Many of our group diaries so far have involved sustainable farming and gardening and trees. Hopefully you are now motivated to do some planting of your own! I know I am. But since it’s midwinter, of course some of you have soil warm enough to plant now, but what about the rest of us where the ground is frozen or nearly? Well, there are still plenty of regenerative activities you can engage in, as well as things to read, so I thought I would cover a few of those here tonight. Otherwise, take a break if you need to, get what exercise you can so you’ll be fit for planting in the Spring, and catch up on the news below!
Here are 10 ways to fight climate change now, including adding insulation to your older home if it needs it, https://www.greenamerica.org/... and of course there's the old standby, turn down the heat and wear a sweater.
Use winter sports to enlist new climate change activists - consider Protect our Winters and Rink Watch - https://www.reuters.com/… These groups use the prospect of losing winter sports to enlist previously uninterested participants in climate change activism! Pretty cool (in more ways than one).
In The News
global sustainable development report 2019
This is the first of an every-four-years report by a group of independent scientists appointed by the UN. sustainabledevelopment.un.org/… Recognizing the severity of the climate emergency, their goals are to change things by 2030. There are 17 sustainable and urgent goals: No poverty, no hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, strong peace and justice institutions, and partnerships to reach goals. Note that the involved scientists believe this is all doable either with available technology or tech in development.
extinction rebellion
You may have seen that Extinction Rebellion was listed as an extremist group in the UK. Well now they had to walk that back:
British police now say it was an "error of judgment" to include Extinction Rebellion as an extremist group. https://abcnews.go.com/…
Extinction Rebellion could sue police over extremist ideology listing
https://www.theguardian.com/…
australia
How First Australians' ancient knowledge can help us survive the bushfires of the future
https://www.theguardian.com/...
Kangaroo pouches, koala mittens: knitters unite to aid animals in Australia fires
Volunteers worldwide create shelters for wildlife such as baby marsupials that need pouches to grow
https://www.theguardian.com/…
Patrick Suckling: "I was Australia's ambassador for the environment, I know how we can fight climate change". https://www.theguardian.com/...
Written in November of this past year, before the fires, but still relevant I think.
new zealand
New Zealand schools to teach students about climate crisis, activism and 'eco anxiety'
Changes to the curriculum will put the country at the forefront of climate crisis education worldwide
Will the US catch up after the end of this maladministration?
us
Boo hiss! Another reason to vote (multiple times!*) in November: The great dismantling of America's national parks is under way
https://www.theguardian.com/…
The money quote in the national parks story:
When this nightmare ends, and we begin to rebuild, we suggest it is time for Congress to consider making the National Park Service an independent institution, more akin to the Smithsonian, and no longer subject to the vicissitudes of a hostile political agenda in a Department of the Interior dominated by extractive industries and anti-public land crusaders.
Lands and resources belonging to the People certainly shouldn't be subject to destruction and/or misappropriation by greedy corporations or equally greedy individuals.
Yay! This is interesting, still in early stages. Bricks made of sand and bacteria, that ''slurp'' o2. Research funded and backed by DARPA!
*Kidding. Voting multiple times will be illegal if you’re a Democrat. But do make sure all your family and friends and neighbors are registered, remain registered, and have proper ID; and if you can, take them to the polls!
books
Science and nature books
Going local: how to make a big difference in small ways
For readers feeling anxious about the climate crisis, a fresh crop of nature writing is energizing grassroots activism and inspiring local conservation
https://www.theguardian.com/…
petition
Of course we end our news roundup with a petition for you to sign if you’d like! act.nrdc.org/… Demand that *Resident *Rump restore America’s leadership on climate change.
This is a group effort! Many thanks for links and discussion to Angmar, RiveroftheWest, and hay seed!
To join the Regenerative Culture for an Altered Planet group, please read more about it and contact us here!
To join the GreenRevolution Direct Action Environmental Protest group, please read more about it and contact us here!
Please consider this is an open thread on climate change. Feel free to comment on these or other environmental issues!