Bill McKibben on Our Path Forward
Dear Partners in Green,
I was at a loss this month as to how to give a positive or at least semi-hopeful message in the era of Trump and his irresponsible, almost daily proclamations bent on weakening our Democracy and keeping us all on pins and needles, not to mention making us even more fearful for the future of our beleaguered planet and all for whom it is home.
So, I turned to Bill McKibben, an American environmentalist who has been a leading voice on climate change since 1989 when he published The End of Nature. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College.
Recently, he was interviewed by Elizabeth Kolbert, a contributing writer for e360. He began by addressing the feeling of despair, and commenting on the remarkable time in history when the most powerful country in the world, at least for the moment, is “flat out” rejecting science, and how the level of irresponsibility, indeed just craziness, is off the charts.
He goes on to speak of two saving graces:
- As the U.S. has retreated from leadership, others have stepped up to fill the void, including China. He admits to having problems with the Chinese government, but believes that when it comes to energy, they’ve been more responsible than we’ve been.
- McKibben also believes that the Trump Administration can delay this energy transition, but it can’t stop it. There will be delays which will make climate change worse, but it’s not as if he has complete control of the situation.
As for civil disobedience, he has deep concerns, saying, “Trump-MAGA world welcomes resistance of that kind. They like those kinds of fights.”
On a more positive note, he spoke of the day of action called “Sun Day,” scheduled for September, calling it a huge celebration of possibility. Check it out!!!
I invite you to read the whole piece. It is not terribly uplifting, but there is some hope.
So please do not let despair keep you from living as green as you possibly can:
- Eat a vegetarian diet – save the rainforests.
- Refrain from unnecessary shopping.
- Take a “stay-cation.”
- Lower the thermostat if you can do so safely.
- Let the grass grow an extra week.
- Donate to organizations committed to protecting the environment.
- Write OPED pieces.
- Contact your Congress (person) and Senators over and over again.
- Protest! Being silent is not an option.
- Speak out and speak up.
- Practice self-care.
What Kind of Times Are These
by Adrienne Rich
There’s a place between two stands of trees where the grass grows uphill
and the old revolutionary road breaks off into shadows
near a meeting-house abandoned by the persecuted
who disappeared into those shadows.
I’ve walked there picking mushrooms at the edge of dread, but don’t be fooled
this isn’t a Russian poem, this is not somewhere else but here,
our country moving closer to its own truth and dread,
its own ways of making people disappear.
I won’t tell you where the place is, the dark mesh of the woods
meeting the unmarked strip of light—ghost-ridden crossroads, leafmold paradise:
I know already who wants to buy it, sell it, make it disappear.
And I won’t tell you where it is, so why do I tell you anything? Because you still listen, because in times like these to have you listen at all, it’s necessary to talk about trees.
Thank you for being on this journey.
Wishing peace and health to you and your loved ones.
Until next time,
Beth
