Eco-Justice Collaborative (EJC) is incorporated in the state of Illinois as a not-for-profit organization. The 8th Day Center for Justice, a 501(c)3 corporation, is our fiscal sponsor. EJC views Creation as a sacred act of an ever-present and justice-seeking God and sees each human being as responsible for honoring that gift through daily actions that sustain and protect the integrity of life.
Our mission is to raise public awareness of the consequences of our actions on people and our planet and to encourage changes that:
Seek harmony with Creation.
Respect all life.
Value diversity.
Support ecological sustainability.
Bring about a just distribution of the world’s resources.
About Pam and Lan
Lan and Pam Richart are co-founders of the non-profit organization called Eco-Justice Collaborative. Pam is a land use planner by profession and Lan is an ecologist. For over 20 years they were principals and owners of a land use and environmental consulting firm located in the western suburbs of Chicago. During this time they worked on projects throughout the Midwest, providing consulting services in the areas of land use planning; natural resource conservation and management; and the assessment of the environmental impacts of state and federally funded public works projects.
In the late 1990’s, a series of trips to economically poor regions of Latin America opened their eyes to the social and environmental affects that the U.S. lifestyle has on the world. They have since re-arranged their lives to dedicate their energy to the work of their non-profit, Eco-Justice Collaborative EJC). Through interactive presentations, special events and advocacy, EJC works to raise public awareness of the impact of lifestyle choices on the planet and its people and to encourage changes that will heal and restore the planet, while bringing about a more just and sustainable world.
Initiatives for 2012:
During the next year we will actively be working to:
Continue work towards awareness-raising and education around key issues of eco-justice, such as exponential growth and sustainability; food; water; and energy. Through classes and workshops we help others identify their ecological footprint, discuss its social and environmental implications, and learn ways in which we can bring our lives more in harmony with what we believe.
Play an instrumental role in the Heartland Coalfield Alliance and its state-wide efforts to limit the discharge of toxic coal wastes into our surface and ground waters, stop taxpayer subsidies to polluting coal companies and promote a clean energy economy for Illinois. Clean energy technologies win hands down, if coal is forced to pay for the health and environmental damages it brings to society.
Bring a Bioneers Conference to Chicago in the fall of 2012. Gathering together innovative leaders in social activism, science, creative arts, business and spirituality, Chicago Bioneers not only will envision, but also help build a future in a manner that fully integrates sustainability, green technology and social justice. Our focus will be on regional networking and engaging youth in the process of problem solving in a way that is compatible and works with the earth’s natural systems.
Create resilient, low-carbon, low-energy and environmentally-sustainable local systems as part of the Transition Towns movement. This is an initiative designed to positively respond to the challenges of climate change, peak oil and global economic instability by building resilient communities As we re-learn skills and build models for local food production, transportation, housing, and commerce, we create opportunities for a strong, inclusive and healthy future.
Fulfill the objectives of the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance by retiring the two old, coal-fired power plants in the Pilsen & Little Village neighborhoods and reducing harmful emissions that cause 42 premature deaths each year and contribute millions of tons of greenhouse gas to our atmosphere. EJC founded the Clean Power Coalition and we believe that this is the year our first campaign will be successful.
Don't Let Peabody Energy destroy Illinois' forests! Peabody, the largest private coal company in the world, wants the US Forest Service to do a land swap in the Shawnee National Forest so they can mine coal there.
Eco-Justice Collaborative is a non-profit incorporated in the state of Illinois. Our work focuses on highlighting the real costs of a growth-oriented, consumer-based economy that is powered by fossil fuels. At the same time, we identify and promote solutions that serve all people without harm to our planet.
We accomplish this through workshops, delegations, advocacy and collaborating with other groups and coalitions. You can learn more about us here!
