Dear Friends,

It has been more than two weeks since the horrifying hostilities broke out in the Middle East. Like you, our hearts are broken here at CCAN for all the innocent victims in Israel and Gaza who have already died or continue to suffer daily in border towns, refugee camps and hospitals. We are appalled, too, by the spate of anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic hate crimes and speech that have arisen here in the United States in the wake of the conflict. We condemn such actions.

Meanwhile, we strongly support the call from the United Nations and the Biden Administration for a “humanitarian pause” in the fighting to allow food, fuel, and medicine to reach stranded and suffering people in Gaza. And we encourage you, our supporters, to consider donating to relief efforts for those hungry and injured in all sides of this Mideast conflict zone. 

We recommend two organizations whose work stands out in this conflict. The first is World Central Kitchen, which is committed to the goal of providing food directly to those in need in Gaza and affected parts of Israel. The second is Doctors Without Borders, which is providing medical aid to the wounded and sick throughout Gaza.

Help people in need in Gaza and Israel: Donate to World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. These groups are making a difference on the ground.

Climate change is a crisis demanding our utmost attention. But there are many moments when we must pause to respond to suffering from other causes, especially suffering as great as that in Gaza and Israel now. So please donate.

Also, if you are interested in learning how you can help prevent or address hate crimes in your community, check out this excellent resource from the US Department of Justice. I think you’ll find many helpful tools here in our ongoing national effort to move beyond hate and toward a nation and world of greater tolerance and peace.

And, right now, please help people in need in Gaza and Israel: Donate to World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. These groups are making a difference on the ground.

Thank you for all you do to help us address the greatest threat of future violence and suffering on this planet: climate change. But now, there is very real suffering in the Middle East. Please help relieve some of the pain with a gift.

Sincerely,

Mike Tidwell
Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network