If you are reading this, you are a carbon addict.
For the last 200 years — about .00004% of the time it took to form our fossil fuels — we’ve succeeded in burning a huge amount of them and endangering our survival in the process. Both climate change and the current state of our national affairs can provoke a sense of hopeless despair, the idea that there’s nothing we can do to stop the inevitable.
But on both counts, you are dead wrong.
I recently attended a Brookings Institute webinar entitled “Democracy’s Next Act: How to Build Resilience Around the World.” From the audience, I asked “What can an average person do in this moment?”
It turns out how one saves democracy is how one saves the planet. Inspired by Bruce Haulman’s excellent commentary in the Jan. 9 Beachcomber, and using advice from the webinar, I offer these five steps to convince you that you can make a difference. Amid the distractions emanating from Washington D.C., you can take these actions locally — where the government rubber hits the road.
Step One: Strengthen yourself. Tune out the discord and get some sleep. You may feel exhausted already, but you won’t be of use if you are anxious, depressed, or traumatized by world events. As Bruce points out, effective communication is key, which requires being close to the top of your game.
You will also need to gird yourself for the long haul. If you lack motivation, imagine the world your grandchildren will inherit. If you are shocked by that image, remember that humans can change course and hence change their destinies. Ebenezer Scrooge learned this in one night, and so can you. As part of this step, ditch your shame. You had a role in creating these problems, but it’s not like you had much of a choice.
Step Two: Learn more about the problem you want to solve. The truth is not merely what you think it is, and you must clear your mind of preconceived notions. Understand science for what it says and respect the opinions of experts. Many people are quick to believe one kind of expert and disbelieve another if their advice is inconvenient. But being inconvenienced may be necessary to address the common good.
Step Three: Talk with others. As Bruce emphasized, to recreate the connections that have been lost, converse often with family and friends and set a goal of talking with a stranger once a day. Stick to “safe” topics at first — their dog, your kids, etc. One old saying goes “You can’t make war on someone with whom you’ve just shared a meal.” If you chat long enough, you’ll learn what worries others in your community and whether they are acting on those worries.
Step Four: “Join or die,” as the Brookings experts advised. Individuals working alone can make remarkable progress at times, but such opportunities are rare. We must leverage our individual influence through a community that has formed for that purpose. No matter where you live, there are organizations addressing climate change or opposing the erosion of democracy, and they need help. Become familiar with these local efforts and focus on one group that clicks with you and that has hopes to expand. Remember that the most effective solutions are those that can be scaled up.
Step Five: Don’t stop. It will take the concerted efforts of many people over several generations to heal the planet and save democracy. Take a rest, regroup, work smarter, or revise your approach, but do not give up. Your children will thank you for it.
I’d like to close with a proposal that might be called “Project 2028.” I believe that what America needs today, and has rarely had in the past, is a common vision of the future. Instead of being told by elected officials and oligarchs what constitutes that vision, it must come from the grassroots, from us.
I propose that a Vashon-Maury Community Council committee lead a series of meetings to discuss the standards politicians must meet to qualify for office, environmental protection, our response to climate change, local housing, agriculture, energy generation, and other pressing social topics. The goal: To create a vision of the future that values people, places, and sustainability.
We all have the power to leave the world better off than it was when we arrived. Challenge yourself to do what you can to make that happen.
Greg Wessel is an island geologist.