Bill > HM17

This Memorial, titled "Social Worker Enviro Justice Principles," is a formal request from the New Mexico House of Representatives urging social workers in the state to adopt and practice principles of environmental justice. It highlights the connection between social justice and environmental justice, noting that vulnerable populations, including indigenous people, communities of color, and those in poverty, are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards and climate change. The Memorial outlines a comprehensive set of twenty-one environmental justice principles that social workers are encouraged to integrate into their practice, covering rights to freedom from ecological destruction, discrimination, and toxic exposure, as well as the right to clean air, water, food, and self-determination. It also emphasizes accountability for environmental damage, the importance of informed consent, and the need for sustainable practices and education for future generations. The Memorial acknowledges the significant number of social workers and students in New Mexico and their role as frontline responders to environmental disasters, and it calls for copies to be sent to the regents of four state universities.