Ep 47 Migration, Climate Justice, and the role of Churches

In Ep 47 we look again at migrants–all kinds of migrants. Climate migrants. Economic migrants. Missionaries. And forced migration. We explore these many migrations through the personal story of Tyler Connoley, an openly gay minister in the United Church of Christ. Tyler speaks passionately and personally about immigration. Up until very recently he has lived in the American Southwest, right on the front-lines of the US immigration battle grounds. Through the interview he had with Climate Stew host, Peterson Toscano, Tyler takes us all over the world as he makes connections with faith communities, LGBTQ issues, World War II, and climate justice in the US and Italy.
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Music Credits
- Romo performing Hello from the Listen, Love (Vol. II) (EP)
- Over and Over from Five Song Demo by Mark Chadwick
- Chenard Walker’s Houseplant album: Tracks Temporary Pony Song For Megan’s Boyfriend, Tiger Pump 2001, Cute Fuzzy Owl Loves The Puppy Man, Moog Extraction Three, Edge of Time
- Domeneko with Nights In Marrakech from the Noir (LP)
- BaaskaT with Hometown from Beat Tape 1 (LP)
- Delibes II by Raúl Díaz Palomar on Música Para Poder Contra Verdad (BSO)
Links
- Tyler Connoley and UCC Southwest Conference blog
- Tyler Connoley on Twitter
- Tyler Connoley on Facebook
- Love Beyond Borders. Tyler Connoley shares a Bible story about climate migrants & welcome
- UCC’s Southwest Conference hires immigrant care coordinator to streamline refugee relief efforts
- United church of Christ minister leaving Silver City
- Tucson Samaritans
- Internment of Japanese Americans
- Lordsburg Internment POW Camp
- UCC Leaders, immigration activists welcome Italian partners to share in common work
- Waldensian Church
- About the Waldenses and Huguenots
- Lampedusa immigrant reception center
Transcript
Intro
Well done, you have found me. This is Peterson Toscano with the climate change podcast that embraces humor and human rights. If you are a new listener or an old faithful, welcome.
In previous Climate Stew episodes we explored stories of climate migrants and community members engaged in assisting them. In Ep 34 I spoke with Elizabeth Szatkowski. She helps to settle refugees who arrive from the dry hot climate of Northern Africa into the frequently frozen state of Maine. Then in Ep 36 I interviewed Mohammed, a young Syrian refugee I met in Wakefield England. In that episode I also chatted with Linda Fielding, who in the same city works with asylum seekers. In Ep 42 artist and humanitarian Deborah McCullough in Arizona told me about the Tucson Samaritans. This is a group of volunteers who go into the desert daily looking for travelers who are lost or have been left behind. The Samaritans bring food, water, and clothing.
Main Section: Tyler Connoley

Tyler Connoley in the mountains of New Mexico after the first snow fall and right before our interview.
In this episode I introduce you to Tyler Connoley. Tyler is the son of Wesleyan missionaries. He spent most of his childhood years in Zambia in South Central Africa. He has also lived in Korea, the Philippines, and all of the West Coast states. All of them. His current home is in Silver City, NM. An openly gay minister in the United Church of Christ, Tyler speaks passionately and personally about immigration. He lives in the American Southwest, right on the front-lines of the US immigration battle grounds.
During our conversation we cover lots of ground. Tyler reflects on modern family detention centers in New Mexico and Texas. He then reveals connections to the World War Two Japanese Interment camps in New Mexico and Wyoming. You will also hear about migrants in the Sonoran desert and on the Mediterranean Sea. And Tyler shares a delicious story. A very queer Italian love story. We will see the connections between climate justice, faith, and LGBTQ issues. I am excited about this interview. I hope you will be enlightened, inspired, and challenged.

Would-be immigrants arrive on a boat in the port of Italy’s southern island of Lampedusa late on July 31, 2008. Italy’s coast guard intercepted around 800 illegal immigrants on five boats off the island of Lampedusa on July 31. One boat, carrying 339 people, including 47 women and four children, got as far as the Sicilian island’s port. The reception centre on Lampedusa, which can hold 700 immigrants, was overwhelmed by the scale of new arrivals after some 400 illegal immigrants turned up on the island. AFP PHOTO / Mauro Seminara (Photo credit should read Mauro Seminara/AFP/Getty Images)
Closing
Thank you for joining me for this episode of Climate Stew. And thanks to Tyler Connoley for sharing so much of his experience and passion. I want to hear your thoughts and your stories. Email me info @ climatestew.com that’s info @ climatestew.com Or tweet us @climate_stew. You can hear…
Marvin: Wait a minute. Hello. Hello! It’s Marvin. What about me? What about my moment with Marvin?
Peterson: Ah, man, sorry Marvin, I really try to keep the podcast to under 20 minutes, and we just ran out of time.
Marvin: Yeah, I know what this is about—you don’t like that I’ve been criticizing the music you choose for the show.
Peterson: No, seriously, it’s not that. I mean, I can’t help it if you don’t like the music. But good free music for podcasts…That’s hard to find. I spend half my week at archive.org looking for tunes.
Marvin: Well, maybe someone listening can help. Anyone? Suggestions for music. Because he’s killing me here.
Peterson: Fair, enough. Yes, I am open to receiving your music or suggestions. If you are musician or know of one who has some instrumental tracks for our show, email me info @ climatestew.com
Marvin; Now tell them we are going on the road.
Peterson: Oh, yeah, I will be touring in New England April 2016
Marvin: And I’m coming along for live shows where Peterson and I
Peterson: Oh, and Elizabeth Jeremiah
Marvin: Oh, God, whatever, we will do live shows
Peterson: You can check out the schedule over at climatestew.com
Our music for today’s episode is by Chenard Walcker, Mark Chadwick, Demeneko, BasskaT, and Raúl Díaz Palomar. Special thanks to Tyler Connoley in New Mexico, Allie, Jo, and Cyrus in Yorkshire, Oh, and Joe G.
Marvin: Oh please let me—and Joe G. who I don’t even thinks listens any more because he is upset that he hasn’t been invited to share his sarcastic snarky wacky ranting.
Peterson: Well, then Marvin. Feel better?
Marvin: I’m just getting started.
Peterson: Thanks for listen, we will back soon with more climate stew
Marvin: And your moment with Marvin
Peterson: Yes, that too.