Striving
Often people ask me what I think the best or most important thing is that a person should do to care for the earth. A while ago, a cartoon floated around social media that garnered a bit of attention: a background of oil drilling and the darkness of what looks like air pollution. In foreground, a bright picture of a person installing solar panels and the onlooker says something like, 'what's important is that you feel good about yourself.' Eh, I get it, I guess. But in general, not helpful. It seems to pit one action against another. Sure not all people can do all the things. But those who can have to do many of the things!
The balance of individual actions vs larger social/community/policy-based actions is not something that easily reveals itself. And perhaps, as I have so often found in parenting, balance is not the goal. Because with the assumption that there can be balance there is more often than not the nagging feeling that we are failing to achieve something. And honestly, who needs to have one more thing to feel they are not doing well! So for years, I have chosen to use the action word 'striving' instead of the passive noun 'balance.'
In our work to care for the earth, especially in this rapidly changing climate and a future that is predicted to look very, very different in a relatively short amount of time, people often wonder what they can do. Without a doubt, lifestyle changes seem to offer the most instant gratification. We can see that we are changing our habits and behaviors and we expect, hope and believe that that makes a difference in the outcome of our planet. Some will argue our lifestyle changes and consumer choices mean nothing and are but a drop in the bucket compared to say getting states to ban fracking or banning the use of lawn chemicals.
This blog does not attempt to have any one answer to the complex climate issues we are facing, but to demonstrate that we can all participate in the both/and approach to addressing these issues. And to remind ourselves to not get hung up on any one way being the way.
But what is clear, astoundingly clear, is that working toward a sustainable future will have to involve all of us. Whatever one's political leanings, socio-economic situation, nationality, ethnicity, etc. etc. Really, we DO know that climate catastrophes do not heed state and national boundaries. We DO know the poor are disproportionally impacted by climate disasters. We DO know that the Americans make up only 4.5% of the world's population but use more than 20% of its energy resources! We DO know that, according the US Geological Survey that the US tops the charts in global water usage, and that UN-Water predicts that by 2025, 1800 MILLION people will live in absolute water scarcity. You know, woah. You can't see these numbers and not take pause and wonder what we can do to reverse these numbers.
The answer is, we have to do something. A lot of somethings to be honest. Big changes, small changes, personal changes, community changes. We need to model to our kids that we can not continue to suck the earth dry to meet our (very basic) human needs. It really shouldn't be this complicated to not kill the planet.
So here is me saying don't obsess, act. Don't spend time freaking out if you use plastic instead of your homemade beeswax wraps. Strive to use less plastic as much as possible. But don't get stuck and use your mind-power fretting. Spend time reading and learning about climate justice issues. (Yes! Magazine and Resilience are great places to start). But then step away from the computer and plant something. You gotta love it to want to protect it. Bring a kid or three with you.
Really it isn't what is more effective: individual or social change - it is how can we stay open to the fact that each day, we all have to be involved in this struggle. We know there will be people who can't be involved because life conditions prevent them from doing anything beyond survival (thinking now of farmworkers - in this country - working 12 hours a day in drought ridden California fields only to go to their 'home' - often a bare-bones shelter - and have no water for a shower that day or week or have to use a communal water tank.)
That means those of us who can speak must speak.
So let's strive together, shall we? Whether it is attending a 350.org rally*, making homemade jam, blocking gas storage trucks with We are Seneca Lake, planting a garden for immigrant families, sitting in awe of a summer sunset with your kid, whatever. Invite people along who may not have been made aware of these issues. Instead of spending time arguing over what makes the most impact, we can strive every day to take steps - several each day - toward turning the tide on excessive resource extraction. Share what you are doing (or want to do) in the comments and we can inspire each other!
*The number 350 means climate safety: to preserve a livable planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 400 parts per million to below 350 ppm."
The balance of individual actions vs larger social/community/policy-based actions is not something that easily reveals itself. And perhaps, as I have so often found in parenting, balance is not the goal. Because with the assumption that there can be balance there is more often than not the nagging feeling that we are failing to achieve something. And honestly, who needs to have one more thing to feel they are not doing well! So for years, I have chosen to use the action word 'striving' instead of the passive noun 'balance.'
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| Our homemade (by Rob) grain bin getting filled with oats for the goats! |
In our work to care for the earth, especially in this rapidly changing climate and a future that is predicted to look very, very different in a relatively short amount of time, people often wonder what they can do. Without a doubt, lifestyle changes seem to offer the most instant gratification. We can see that we are changing our habits and behaviors and we expect, hope and believe that that makes a difference in the outcome of our planet. Some will argue our lifestyle changes and consumer choices mean nothing and are but a drop in the bucket compared to say getting states to ban fracking or banning the use of lawn chemicals.
 |
| Locally grown and harvested certified organic oats for our goats. Attempting to begin to wean ourselves from the feed store and mass produced (largely Cargill) animal feed. |
This blog does not attempt to have any one answer to the complex climate issues we are facing, but to demonstrate that we can all participate in the both/and approach to addressing these issues. And to remind ourselves to not get hung up on any one way being the way.
But what is clear, astoundingly clear, is that working toward a sustainable future will have to involve all of us. Whatever one's political leanings, socio-economic situation, nationality, ethnicity, etc. etc. Really, we DO know that climate catastrophes do not heed state and national boundaries. We DO know the poor are disproportionally impacted by climate disasters. We DO know that the Americans make up only 4.5% of the world's population but use more than 20% of its energy resources! We DO know that, according the US Geological Survey that the US tops the charts in global water usage, and that UN-Water predicts that by 2025, 1800 MILLION people will live in absolute water scarcity. You know, woah. You can't see these numbers and not take pause and wonder what we can do to reverse these numbers.
The answer is, we have to do something. A lot of somethings to be honest. Big changes, small changes, personal changes, community changes. We need to model to our kids that we can not continue to suck the earth dry to meet our (very basic) human needs. It really shouldn't be this complicated to not kill the planet.
So here is me saying don't obsess, act. Don't spend time freaking out if you use plastic instead of your homemade beeswax wraps. Strive to use less plastic as much as possible. But don't get stuck and use your mind-power fretting. Spend time reading and learning about climate justice issues. (Yes! Magazine and Resilience are great places to start). But then step away from the computer and plant something. You gotta love it to want to protect it. Bring a kid or three with you.
Really it isn't what is more effective: individual or social change - it is how can we stay open to the fact that each day, we all have to be involved in this struggle. We know there will be people who can't be involved because life conditions prevent them from doing anything beyond survival (thinking now of farmworkers - in this country - working 12 hours a day in drought ridden California fields only to go to their 'home' - often a bare-bones shelter - and have no water for a shower that day or week or have to use a communal water tank.)
That means those of us who can speak must speak.
 |
| Our family at the People's Climate March in September 2014 in NYC. The banner says "Wind, Water, Sun: Energy for the Long Run |
So let's strive together, shall we? Whether it is attending a 350.org rally*, making homemade jam, blocking gas storage trucks with We are Seneca Lake, planting a garden for immigrant families, sitting in awe of a summer sunset with your kid, whatever. Invite people along who may not have been made aware of these issues. Instead of spending time arguing over what makes the most impact, we can strive every day to take steps - several each day - toward turning the tide on excessive resource extraction. Share what you are doing (or want to do) in the comments and we can inspire each other!
*The number 350 means climate safety: to preserve a livable planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 400 parts per million to below 350 ppm."
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