Refresh, Heal, Regain Strength
=====================================================================
In the face of ongoing environmental crises and the added stress of the U.S. presidential election, four prominent environmental justice leaders have found solace in self-care practices that prioritise mental and physical health. Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, North America Director of 350.org, Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President of Environmental Justice at National Wildlife Federation, Dallas Goldtooth, Keep It in the Ground Campaign Organizer at Indigenous Environmental Network, and Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE, have all adopted unique strategies to recharge and sustain their vital work.
Community Support and Collective Care
These leaders recognise the power of mutual support within their communities as a crucial self-care strategy. The principle of collective resilience is key in countering burnout and trauma associated with frontline environmental justice work. This aligns with broader environmental justice principles that champion community-led governance and healing.
Nature and Spiritual Healing
Connection to nature serves as a restorative tool. Indigenous activists and healers focus on healing generational trauma through nature and spiritual practices. Mustafa Santiago Ali, as a prominent Indigenous and environmental justice advocate, has often discussed the healing power of land and ancestral connections, which likely informs his approach to self-care.
Pausing and Mindfulness
Taking intentional pauses or retreats to rest and regain strength is another common approach. Such breaks are vital for sustaining long-term activism and are reflected in practices like meditation, yoga, or simply spending time away from the stresses of frontline work.
Holistic Wellness and Education
Some leaders promote holistic well-being, including physical activity (e.g., yoga, gardening) and education about climate resilience, particularly for youth, which supports a hopeful and empowered mindset within activist circles.
Personal Self-Care Routines
While direct personal statements on self-care from these specific leaders are not detailed in the search results, these strategies are broadly affirmed within environmental justice communities and by related leaders who share similar experiences and cultural backgrounds.
Mustafa Santiago Ali runs five days a week and meditates when needed. Dallas Goldtooth disconnects from social media for at least two hours every day. However, neither Tamara Toles O'Laughlin nor Elizabeth Yeampierre's self-care routines involve running or disconnecting from social media like Mustafa Santiago Ali and Dallas Goldtooth. Instead, O'Laughlin uses dark humor as a way to combat burnout, finding opportunities in climate change for humor. Yeampierre prioritises taking care of her community and loved ones as a means of self-care.
The Importance of Recharging
The newsletter emphasises the importance of taking time to recharge, especially during these challenging times when many people have been living in isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic. The newsletter also discusses what comes next following the elections. Yessenia Funes, the climate editor of Atmos, highlights the significance of these self-care practices for environmental justice leaders and their communities.
In conclusion, these environmental justice leaders are setting an example by prioritising self-care and well-being in their recovery and recharge methods. They lean on community ties, engage with the natural world for healing, practice mindfulness and rest, and foster holistic well-being to sustain their vital work against the climate crisis.
- The environmental justice leaders recognize the importance of collective resilience within their communities, as a key strategy for countering burnout and trauma related to frontline work.
- Mustafa Santiago Ali, an Indigenous and environmental justice advocate, values nature and spiritual connections as a restorative tool, likely informing his personal self-care practices.
- Intentional pauses or retreats, such as meditation and yoga, are vital for these leaders in sustaining long-term activism and supporting a hopeful and empowered mindset.
- Some leaders emphasize holistic well-being, including physical activity like gardening and education about climate resilience, particularly for youth.
- Mustafa Santiago Ali runs five days a week and meditates, while Dallas Goldtooth disconnects from social media for at least two hours every day. However, O'Laughlin and Yeampierre adopt unique self-care routines, with O'Laughlin using dark humor and Yeampierre prioritizing care for her community and loved ones.
- The newsletter underscores the necessity of taking time to recharge, especially during challenging times like the coronavirus pandemic, and discusses the future following the elections. It highlights the significance of these self-care practices for environmental justice leaders and their communities.
