The Fight Doesn't End with Earth Week: Join Us to Keep Organizing for Real Climate Action
- zoeyyucraft
- Apr 24
- 5 min read
As Earth Week begins to come to a close, we're reclaiming this moment for what it should be: a call to action to dismantle the systems that are destroying our planet and hold our decision-makers accountable – not a week filled with corporate cleanups or PR-friendly greenwashing campaigns.
Earth Day began in 1970 as a mass mobilization that brought over 20 million people into the streets to demand real action to protect our lands, air, waters, and futures. But since then, the same industries responsible for climate collapse have tried to twist Earth Day into a watered-down branding opportunity focused on feel-good consumerism as oil and gas corporations try to convince us that they care about the planet – while actively destroying it for profit.
At YUCCA, we aren't buying it.
We've spent the past two weeks showing up in community – from Las Cruces to Albuquerque – connecting with young people and movement partners, bringing new faces into the work at Earth Week events, and sharing more about the fight for real climate and environmental justice. Yesterday, we had a great time tabling alongside 90+ organizations at the 15th Annual UNM Sustainability Expo, and we're excited to close out the week tomorrow by participating in the first-ever Sustainability Music Festival (which will directly support YUCCA's work!) and joining our allies at events like Pueblo Action Alliance's 9th Annual Healing Circle.
Next week, we're excited to go even deeper with our Nuclear Colonialism 101 training led by Leona Morgan, where we'll dig into how New Mexico is being targeted as a sacrifice zone for radioactive waste and how we can fight back. Read on to find out how you can plug in, stay connected, and keep growing & building with us — not just during Earth Week, but every day we rise up to protect our communities and fight for meaningful climate action.
REPORT BACK: YUCCA JOINS 14 ORGANIZATIONS FOR POWERFUL LAS CRUCES CONVENING
Last week, we hit the road and headed to Las Cruces for a powerful convening where we joined organizers and allies from 14 organizations across New Mexico to grow our knowledge, strategize together, and build relationships with one another!
During the convening, we were excited to learn from organizers at La Semilla Food Center about their work to build a sustainable food system for communities across the region and hear from the team of Friends of Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks about their work to protect our public lands and connect young people to place through outdoor recreation as we spent time learning together and grounding ourselves in the powerful organizing work happening in this beautiful part of the Chihuahuan Desert.
As our communities and collective movement continue to face increasing threats and attacks at the federal level, we're grateful to our movement allies for welcoming us, sharing their knowledge, and reminding us what it looks like to build power that's rooted in community. As our team at YUCCA continues the fight for real climate and environmental justice, spaces like this give us the chance to slow down, dream about the future we're building together, and deepen the trust and solidarity we need to strengthen our power and collective vision for the long-haul. ✊
HOLDING LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE: THE NO FALSE SOLUTIONS COALITION SENDS LETTER TO DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS
Earlier this month, YUCCA joined fellow members of the NM No False Solutions Coalition to send an open letter to New Mexico's Democratic Legislators – who promised to protect our air, land, and water – but instead, protected only oil and gas profits during the 2025 Legislative Session.
Once again, even with a Democratic majority, our lawmakers failed to pass meaningful protections against the harm of oil and gas production, despite the introduction of strong bills that would have established health buffer zones surrounding our schools, banned forever chemicals in oil and gas operations, held polluters accountable for cleanup, helped to stop toxic emissions, and much more.
Meanwhile, our lawmakers on both sides of the aisle backed harmful bills advancing false solutions like the Strategic Water Supply, hydrogen, and carbon capture and sequestration – corporate industry schemes designed to protect polluters while enabling them to keep drilling, polluting, and poisoning frontline, working class, and BIPOC communities who are already facing the devastating impacts of the climate crisis.
We deserve leadership that fights for people, not polluters – and we won't stand by silently and watch our lawmakers side with the oil and gas industry over our lives and our futures.
EARTH WEEK'S NOT OVER YET–JOIN US THIS WEEKEND!
As we continue to celebrate Earth Week and reflect on the work that still lies ahead, we've had a great time at community events this week, connecting with advocates, allies and young people who are showing up to demand action on climate and environmental justice.
Yesterday, we joined over 90 community and campus organizations to table at the 15th Annual UNM Sustainability Expo, where we had the chance to engage with students and young people, share the story of our work, and welcome new leaders into the fight for climate justice. We had powerful conversations, met hundreds of new faces, and reconnected with longtime allies and partners – all while celebrating and uplifting the leadership of the young people across the region who are hard at work to strengthen our collective movement and drive our work forward.
And the week's not over yet – there's still so much more to come this weekend!
Tomorrow, Saturday, April 26th, we're closing out Earth Week strong with a full day of events. Whether you're hoping to celebrate with your family, deepen your community relationships, or hear live music while learning more about YUCCA and other local organizations doing the work on the ground, there's something for everyone! We can't wait to see you there.
10:00 am to 1:00 pm - Join our friends at Valle de Oro from 10:00 am-1:00 pm for a free family-friendly Earth Day celebration, connect with others, and enjoy free food provided by Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge!
1:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Join Pueblo Action Alliance for their 9th Annual Healing Circle "Strengthening Community Relationships" at El Chante: Casa de Cultura. Learn more from our movement allies at Pueblo Action Alliance on Instagram here!
4:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Join YUCCA and other local organizations including Tree NM and Reunity Resources Farm at the first-ever Sustainability Music Fest at Rio Bravo Brewing Company to hear music from local artists like Dust City Opera, Kevin Herig, The Hunnies, and Enero, participate in a raffle, view art installations, and support local vendors!
JOIN US NEXT WEEKEND: VIRTUAL NUCLEAR COLONIALISM 101 TRAINING
Mark your calendar and register to join YUCCA next weekend for a powerful virtual training: Nuclear Colonialism 101!
Led by Diné Anti-Nuclear Activist and Community Organizer Leona Morgan, this virtual training on Saturday, May 3rd will break down how New Mexico is targeted to become a national sacrifice zone and dumping ground for radioactive waste – and what we can do to stop it.
Register today and don't miss out on the chance to join us on Zoom to deepen your understanding and help us grow our movement for meaningful, transformational change – because our communities are not sacrifice zones.
Comments