Let’s come together this fall to make our world differently, so all beings thrive.
If you pay attention to climate issues, you know that not a day goes by without at least one major headline, whether it's a hurricane, wildfire, political posturing, or new technology; climate is in the news. I'll tell you that my heart has been heavy this past week or so because of a headline I saw explaining that animal populations have declined almost 70% since 1970.
One of my mentors used to say that focusing on climate change is too small and sustainability isn’t enough. We also have to think about species extinction, environmental justice, and the many other intersecting social and environmental justice issues.
As for sustainability not being enough: You don't want your marriage to be sustainable; you want it to flourish!
So even as I've been mourning the loss of all of the blessed, beautiful creatures, I've been holding in my mind and heart all of the blessed, beautiful creatures who remain, who make our world the beautiful, blessed place that it is. I’ve been trying to visualize the creatures I love flourishing - the manatees, blue whales, black-footed ferrets, wolves, American burying beetles (I have a soft spot for decomposers), Mead's Milkweed, California Redwoods, and all the others….flourishing. Our world, flourishing.
We know that we are losing so, so much, and so many precious beings, and we must balance that knowledge with a vision of a thriving, flourishing community filled with radical hope and grounded action. As Mariame Kaba said, “Hope is a Discipline.” We can do this together. What is the creature, being, or place that you most want to save, that gives you hope when your heart is weary? What will you fight hardest to save?
I invite you to take a moment as you read this to think about the beings that you love, the places that make your heart sing, the things you will fight to save. If you have time, check out this beautiful, challenging, and inspiring video of the UN Climate Summit Poem "Dear Matafele Peinem" Every time I watch it, it fills me with wonder, fear, joy, sadness, anger, and hope - all of the emotions I need to commit again, every day, to climate action.
In our hearts, all climate activists hold the goal of making the world a better place, making it different, and making it so we all thrive. David Graeber says, "The ultimate, hidden truth of the world, is that it is something we make, and could just as easily make differently." How can we make our world differently, together, so all beings thrive?
Here’s one idea: VOTE FOR CLIMATE. Did you know that people who prioritize climate tend to skip midterm elections? There are millions of people who prioritize climate but don’t vote. I know that many of us have been disappointed by the glacial pace of climate change policy. I know we’ve been frustrated that politicians say they’ll act on climate, then we see little change. I know it’s hard to keep trusting in a system that has not adequately responded to the crisis. Believe me, I know. AND STILL, we need to turn out every climate voter this November. Let’s come together this fall to make our world differently, so all beings thrive.
In community,
Rachel
Rachel Myslivy is Side With Love’s Climate Justice Organizer. Get updates from Create Climate Justice by subscribing here.