Friend,

From all of us at EarthRights, we hope you are taking care during the global COVID-19 pandemic. For over 25 years, we’ve been fighting together against injustices around the world, and together we will overcome this crisis, stronger than ever.

The health and safety of our partner communities and our staff are our top priorities. As countries go into lock-down due to COVID-19, we want you to know that we’re doing everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus and assist our partner communities in the best way possible, while still fighting to protect earth rights.

Taking Care of Our Partners

Indigenous and rural communities are at significant risk due to their limited access to information, medical supplies, and hospital systems. To try to minimize the spread of the virus, EarthRights will be converting our on-the-ground community work to remote support, so as not to put our community partners at risk. We will remain in communication where possible.

Taking Care of Our Staff

We’re taking the following precautions to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19:

• Closing offices – all of our staff are working from home as we contribute to flatten the curve. We’re still supporting our legal cases, reports, and programmatic efforts.

• Canceling events – we miss all of our partners, allies, and donors! But for now, we are putting all in-person events, meetings, and trainings on hold. We will hold events and meetings virtually where possible, and follow national guidelines of each region for opening back up.

• Prioritizing digital – EarthRights has stepped up our digital communications over the last year, and we’re excited to keep communicating with you online over the next few weeks. Please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and update your email preferences to get the latest and most interesting news for you.

Taking Care of Our Future Together

The global pandemic we are experiencing is a stark reminder as to why it’s so important we fight for a just world. Global pandemics will be worsened by the climate crisis. Quick action to stop new diseases will require an open civil society with free speech and fair media. And we need governments that protect all of their citizens and strong communities.

We don’t know what will happen in the coming weeks and months, but we do know that we will still be here to ensure that governments and corporations do not use the response to the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to prioritize profits over people or take advantage of the crisis to crack down on human rights and environmental defenders.

EarthRights will continue to fight every day to achieve climate justice, to protect earth rights defenders around the world, and demand corporate accountability. Your continued support of our work means injustice won’t go unanswered. Together, we’ll make it through this crisis, stronger than ever.

In Solidarity,

Ka Hsaw Wa

Executive Director