Where we listen if the ground would rattle as you walked by, where the sky’s clear-blue fields lead to scorching hot days, the water’s surface shines clear with sunlight beaming through still streams. Journey with a Mexican Native from South Central Texas now navigating the wintry landscapes of Minnesota.
What I have lived through
As I’ve lived through many lives with different members across my families, the earth has always been near to my heart and guiding my feet across the changing landscape. My family is from Uvalde, Texas, originally, and we share in the loss and remembrance of the 21 lives taken on May 24th, 2022, at Robb Elementary. The Uvalde school shooting and the impacts of climate change on our marginalized communities are critical issues that demand our attention and action. Both events create a climate of fear and uncertainty, affecting mental health, social cohesion, and economic stability. Just as climate change can lead to displacement and loss of resources, the tragedy in Uvalde has resulted in grieving families, disrupted educational environments, and increased demands on available mental health services. Furthermore, both issues highlight systemic failures, be it in gun control or climate resilience, underscoring the need for community solidarity and proactive measures to foster healing and adaptability in the face of constant growing challenges.
During my childhood in Uvalde, I’d spend a majority of my time outside in the sun, playing in the dirt and wandering the dry fields. As an adult, I still find time to play in the dirt and wander through the fields, holding onto the sun’s warm grasp. The heat of a scorching sun has stayed a constant reminder of home, with cool night skies packed full of stars and constellations. Truly a spectacle to see! This heat made for some of the most memorable moments in my childhood, whether it was a trip to the Nueces or Frio river, or running through the park after the paleta cart with my mother and two younger siblings, or even eating homemade raspado after school.
One of my favorite features from Robb Elementary was the open hallways between classes with their metal roof cover, and of course, running from my classrooms to the playground after lunch or during gym. As of last July, I revisited the town with my mother and cousin when we picked up our Abuela. Seeing the school taped off with police vehicles was heartbreaking, my thoughts are with the families that lost so much that day. The crosses at the corner of the curb drew us in as we walked around the perimeter fence. Coming to the wall of locks near the portraits of both teachers, with somber steps we walked onward.
Remember the 21 lives lost
The tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde left devastating scars that will take much time to heal and prompted a collective call for change that resonated beyond the immediate community, forever altering the lives of families, friends, and educators. The profound grief and trauma felt in Uvalde mirror the heavy weight of loss that many communities across the nation experience in the wake of similar acts of violence. However, just as nature has an innate ability to heal, from vibrant wildflowers that bloom after a wildfire to resilient trees that withstand storms, so too can the Uvalde community find strength and solace in unity, fostering support systems that nurture recovery and remembrance while planting seeds of hope for a safer future. Prioritizing students’ safety and education is a crucial step many parents focus on and use to foster resilience amid grief.
May we never forget the 21 lives lost
Looking back at my education, I never got the opportunity to learn about our changing climate. In Texas, climate education in schools has faced significant challenges, particularly due to state legislation and educational standards that often lack comprehensive coverage of climate science. Critics argue that the state’s curriculum guidelines downplay or omit critical aspects of climate change, its causes, and its impacts, leading to a knowledge gap among students. The lack of robust climate education can hinder young people’s understanding of urgent environmental issues and their implications for the future, leaving them ill-equipped to engage in discussions and solutions around climate change.
Growing up, the temperatures were always high, and I assumed I would never see a snow day in the South. Texas has now experienced multiple Winter Storm Warnings and several instances of snowfall. The child in me would be ecstatic to see snow in the sun! The current me is fearful for the future of my family’s safety amidst the systemic inequity plaguing our country. Repetitive tragedies in our kids’ school systems have ingrained this fear in many other families. The rivers we swam at together are now dried and gone, leaving behind huge scorching hot rock beds. Heat can pose threats to health and human safety, such as fatigue, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps. During a heat wave, “feels like” temperatures can also reach levels that cause hospitalization and even death for certain individuals
What are we doing?
Historically, we are in a major impact point for our species and planet. We must work towards the Drawdown point and climate change mitigation to heal our planet with one another. To further this healing journey, we can take action on environmental justice with intergenerational groups advocating for safer, greener public spaces, ensuring equitable access to clean air and water for all, and promoting policies that prioritize the health of communities disproportionately affected by violence and environmental degradation. Together, through the revitalization of our natural surroundings and a commitment to restorative justice, we’ll continue paving the way for a more compassionate and greener future. We can ensure accessible climate education for students also seeking ways to take care of our planet and communities.
“In Lak’ech Ala K’in- Tu eres mi otro you- You are my other me.” Cyrus Andress Hernandez is a descendant of Txotil, Tzelta and Ch’ol Mayan people of Chiapas Highlands in what is modern day Mexico. He is a wanderer at heart deeply rooted in the practices of concentric care. I’ve grown under the protective eyes of a lineage of powerful and wise women, mi madre y su madre y nuestras abuelitas. Learning our ways to tend for the earths flowers and gifts. I care deeply for our wildlife protection as human development continues to push Native wildlife further back. This Earth is all our home so let’s keep advocating for Environmental awareness and Climate change through our schools, government policies, and youth oriented programs Our ancestors shaped this sacred land for future generational prosperity and there’s beauty in caring for our ecosystems.
The post Building up community resilience, highlighting systemic failures, and climate change impacts appeared first on Climate Generation.
Building up community resilience, highlighting systemic failures, and climate change impacts
The case shows that climate change is a fundamental human rights violation—and the victory of Bonaire, a Dutch territory, could open the door for similar lawsuits globally.
From our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Paloma Beltran with Greenpeace Netherlands campaigner Eefje de Kroon.
