As a faith leader and…

As a faith leader and community leader, I firmly believe that the integrity and diversity of our bioregions is important for the common good. Our scriptures and the religious traditions of many world faiths uphold the beauty and diversity of creation and place humans as responsible for its flourishing.

Any changes to protections for endangered and at risk species to prioritize development creates a zero sum gain relationship between our environment and our economic needs. This is not necessarily the case, and there are ways to respect environmental protections and provide for development.

Moreover this legislation removes consultation processes, both with scientists and research studies, indigenous communities, and other local stakeholders.

In decisions around the common good, we are enriched by consultation and our relationships, and hasty decision making that ignores our environmental relationships with all creatures will lead to irreversible harm within our commubities.