protect their communities. Closing these offices and firing of EJ staff ends that progress.
Dr. Gear said:
“President Trump just told our communities that they do not matter. We are about to witness a massive increase in pollution. Many people will suffer or even die without protection. The bioenergy industry was already violating the Clean Air Act, and it’s breaking the law. Now there is nothing to stop them.”
We expect anger from politicians and courts. They have promised to uphold American values. To uphold the US Constitution’s promise of “liberty and justice for all.” Congress and the courts must act now. They need to protect all communities from toxic pollution and harmful resource extraction.
Donate