The Cause We All Should All Be Part Of

In a recent post I referenced Joanna Macy's concept of the Great Turning.  Summarized (really briefly) she suggests to become whole, and healthy again we must:

1.  Practice holding actions where we at least limit the continued damage that comes from destructive behavior such as lies being sold as truth, science being doubted, demonizing those we disagree with.  

2.  Replace the destructive behavior with new, life affirming priorities, that put compassion at the forefront and help us see others in the world as companions not competitors.

3.  In the process of 1 and 2, see a major consciousness shift occur in us individually and collectively.

As we look at Joanna Macy's game plan here, I wonder what steps can be taken that will offer a straight path from 'stopping the bleeding to consciousness change?' 

I would like to suggest all three of these can be addressed by you and me, if each of us is intentional about environmental action and climate change mitigation.  This single cause, in the plethora of causes we all care about and support, has the potential for the most positive lasting impact and offers us a simple straight line from bad to better. I believe we should all adopt environmental action as the cause going forward.

Now, you're going to say, 'but I support orphans in Africa.  Should I stop doing that?'  I would answer 'no of course not.' But consider this:  if we support the end of burning of the rain forest more orphans don't die in Africa.  When we seek to reduce the carbon emissions in cities across the world, more poor people, who live in those cities, get less diseases and respiratory problems. When we move to wind power and solar power, real jobs exist for those who are struggling to find work; jobs that will not go away. 

When we support environmental programs to offset all we are doing to the climate and the world-- which impacts poor communities way more than rich communities -- we're not only helping orphans in Africa but also the poor in Haiti and Guatemala and elsewhere in the world, including the United States. Environmental action supports the reduction of poverty in the world. 

A commitment by each of us can have, as I said, lasting impact too. Not just short-term, but 'for our grandchildren, long-term' impact.  Surely governments and agencies have to do their part to have real change happen (rejoining the Parish Climate Accord is a good start).  But a real consciousness change starts with us.  Each of us committing to make climate change and environmentally sustainable programs a focus can … well... change the world.

Here are some thoughts about our role - you and me - in this change:

First we need to rededicate ourselves to hearing truth and telling truth.  Nothing is more important right now than restoring truth as truth.  If we continue (most of us) to refuse to allow the 'truth-magicians' to fool us and we don't step over the line of being a truth-magician ourselves, we will begin those holding actions mentioned in number one above, and limit the damage.  What is truth #1?  Climate change is real and mostly caused by humans.

Everything in this field starts with this. Climate change is real and we are causing it.

But there is a lot going on that we contribute to.  What's our role in reducing the threat of climate change, right here, at home, where we live?

Here's just a few personal things we can do to play a role in this consciousness change:

Do the little things-we can turn off the water while brushing our teeth, turn off the computer and other electronics when not in use, take five minute showers, turn down the heat and put on a sweater, as my wife's mother used to tell her, rather than put the heat up.  Then how about consider the environment when making a new car choice. Seem trite? Maybe. But if millions do it...great impact. 

Teach our kids and grandkids to do the little things-just think how much cleaner the environment will be if our children begin to do those little things (and eventually the things below too).

Do bigger things like green the portfolio.   Twenty years ago I drove a financial adviser nuts making him find funds and stocks for my rather meager portfolio that weren't military contractors, extraction companies (gas and oil) and didn't help fund dictatorships and other governments that oppress people.  Twenty years ago this wasn't an easy thing to pull off.  Today?  Easy.  There are a bunch of funds and stocks that support green living and don't pay for bullets.  Just ask your adviser.  They are out there.  And, by the way, they keep up with the bullet makers as good investments too.   My portfolio sticks right there with the Lipper Average, whoever the hell Lipper is (shortstop for the Cardinals?).

Buy local, fair trade and close to home.  This is another one easier said than done some time ago.  Not anymore.  Community Supported Agriculture, where you get your vegetables on a regular basis from a local farm is pretty much available everywhere.  Buying Fair Trade to guarantee the people making the products are benefiting from it and shopping at Farmer's Markets where the food is grown close to home, all benefit local people, reduce green house gas emissions because the stuff doesn't travel in a truck from 1000 miles away.  This also means make Amazon Prime the last choice for purchasing the things we need.  Notice I didn't say stop buying from Amazon. I know how hard that is. Just reduce, as one friend calls it 'feeding the beast.'  Admission:  we are not quite there on this one in our house.  But we're working on it.

Eat your fruits and vegetables and leave the chickens, cows and pigs alone. Besides what cows do to the ozone layer (I'll save flatulence for another time), the environmental impact of eating meat is substantial. If we can 'green our table' we can reduce that environmental impact. Again, I would love to tell you we are vegetarians in the Aschermann house. We're not, but we limit the amount of meat we eat on purpose in an effort to aid the cause. Eating more greens also helps you with buying local. 

Finally, support strong environmental organizations that are doing the important work with governments around the world-We don't have to invent another charity (please, dear God, don't create another charity; there are 3000 new charities created each month; yea, 3000).  There are wonderful organizations out there doing the work for us.  I can't remember  how I became a life-member of Sierra Club, though I think it has something to do with a gift I sent them many years ago when they were struggling financially.  When I sat pulling my hair out about the last election and wondering what I could do, it was Sierra Club that gave me a mechanism to send personal letters to environmentally conscious people in the swing states who didn't always vote. I sent 300 personal letters and felt like I did something.  Again, we don't have to start a new charity.  Find one that is doing good work right now. The internet can give you a list of the most responsible, and effective environmental charities.

In short I am suggesting we ask 'what would Thoreau say?' for real. The father of environmentalism; the guru for John Muir, founder of Sierra Club; the person that made Transcendentalism more than an esoteric debate about religion. Henry David Thoreau would say simplify, simplify, simplify. And he would inveigh against any - including you and me - that saw nature as something to be owned or exploited or ignored. 

What Would Thoreau Say? Make the environment your cause and you will join with millions of others to change the world and make it safer and cleaner for our grandchildren.