Northeast Air Quality & World Oceans Day

June 8th is World Oceans Day, and we urge you to check out what is taking place throughout the globe. Here is Blessing for Water from Starhawk.

The orange sky and devastating air quality are the result of climate inaction. For a fact sheet from the NJ Department of Health about poor air quality, click here. There is no denying climate emergency or the linkage from wildfires to the greed of fossil fuel industry profiteers affecting our disproportionately limited water supply. The choices made to finance fossil fuel programs today are unforgivable.

What do we do now? We get educated and act. See Waterspirit’s Calls to Action page and urge Governor Murphy and President Biden to declare a climate emergency. Environmental justice will never be realized until we treat climate crisis seriously, responding with sweeping preventative measures.

New Jersey’s state government agencies closed early yesterday and just declared today, June 8th, and tomorrow, June 9th, Unhealthy category statewide until 11:59 PM. As communities across the country deal with the impacts of wildfire smoke, EPA’s AirNow app can share real-time air quality data to keep you, your family and your neighbors safe. Read this article from Heatmap here for more about how the east coasts wildfires are comparing to the worst days on the west coast.

This afternoon many people are starting a week of action in D.C. to urge the end of the era of fossil fuel and raise awareness about the detrimental Mountain Valley Pipeline that would only harm Appalachia while exacerbating climate crisis.

Waterspirit will continue to share any pertinent information as we receive it and encourage everyone to stay indoors and seek out how to support your local unhoused population. There is a live piece of legislation that would ensure a code red would assist in housing all those in need during extreme heat or weather events.

Particularly when wildfires cause people to stay indoors or suffer health crises, we see a need for eco-anxiety support. Waterspirit offers eco-anxiety support and encourage you and anyone you know who might benefit to share the forthcoming opportunity in September. HERE is a list of emergency health phone numbers, including suicide prevention and crisis intervention.