Reporter's notebook - Ethics and the environment

ALBUQUERQUE — The American Ethical Union (AEU) will bring its 103rd annual assembly to Albuquerque for the first time this year, June 7-10.

It is the largest event of the year for the group, which promotes ethical culture, a movement based around the teaching of Felix Adler and the idea of promoting social justice through ethical values.

AEU Executive Director Bart Worden said the Land of Enchantment was the perfect place to discuss the issue of environmental justice, the theme for this year’s assembly.

“New Mexico is a place that’s got a number of environmental concerns. And because we’re an environmental justice conference this time around, this would be an opportunity to really hear first hand from local activists and to get some more information about things people might want to do to try to help the environment in New Mexico,” Worden said.

Worden said the four-day event will include workshops with speakers from New Mexico and an award presentation to Faith Spotted Eagle for her activist efforts opposing the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.

Worden said he hopes those in attendance take away “a sense of concern and a sense of possible action. When we highlight problems we also like to point people in the direction of things that they can do to try to help things go better.”

— Compiled by Staff Writer Jamie Cushman