Culture

From AOC to Valeria Hinojosa: 5 Latina Environmental Warriors to Follow

Lead Photo: Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla.
Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla.
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Latine people are impacted by environmental racism every day in the States. Climate change’s serious effects including drought, record-breaking heat, and flooding—major issues impacting the 55% of Latine people in the United States who live in Texas, California, and Arizona. Furthermore, almost half of all Latines in the U.S. live in counties that violate pollution standards. It’s no surprise that the climate crisis is an important issue for the Latine community, a recent Yale study found that over 70% of Latine people in the U.S. are concerned about the environment.

Every year World Sustainability Day is honored on the 4th Wednesday in October–the 28th this year. Celebrate and learn how to become more conscious of sustainability and supporting the environment by following these Latina Environmental Warriors.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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Wow. Early results have us ahead 73% in the polls. The race has been called in our favor. . When I first won in 2018, many dismissed our victory as a “fluke.” In the immediate aftermath, experts gave every excuse as to why I won – “it was because her opponent didn’t try,” “turnout was low (even though it was higher!),” even “she won because she has a Latina last name.” . It was as if many of those experts were trying to find every reason BUT the fact that maybe we actually earned it – that we had built a real deal, grassroots movement that inspired transformational change. They didn’t talk about our supporters knocking thousands of doors, our digital operation, our phone banks, our community organizing. Our success was treated like an accident, or an aberration. . So from the start, tonight’s race was important to me. . 73%. Tonight we are proving that the people’s movement in NY isn’t an accident. It‘s a mandate. And I cannot thank each and every one of you enough. . All that we accomplish, we accomplish together. And it is such an an honor to organize shoulder-to-shoulder with each and every one of you. There aren’t enough words to say thank you 💜

A post shared by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc) on

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has helped put the climate crisis front and center in U.S. politics. The young congresswoman has prioritized advocating for environmental justice and climate change policy in US legislation. AOC co-authored the Green New Deal bill with Senator Ed Markey in 2019 and released it with the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT). The proposed bill focuses on creating housing for low-income communities that are negatively impacted by the climate crisis. It also includes policies for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Valeria Hinojosa

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(Español👇🏽) Clear and simple. Your V-oice O-ffsetts T-he E-go in our world! Agree? Tremendous power and responsibility, ha? Now, finish your coffee and VOTE! But first, things to have in mind: ‼️If you haven’t mailed your ballot already, DON”T. Too late and might not get there in time to be counted. Instead, drop it off in person. ‼️If you mailed it already, you can track it online. Each city/county/state has their own website. For Miami, you can use: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser151187731708822 ‼️Use a black or blue ball-point pens ‼️DO NOT SPILL your delicious coffee or drink on your ballot. Stained ballots will not be counted. ‼️Please do NOT doodle or draw cartoons on your ballots either. Use that divine creativity at home or on social media but OFF your ballot. ‼️Vote thinking LONG term. Generations ahead! The world we want to leave to our children. Our short-term and egotistical mentality has led us to our current situation. That’s it! PS: I came up with the VOTE definition myself. What can you create with its letters? Let’s make this election more attractive and inspiring!👇🏽👇🏽 Share & comment! 🦋♻️ #Vote #Reels #sustainableliving #zerowaste #naturepreservation #actonclimate #climatechange @earthdaynetwork @whenweallvote @she_sepuede @rockthevote @weallgrowlatina @iamavoter

A post shared by Valeria Hinojosa | Eco Life🍃 (@waterthruskin) on

Hinojosa is one of the top sustainability influencers on Instagram. The Water Thru Skin founder uses her klout for good and informs her audience daily about pressing environmental issues across Latin American including the fires in the Amazon in her native Bolivia and the oil tanker threatening to leak into the ocean near Venezuela. The vegan practices a holistic lifestyle that prioritizes the planet. She takes to Instagram live often to shower followers how they can make their lives more planet-positive such as up-cycling discarded wood to make DIY bookshelves or choosing a three-minute song to play while showering to be mindful of your water consumption.

Crystal Mojica and Valentina Stackl

This powerhouse environmental activism duo joined forces to co-host the bi-weekly bilingual Greenpeace USA Latinx environmental web series, Planeta G. Mojica and Stackl bring Latinx guests on air to discuss the intersection between the environmental movement and Latinx identity including youth climate organizers, influencers, activists, academics, and celebrities. The show airs at 2 p.m. (EST) every other Monday.

Nathalie Kelley

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In August I spent time in Alaska with @dunelankard – a prolific Eyak Indigenous activist, whose story and mission has profoundly impacted my life. Since the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 89, Dune has dedicated his life to defending our old growth forests, our oceans, and the indigenous subsistence way of life. Through his tireless activism and optimism even in the face of so much greed and destruction, he has saved over 100 million acres of forest from being clear cut. His biggest lesson to me was that “We win by going in” – if we stand on the sidelines and watch our oceans and forests destroyed before our eyes, what will we tell our children when we leave them an uninhabitable planet? However Dune is showing us an alternative option, one that requires us to speak up. To sign petitions. To mobilize. To use our voices for the voiceless. WE have to be the lobby for the trees and the animals and the waters, so we can go up against the powerful lobbies of gas, coal, oil, timber. So on that note, see the link on my bio on how you can support the fight to keep the Tongass National Forest free of roads and industry. And in the coming months I will be letting you know how you can support @dunelankard, @eyak_preservation_council_ and @nativeconservancy – in protecting Alaska’s Copper River Delta from extractive industries. We are at a tipping point in our planets history. Whose side do you want to be on? 🌍

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The star of The Baker and The Beauty is a self-declared aspiring regenerative human as she’s concerned that sustainability maintains the status quo and feels we need to be replenishing to heal the Earth. She lets her Indigenous roots guide her in becoming an eco-warrior. She passes the mic frequently letting Indigenous activists take over her Instagram account to educate her 1.5 million followers about climate justice. She recently launched a wellness platform to teach people about lifestyle practices such as morning routines that are rooted in sustainability, Ritual Community.

Helena Gualinga

Gaulinga is a teenager from the Ecuadorian Amazon who has been fighting the climate crisis since birth. She takes to social media to show the reality of how the climate crisis and big oil companies are impacting her community with stories of floods and deforestation. The youth activist is a forest-protector and public speaker. She has lent her voice to many climate conferences including the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

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