Listen

When we hear stories of injustice, of a vulnerable community fighting against all odds for their land and water rights and their survival, we might think there’s nothing we can do. We don’t have the time or the resources to get involved. Our faith does call us to stand in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, but how can we do that?

God calls the Church to “stand in the witness box” and one way we can do that is by “witnessing” the experience of environmental defenders. We can listen to their stories, like the story of Máxima Acuña. She is a subsistence farmer living in Peru, who stood up for her right to peacefully live off her own property. As you read her story, hold her in prayer. Be open to the wisdom of her experience. When you finish reading, share her story with your family and friends over email or social media.