The Green Divas | s15:ep2

Sometimes it is hard to feel empowered to impact some of the larger looming issues of our current crazy world, but we’ve had the honor of talking to so many amazing community organizers and activists who have created meaningful change. 

One of the most frequently asked questions when people learn about an issue–whether it be climate change, wildlife preservation or a toxic health hazard–is “What can I do?” 

And if you don’t believe that a passionate group of people can make a difference, consider the many online campaigns that have gotten companies to stop carrying toxic products or remove ingredients… Remembering the Detox the Box Campaign which aired on Saturday Night Live. 

WomensVoices.org made this hilarious video highlighting the fact that companies like Proctor and Gamble didn’t list the ingredients (many of which are highly toxic) in their feminine hygiene products. They had rallies and of course a powerful social media campaign, which involved this fun music video parody. We were part of the push that included tens of thousands of women, who succeeded in getting P&G to begin disclosure of their ingredients, which also resulted in cleaning up some of the more toxic elements for better transparency. Yay! 

Joey Gonzales IV – featured community activist

More recently, we had a chance to talk with Joey Gonzales IV, who calls themself a queer artist and organizer from Corpus Christi, Texas. Joey is making change through art, rallying their community to raise awareness about the potential environmental, health and wildlife devastation from Liquid Natural Gas (LNG, also refered to as liquefied methane or fracked gas ) export terminals in the Gulf Coast. Now there are 20+ export terminals proposed along the Gulf Coast. Pipelines from multiple locations across the country feed the not-so-natural, fracked gas to these HUGE export terminals where it is then shipped overseas. Fossil fuel companies will realize billions in profit. Should the US approve 25 proposed liquefied methane gas – often referred to as LNG – export terminal projects, we could see an additional 90 million tons of greenhouse gasses (GHG) released into the atmosphere per year, according to a recent analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP). EIP says, “That’s as much climate-warming pollution as from about 18 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles running for a year – more than from all the cars and trucks in Florida or New York State.”

Joey also talks about participating in the Gulf Coast Murals project and is also a member of Coastal Alliance for Progressive Ecosystems, or CAPE. They talk about the partnership of other organizations working together to fight against huge industry, and succeeding. In early September, they stopped the building of one of the terminals. 

Follow #StopLNG, @gulfcoastmurals and @josegonzales4th on Instagram.

Green Divas get active in their communities

TAKE GD ACTION!

What issues are you passionate about? Whatever it is, find your tribe, get active in your community be it online or in the town square. At the very least, find an organization that resonates with you and your mission and donate money so they can do the boots-on-the-ground work.

This episode was brought to you by The Climate Listening Project

The Climate Listening Project is listening to artists and activists working together in the Gulf Coast. The gulf is beautiful. Beaches and bayous. But it is also cancer alley. There are dangerous oil rigs, and now over twenty liquid natural gas export terminals proposed along the beautiful Gulf Coast. These huge export facilities will bring gas to the coast to ship overseas for fossil fuel companies, who will profit in the billions. Not only is it dangerous to local humans, environment and wildlife, but with climate change, why would we even consider this!?!

Tell the EPA, FERC, president Biden, and your senators and representatives to quit it with the liquid natural gas! (There is nothing NATURAL about it) Learn more at GulfCoastMurals.com.