03 Jul Talk About It, Take Action
When we started FreeportCAN almost five years ago now, we were on the rising edge of a wave of climate alarm that rose after the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made clear that we had to begin lowering our emissions immediately or we would blow past the 1.5 C increase in carbon limit which would result in catastrophe for millions of people. Acknowledge the danger, we said. Talk about it. Talk about the anxiety you feel, then take action. It was exciting to be on this wave and feel the energy for change.
But things are different now. The banks and the big oil companies that stood to lose massive amounts of money from the renewable energy movement mounted well-funded campaigns to both dissuade us from believing the threat was that serious and to reassure us that technology would save us when the time came.
Now we have an administration that has erased even the words climate change from all federal documents. Not only do they tell us that climate change is a hoax, they are doing all they can to ensure that the institutions who fund their party get to keep making billions of dollars from old and new fossil fuel infrastructure. And too, they have slashed all government funding for solar and wind projects. Now, instead of tax breaks for installing solar on your roof, you will be required to pay taxes on that installation! They even hope to encourage the post office to sell off all the electric trucks it currently owns!
All the while, the risk of climate catastrophe rises as the earth passes 1.5 C, headed for 2 or even higher. And as this happens, we are distracted by the one happening to our country as democracy is weakened and cruelty rains down on us every day. We go to demonstrations and see very few signs that reference climate change.
It makes me want to cry. What to do?
A piece in the Guardian talking with Genevieve Guenther, an American scientist and climate communications specialist about an international conference in July on tipping points, reminded me of our focus in FreeportCAN’s early days:
“If the risk of a plane crashing was as high as the risk of the Amoc (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation) collapsing, none of us would ever fly because they would not let the plane take off. And the idea that our little spaceship, our planet, is under the risk of essentially crashing and we’re still continuing business as usual is mindblowing. I think part of the problem is that people feel distant from the dangers and don’t realise the children we have in our homes today are threatened with a chaotic, disastrous, and unlivable future. Talking about the risks of catastrophe is a very useful way to overcome this kind of false distance.”
Ah! Talk about it, she says! Back to our beginnings. Read these articles in the Guardian about tipping points, allow yourself to feel the anxiety about this, as well as the anxiety about our government. Anxiety won’t kill us, but Not feeling anxiety and Not acting will. Bring signs to demonstrations reminding people that the future livability of our planet is at risk and that it is the wealthy investors in banks and fossil fuel industries who are to blame for putting us at great risk today. Get angry at those banks, those politicians who either deny the science of climate change or refuse to talk about it because it is “too controversial”. Don’t play nice with Bad Banks, and of course, act.
Work with good banks – read our Eco Homes piece on Green Investing.
and Green Banking.
Vote and support candidates who care about climate change and other important issues. Call on your legislature to vote the “right” way.
Demonstrate.
Act locally, join Freeport Climate Action Now – volunteer to help out on one of the action groups.
And enjoy the beauty of this summer in Freeport!!