Matthias Ott
Damn, following that #climatechange hashtag changes your timeline a lot…
A record-breaking heatwave in Asia, an unprecedented marine heat wave, wildfires in Canada, a heatwave breaks the power grid in Texas, Antarctica melting faster than ever, the hottest June ever, the hottest seven days in the last 100.000 years, El Niño is here, flooding in New York state, a new heatwave in Europe, a coast-to-coast heat dome in the US, record monsoon rains in India…
and Hurricane season has only just begun.
Evan Prodromou
@sarajw @ohhelloana @matthiasott there are great books like Project Drawdown or Speed and Scale that talk about the parts of our economy and society that need to change. Find a way to work on them. Get specific.
Climatebase has climate-related jobs. There are tech volunteer opportunities. You can contribute to open source projects like the ones at Open Earth Foundation.
As someone who works in climate, I can say clearly: we need your time, money, and attention. There is a lot of work to do.
Evan Prodromou
@sarajw @ohhelloana @matthiasott
Climate despair is engineered. It is the result of propaganda. That feeling of helplessness is intentional.
If someone tells you that individuals can't affect climate change, punch that asshole like you'd punch Richard Spencer. How dare they ask you to give up on this Earth? How dare they tell you that you are too small to matter? How dare they suggest you become complicit in omnicide through inaction?
Evan Prodromou
@sarajw @ohhelloana @matthiasott
Every time you feel stressed out, worried, or depressed, go do one of these things:
- Give money to a climate change nonprofit. Even if you're already a member.
- Give money to a climate+ political party or pac.
- Find a place to volunteer.
- Write a letter or an email to a politician at state, local, or national level.
- Form a green team at work.
- Commit to public transit commute one day per week.
- Commit to plant-based food one day per week.
Sara Joy :happy_pepper:
I feel you on this. I've had to make a new box in my head for things which otherwise take up all my thoughts and leave me similarly hopeless and crying:
- Climate change
- COVID19 (and future pandemics)
- War (most specifically in Ukraine right now)
The box is "things that have or might directly affect me and definitely negatively affect so many people but that I have no control over".
It's a box of awful huge things that are too big for me. I do what I can, but.. 🤷
Ana Rodrigues
@matthiasott I guess I have what people call climate change anxiety and I had to stop looking at news unless they are information about things I can actually do.
I have found myself crying feeling hopeless. It's awful. 😔
Matthias Ott
I want to stay informed but it’s really getting more intense and distressing every year now. Yet there is also a lot of good and hopeful news. So, I guess that’s simply the reality we need to honestly assess and understand in order to prepare, act, and change.
How do you feel watching all this unfold?
Sara Joy :happy_pepper:
@evan @ohhelloana @matthiasott
All great suggestions!
I do however think it's still OK to do what you can (I don't think anyone in this thread has given up on Earth, or does nothing), while having a diet from the news, which like you say, even fosters the feelings of hopelessness.
I can do my part, and I can also be frustrated at those in leadership positions falling prey to powerful lobbies that represent environmentally unfriendly industries.
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