PRESS RELEASE
September 22, 2022
Contact: Katie Sexton-Wood
katie.sexton@azfaithnetwork.org
(623) 237-2279
Faith leaders across Arizona call for Grand Canyon protection for Public Lands Day
The latest effort of the Arizona Faith Network is one of the largest to date calling for passage of the Grand Canyon Protection Act
Phoenix, AZ – Today Arizona Faith Network sent a letter from over 250 leaders and others in the faith community calling for the permanent protection of the Grand Canyon from uranium mining. This comes on the heels of new polling released by the Grand Canyon Trust, showing two thirds of Arizona voters also in favor of this effort.
“Our elected leaders have demonstrated immense courage to justly care for the people and lands of our state through the introduction of and advocacy for the Grand Canyon Protection Act,” said Rev. Jay Hartley of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tucson. “Though the intent of these efforts have not yet been realized, we all have faith that their continued advocacy will be successful in protecting the Grand Canyon region from the devastating impacts of uranium mining, and we support them fully in executing all action in their power to do so.”
The letter lifts up the urgency of permanently protecting lands surrounding the Grand Canyon from uranium mining. Tribes in the area, including the Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Colorado River Indian, Pueblo of Zuni, and Navajo Nation, say this contamination is the greatest risk to religious, cultural, and traditional land use by Native people in the region, often keeping tribes from visiting sacred places. Studies show that 85 percent of Navajo homes are currently contaminated with uranium, and over 500 mine sites remain in need of cleanup, while cancer rates doubled from the 1970s to 1990s in the Navajo nation.
Introduced by Senator Sinema and Congressman Grijalva, the Grand Canyon Protection Act would make a temporary ban on new mining claims on about 1 million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park permanent, protecting the Grand Canyon forever.
The signers of these letters show great diversity of support not just spiritually, but geographically as well.
“As many of my cosigners believe, we are all in one community. No matter how many miles we are from the Grand Canyon, we stand in solidarity with our friends in the canyon region,” said Gretchen Reinhardt of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Tempe.
National Public Lands Day, the fourth Saturday of September, is the largest single day volunteer event for public lands, and encourages the conservation of lands.
Arizona Faith Network is the largest multi-denominational faith organization in Arizona whose network extends to over 4,000 religious and spiritual leaders.
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