Greetings, PF friends. It's the 3rd Friday of the month, which means it's Climate Action Day. If reading coverage of COP27, which is closing today, makes you want take a few more personal steps right now, check out this list from the Washington Post. Of course, we know that our individual actions alone don't make a dent in global climate warming, but I like to think of the small actions we do as a string of prayer beads, as a rosary of reminders to stay focused on the Big Moves towards a lighter, less consumptive way of living on the planet.
For example, each week I think mindfully about how I'm going to get where I need to go each day, and I try to figure out if I need to drive instead of assuming that I'll drive. Even on the days I must use the car, that practice reminds me to consider how I'm arranging my life to reduce driving and what I'm doing to press my local government to support better public transport, bike and electric vehicle infrastructure (ie who do I need to write to today?)
I have time this morning to highlight only one of the Big Moves that a nation can make (and as a Big Nation which has contributed more than our fair share to the Anthropocene Catastrophe, the U.S. has a duty to make the Big Moves). It's special because it's essentially about SHOPPING, an activity I have found fun and rewarding in my life and which I really miss. The U.S. is one of the greediest shoppers on the planet, so President Biden's announcement last Friday at COP about us becoming more mindful shoppers (at 7:35) is a big deal.
This news is special also because my dear friend Holly, one of the many folks I know here who works at the EPA, was on the team who wrote the case that requires every federal contractor to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions and to set climate impact reduction targets. You can support the adoption of this new Federal Acquisition Requirement by going here to leave a public comment. We are communicators, so let's communicate!
The poem for today is not about shopping, but it is about water consumption--and I love so many of the poet's turns of phrase, the memories of our shared experiences of water back when most of us didn't realize where we were headed. Please enjoy Rudy Francisco!
Our host today is Jama at her Alphabet Soup blog, where she's most satisfyingly focusing on Thanksgiving food. I wonder what we might do to enjoy the feast without overdoing the impact on the planet? My sister-in-law, our host cook, is focusing on indigenous ingredients--a true Three Sisters menu!
Thanks for your advocacy and activism, Heidi. I checked out the WP link and will try to do better. Small steps matter -- as you said, if only to keep mindful of our responsibility to the planet. We are a consumptive, spoiled society based on capitalism, so the way isn't easy.
ReplyDeleteThis is a timely post (especially the shopping part as we move into the gluttony of Black Friday). A bit of data I ran across recently is that consumers are buying 60% more clothes than 15 years ago and keeping them only HALF as long. This Black Friday, I'm planning to join the Friends of the Lower Olentangy (a river that runs through Columbus) to do a trash pickup. Mend more, spend less!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post Heidi-- and for the action tip! That poem is incredible-- Button Poetry supports some incredible artists. Every action to walk lighter on the earth matters- I believe that in my core. Happy Poetry Friday!
ReplyDeleteShopping. All the crazy shopping we as a nation were taught to do after WWII to kick-start the post war economy. Such silliness at a minimum and destructively addictive at the max. I like to think that small steps matter as they help me remember what's important. I will take a look at that link. Thanks for your thoughtful post.
ReplyDeleteAs Mary Lee wrote, the "all about what I want" Black Friday ads are everywhere, and it's time to access what we are doing that hurts now, hurts the future. I live in a drought state so am very aware of water use. Francisco's poem shows it well. When will the shower heads become a relic? I am fortunate to be near enough to places so I can walk, a double benefit. Thanks for the Wapo list, too, Heidi. Wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving with your family.
ReplyDeleteOh, so much to ponder and keep tackling. Thank you for all that you do, Heidi. It's so easy to get discouraged and I appreciate the WaPo link to small steps. Francisco is wonderful ("a fistful of afternoon"!) The poem starts with such joy and moves into such stark realism. Who knew that joyous days of abandon in the sprinkler could become — like the shower? — a relic?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heidi. So much to think about and be mindful about. Rudy Francisco's poem made me remember my childhood and also made me think about the world my grandchildren are inheriting and what small steps I can take.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Heidi and poignant poem, I appreciated the paywall opening that you afforded us so we could read the 10 climate actions to take on, thanks for all!
ReplyDeleteOh Heidi, so much here this week! I'm trying to remember that each small step, each bike-ride instead of car-trip, each turn-off of the spigot, each vegan meal is my own way of choosing what kind of human I hope to be. Water is always on my heart -- having grown up, like Rudy - in California, and now living in the desert. I don't know what tomorrows will offer my grandson. I don't know where we will live when the Colorado runs dry. I don't know so many things. But each small step reminds me of the human I hope to be.
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