“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Martin Luther King Jr, Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Dec. 10, 1964
Today, January 21st, 2019 across the country and around the world, people are gathering to learn, to remember, and to respect the enduring legacy and wisdom of Martin Luther King.
Throughout the year, many of our Climate Mamas and Papas remind me that they are regularly inspired, motivated and emboldened by Dr. King’s words. Dr. King, to many of us, was a Climate Solutions visionary. The problems of our climate crisis where in their infancy, yet his wise words can help us move forward as we build out determination to solve the crisis before us, and give our children a chance at a livable and sustainable future. For me, always pushing me forward, the following words echo incessantly in my head:
“We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now….
Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words:
TOO LATE.”
This photo of my son and I was taken back in the fall of 2011, when as a family, we visited Washington DC to take part in a non-violent, peaceful demonstration where together with thousands of other families, we surround the White House which was then under the watchful eye of President Obama and gave it a “hug” and let him know that we needed his support to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. He did subsequently stop it’s construction, shortly after that event, and it has since then and over the years been an “on again, off again” infrastructure project. It continues to be fought to this day, in the courts and on the ground, on the farms, and particularly by Climate Mamas and Papas standing strong on the land, in the state of Nebraska.
In honor of Dr. King, We offer a few ideas that we each can take on, as we move forward to advance climate action and build up our collective climate hope. We think that Dr. King would have supported our calls and steps forward on climate action.
- On the battle over the Keystone XL, which we have been fighting through non-violent direct action for over 7 years, lets finally and permanently demand that our courts aided by the court of public opinion, refuse permits for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
- Publicly support and advocate for a carbon fee that will generate hundreds of billions of dollars, with provisions to ensure that working families and the poor are not harmed by higher carbon prices; for an end to subsidies to the coal, oil and gas industries; and for substantial subsidies for research, development, and use of renewable, sustainable and jobs-creating clean energy sources.
- In honor of Dr. King, call a family meeting tonight, tomorrow or next weekend, and talk to about the reasons your family is demanding action on climate change and what you are going to do directly, whatever your motivations. We all need to “be on board” and demand action now. Our planet isn’t waiting.
- With new candidates for President in 2020 stating their intentions to run, almost every day, stand up for your kids, and make sure anyone that wants to be President clearly knows that “tackling the Climate Crisis” as THE priority of so many Americans, and must be at the top of their campaign initiatives. Remind them of Dr. King’s wise words: “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” Let them know it’s time to “get smart” about the climate crisis.
- As part of your upcoming family meeting, or a subsequent one, have everyone make a Valentines Card, and send it to your newly elected Congressperson, Senator, State Representative or local leaders. Let them know you are interested and will be calling on them to share their climate plan for your town, region, state and for our country. Tell them that solutions to the climate crisis are your priority and you want to know that it is their too. (If it’s your card, as a parent or grandparent, consider including a cute photo of your child or grandchild, as a reminder about why we are asking them to be our Valentines and our Climate Heroes.)
Feel free to also send to us, at info.climatemama.com, your name, home town and zip code and we will add your name to a ClimateMama Valentines Card we are making for both Senator McConnell and Speaker Pelosi, two decision makers who must show leadership and have climate solutions on their minds, even if it isn’t yet part of their daily actions. ‘
We want to end by sharing these wise words from 2014, that Climate Mama extraordinaire, Eli Sparks of Virginia shared with us; they are as relevant and more today!
“Saving the world from pollution isn’t all up to me. I was simply stunned (by the reality of the climate crisis). Stunned and deeply saddened. Personal change is important. I’ve got friends who farm sustainably. Others who ride their bikes everywhere they go. I shop at the farmers market and turn off my lights when I’m not in the room. However, none of these steps will make a difference unless the big players step up to the plate. All of the likely climate heroes have started working on the problem. We need the unlikely climate heroes to emerge and lead.
We need congressmen and women with strong ties to coal, oil, and natural gas. We need politicians connected to the building industry, transportation, manufacturing, and electricity. We need statesmen and women respected by peers in their party. We need them to lead on this most challenging of issues.”
Let’s follow Eli’s advice and help our leaders LEAD!
Yours,
Climate Mama
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