A Tiny Caribbean Island Sued the Netherlands Over Climate Change, and Won
Climate Change
Greenpeace organisations to appeal USD $345 million court judgment in Energy Transfer’s intimidation lawsuit
SYDNEY, Saturday 28 February 2026 — Greenpeace International and Greenpeace organisations in the US announce they will seek a new trial and, if necessary, appeal the decision with the North Dakota Supreme Court following a North Dakota District Court judgment today awarding Energy Transfer (ET) USD $345 million.
ET’s SLAPP suit remains a blatant attempt to silence free speech, erase Indigenous leadership of the Standing Rock movement, and punish solidarity with peaceful resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Greenpeace International will also continue to seek damages for ET’s bullying lawsuits under EU anti-SLAPP legislation in the Netherlands.
Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International Executive Director said: “Energy Transfer’s attempts to silence us are failing. Greenpeace International will continue to resist intimidation tactics. We will not be silenced. We will only get louder, joining our voices to those of our allies all around the world against the corporate polluters and billionaire oligarchs who prioritise profits over people and the planet.
“With hard-won freedoms under threat and the climate crisis accelerating, the stakes of this legal fight couldn’t be higher. Through appeals in the US and Greenpeace International’s groundbreaking anti-SLAPP case in the Netherlands, we are exploring every option to hold Energy Transfer accountable for multiple abusive lawsuits and show all power-hungry bullies that their attacks will only result in a stronger people-powered movement.”
The Court’s final judgment today rejects some of the jury verdict delivered in March 2025, but still awards hundreds of millions of dollars to ET without a sound basis in law. The Greenpeace defendants will continue to press their arguments that the US Constitution does not allow liability here, that ET did not present evidence to support its claims, that the Court admitted inflammatory and irrelevant evidence at trial and excluded other evidence supporting the defense, and that the jury pool in Mandan could not be impartial.[1][2]
ET’s back-to-back lawsuits against Greenpeace International and the US organisations Greenpeace USA (Greenpeace Inc.) and Greenpeace Fund are clear-cut examples of SLAPPs — lawsuits attempting to bury nonprofits and activists in legal fees, push them towards bankruptcy and ultimately silence dissent.[3] Greenpeace International, which is based in the Netherlands, is pursuing justice in Europe, with a suit against ET under Dutch law and the European Union’s new anti-SLAPP directive, a landmark test of the new legislation which could help set a powerful precedent against corporate bullying.[4]
Kate Smolski, Program Director at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “This is part of a worrying trend globally: fossil fuel corporations are increasingly using litigation to attack and silence ordinary people and groups using the law to challenge their polluting operations — and we’re not immune to these tactics here in Australia.
“Rulings like this have a chilling effect on democracy and public interest litigation — we must unite against these silencing tactics as bad for Australians and bad for our democracy. Our movement is stronger than any corporate bully, and grows even stronger when under attack.”
Energy Transfer’s SLAPPs are part of a wave of abusive lawsuits filed by Big Oil companies like Shell, Total, and ENI against Greenpeace entities in recent years.[3] A couple of these cases have been successfully stopped in their tracks. This includes Greenpeace France successfully defeating TotalEnergies’ SLAPP on 28 March 2024, and Greenpeace UK and Greenpeace International forcing Shell to back down from its SLAPP on 10 December 2024.
-ENDS-
Images available in Greenpeace Media Library
Notes:
[1] The judgment entered by North Dakota District Court Judge Gion follows a jury verdict finding Greenpeace entities liable for more than US$660 million on March 19, 2025. Judge Gion subsequently threw out several items from the jury’s verdict, reducing the total damages to approximately US$345 million.
[2] Public statements from the independent Trial Monitoring Committee
[3] Energy Transfer’s first lawsuit was filed in federal court in 2017 under the RICO Act – the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a US federal statute designed to prosecute mob activity. The case was dismissed in 2019, with the judge stating the evidence fell “far short” of what was needed to establish a RICO enterprise. The federal court did not decide on Energy Transfer’s claims based on state law, so Energy Transfer promptly filed a new case in a North Dakota state court with these and other state law claims.
[4] Greenpeace International sent a Notice of Liability to Energy Transfer on 23 July 2024, informing the pipeline giant of Greenpeace International’s intention to bring an anti-SLAPP lawsuit against the company in a Dutch Court. After Energy Transfer declined to accept liability on multiple occasions (September 2024, December 2024), Greenpeace International initiated the first test of the European Union’s anti-SLAPP Directive on 11 February 2025 by filing a lawsuit in Dutch court against Energy Transfer. The case was officially registered in the docket of the Court of Amsterdam on 2 July, 2025. Greenpeace International seeks to recover all damages and costs it has suffered as a result of Energy Transfers’s back-to-back, abusive lawsuits demanding hundreds of millions of dollars from Greenpeace International and the Greenpeace organisations in the US. The next hearing in the Court of Amsterdam is scheduled for 16 April, 2026.
Media contact:
Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or kate.ocallaghan@greenpeace.org
The Trump administration’s relentless rollback of public health and environmental protections has allowed widespread toxic exposures to flourish, warn experts who helped implement safeguards now under assault.
In a new report that outlines a dozen high-risk pollutants given new life thanks to weakened, delayed or rescinded regulations, the Environmental Protection Network, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of hundreds of former Environmental Protection Agency staff, warns that the EPA under President Donald Trump has abandoned the agency’s core mission of protecting people and the environment from preventable toxic exposures.
Former EPA Staff Detail Expanding Pollution Risks Under Trump
The Positive Effects We’ve Had on Others Are Profound, Whether We Know It or Not
A Tiny Caribbean Island Sued the Netherlands Over Climate Change, and Won
Greenpeace organisations to appeal USD $345 million court judgment in Energy Transfer’s intimidation lawsuit
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