“Houston, We Have a Problem …”
There was no other way I could think of to start this other than with those iconic words we all remember from the early days of space travel …
“Houston, we have a problem…”
And we do have a problem, a significant problem: the Climate Crisis is much more serious than most people realize.
Unless you are reading climate news websites, you may not know that many scientists are now talking about two new potentials:
Civilization itself may not be able to survive the warming trajectory we are on.
We are leaving a legacy of massive suffering for our kids and grandkids if we continue the path we’re on.
All this information is documented in a new book:
UNPRECEDENTED
Can Civilization Survive the CO2 Crisis?
By David Ray Griffin, Ph.D.
This is an extraordinary handbook, with details on everything from the unprecedented threats, such as:
extreme weather, heat waves, droughts, wildfires, sea-level rise, fresh water shortage, food shortages, ocean acidification, etc.
to the unprecedented challenges and failures of our media and political system as well as moral, religious, and economic issues,
and the transition to clean energy, with info about all the options and the exciting progress made so far.
If you feel overwhelmed about this situation, you are not alone! As we all know, the best antidote to feelings of overwhelment, fear, and anxiety is purposeful action. So choose one small thing you could do today to reduce your carbon footprint to care for the earth … and just begin.
There is also some very good news!! Millions of people all over the world have already begun the process of working together in community to adapt to this new paradigm of lowering our CO2 emissions, including Burlington, VT that just became the first U.S. city to run on 100% sustainable energy!
So we know it’s possible… Renewables supplied 30% of Germany’s energy in 2014. In developing countries renewable energy also contributes to alleviating poverty, by providing energy for cooking, space heating, lighting, and also electricity for schools. In fact, Kenya is now the world leader in the number of solar power systems installed per capita. We can care for the earth and in the process improve the lives of millions around the globe. hands holding green heart shaped tree tree arranged in a heart shape love nature save the world heal the world environmental preservation
This new paradigm also requires us to consume less: less energy, use less plastic, switch to cleaner energy sources, eat local food, reuse and recycle everything possible, or don’t buy it in the first place! Check here for more ideas to reduce your carbon footprint and/or take the quiz below:
Ecological Footprint Quiz: http://www.earthday.org/footprint-calculator
Our first goal is not to try to save the world, although we might do that some day, but the first thing is to get our behavior in alignment with our values. If we value the kind of life we are leaving to our kids and grandkids, then we will begin making daily choices to support these values.
An interesting feature about this massive movement is that it’s decentralized and is not headed up by any one person… and is beginning to come together with all the other issues that need to be addressed, such as establishing a living minimum wage, social justice, income equality, democracy, reducing poverty, etc. But the decentralized nature of this movement means it’s still below the radar and the media has not recognized it. That often leaves us feeling alone, not knowing there are millions who are already engaged in important changes.
For a 5-min overview, listen to Paul Hawken on the Biggest
Movement in the World that No One Saw Coming: the reason we have hope for a meaningful transformation in the world.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to take one purposeful action, no matter how small or large. Just begin!
And don’t forget to spend time in Nature and appreciate the vastness and beauty of our earth!