Celebrating Women

International Women's Day
All women and girls need a chance for education

Today is #InternationalWomensDay and we recognize that women are still far from equal to men in today’s societies. We still have a very long way to go.
Those who will suffer the most from the climate- and environmental crisis are the ones who are already the most vulnerable, socially and financially. And that tends to be women living in the global south… We can not have climate justice without gender equality.
And remember; what we women want today – and every day- is fundamental equal rights, not congratulations or celebrations.”  Greta Thunberg

It seems an irony to be celebrating International Women’s Day after the primary elections in the United States turned away Elizabeth Warren, an outstanding candidate, from running for president. I would like to know where the women of this country are?  Why would they vote for old white men when they have a better female choice? It is a mystery.

On this day we are celebrate all the women we know and all they do to make the world a better place and make the lives around them better everyday!

Women and girls need education and family planning so they can take control of their own lives. 

Time Magazine’s issue this week is about women leaders of the last 100 years. Just imagine a 100 years from now! 100 women

Besides Greta, there are other women working on climate issues, women environmental leaders.

 

 

Climate Change is Affecting the Power Grid

The consequences of climate change will affect every aspect of an electricapower system, from generation transmission and distribution to end-user demand.” Moody’s Investors Service   Read more here.

I find this Moody’s report(above) crucial as Mr. Trump and Secretary Mnuchin are clearly in denial of one of the greatest threats facing our planet, climate change. They are ignoring the facts and they are attacking a seventeen year old who clearly knows more about science and the reality of climate change than they do. Yes, her focus is on science  and the future. Trump and Mnuchin think profits and making money.  I wonder if the Moody’s report is fake news? Mnuchin VS Greta

Why don’t they just ignore Greta? Why do they belittle and make fun of her? They are the adults?

wind generator
No water needed!

What expectations should we have from the leaders of the United States? First, they shouldn’t make fun of people, and especially a 17 year old.  Yes, disagree, but don’t make fun of people because you disagree with them. Agree to disagree, without put-downs! Second, I expect that our officials work for the best interests of the people of the United States and the people of the world, prioritizing keep them safe.  They need to listen to the scientists and search for the best information avaliable, not just gut feelings. They should care  about people over profit and money. Finally, I expect they tell they truth and follow the rule of law. Bad values will catch up with the economy eventually!

It is more expensive to fix things than to keep it in good order in the first place. What do Mnuchin and Trump care? They will be long gone when things are beyond repair, and people are suffering from air and water pollution, droughts, fires flooding and rising seas.

There is no planet B and there won’t be a way to go back and start over. We must reduce our carbon output and keep our air and water clean now and not next year!

Climate march in New York City
Fridays for our Future

Climate change will do more than sabotage our power sources. It will also harm the wine industry

Finally, things you can do today, choose one to help the Earth!

Good News from 2019

And from Future Crunch 99 good news stories:

https://futurecrun.ch/99-good-news-2019

Good news gives me hope and I hope these stories give you hope for 2020!

The two stories from 2019 that give me most hope are the leadership of Greta Thunberg, climate activist, and Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand.

 

What are you doing Today for the Future?

PROTECT                               RESTORE                          FUND!

Greta is an awesome spokesperson for the world, and she has a global audience.  I focus locally. What can each of us do to make a difference? So instead of getting depressed, make an effort everyday to help the Earth: Take public transport, buy less, reduce plastic use and food waste, plant native plants and native trees, and reduce the amount of meat you eat. Each one of us can make a big difference!

And the letter from scientists to the world. “Mankind is still facing the existential threat of runaway consumption of limited resources by a rapidly growing population,” they warned. And “scientists, media influencers and lay citizens” aren’t doing enough to fight against it, If the world doesn’t act soon, there will be catastrophic biodiversity loss and untold amounts of human misery,” they wrote. Read the full report by thousands of scientists here.

More on amazing trees: https://www.treepeople.org/tree-benefits

Fridays For The Future

Climate march in New York City
Fridays for our Future

Can we meet the challenge? Our planet is burning up, and where I live we are experiencing continual record rain events. Our world lacks sensible elected leaders, therefore, we all must act. If everyone does a little it adds up to a lot!

First, get out and march. The Global Climate Strike is Friday, September 20, create your own event or find an event near you here.

Next, be mindful as to how you can buy less and waste less. Pay attention to your trash. What can you reuse, recycle, donate, or avoid completely? How can reuse your food scraps? All of our actions matter!

Because of the extreme weather 7 million people have been displaced. This is huge and wars are being fought over displaced people. Climate justice will be an enormous topic of the future.

Thankfully, the media is starting to pay attention to our building crisis. Time Magazine, Reveal and PBS have done some outstanding segments.

Fridays For Future
Greta Thunberg

Read more about Greta and watch the video below:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/climate-warrior

 

 

Serious September

I have found meaning, in a world that sometimes seems meaningless to so many people.” Greta Thunberg, Swedish 16 year old activist

What can we do to have more meaning in our lives? What can we do to have a happier and healthier world? As I write this many places in the world are in crisis. It is flooding in Japan, a hurricane is bearing down on the United States and Bahamas. The Amazon,  Alaska, and Canada are burning up, and Hong Kong is in political chaos, and many others are starving and face daily violence. This is all serious stuff, and even worse we are so lacking leaders with vision, with positive thoughts for the future. We need leaders that really care for our Earth and all the people that live here. It is stressful. We can all lighten our stress on the world by being aware of our actions and the impact we make.

monarch butterfly
Find beauty everyday!

Yes, many are under stress as is our Earth. I think the best thing you can do for your mental health is to be outside and find beauty in each day. Go for a walk, a bike ride or just sit on a bench. Search for quiet and beauty. Get out of your car, and unplug those phones! Everyday do something good for yourself, but also for the world, and for others. Our actions matter. Set some healthy goals for yourself and get outside for a walk as much as you can, take your nature-pill 

The Actions for Happiness group has a calendar with good ideas, take care of yourself, and find better meaning in life. See below. Good luck!

 

 

Wow, the Possibilities!

When we focus on imagining and debating new possibilities of what we want to accomplish, instead of relentlessly fixating on limitations, we build the will to do more.   Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S.Representative

Several months ago I would have thought this news impossible! Good news lightens my mood and hope for the future. We are all healthier and the Earth is healthier because of this leadership. See some amazing leadership and good news below:

–Two young women have taken the center stage for climate leadership

Greta Thunberg by Anders Hellberg

Sixteen year-old Greta Thunberg is leading Friday climate marches throughout the world, and Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez has taken an incredible leadership role in the U.S. Congress.  See Green New Deal. Greta has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

–The European Union is banning single-use plastics by 2021
      And Trader Joe’s is phasing out single-use plastic.
–Oregon’s bottle deposit law results in 90% of bottles returned
Lake Erie has been given human status by the city of Toledo.
–Connecticut is working on banning plastic bags.
–Miami has banned glyphosates.
–New York City schools begin Meatless Monday.
–By a vote of 92 to 8, the United State Senate passes a sweeping lands package that designates 1.3 million acres of wilderness in California, Oregon, Utah, and New Mexico, establishes three new national monuments, and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Clean energy news:

Minnesota, California, Costa Rica, Spain, and others pledge to become carbon-free.

–The Tennessee Valley Authority closes an aging coal-fired power plant,

–An Australian court rejects a proposed coal mine because of the effect it would have on the world’s climate.

–Spain intends to close its seven nuclear power plants by 2035, and to generate all the country’s electricity from renewables by 2050.

–Finland voted to ban all coal-fired power by 2029.

22 Inventions That Are Saving The Earth