Political Participation

When you think about the climate crisis, which image, a polar bear cub or a human child stands out as the face of climate change? Global warming certainly poses an unprecedented environmental and ecological catastrophe. But the climate crisis doesn’t just threaten cute and cuddly animals and their less charismatic cousins. I would argue that the real face of climate change is, or should be, a human face. Today, I join over eleven hundred others in the Climate Emergency Fast to raise awareness of these human impacts of climate change.

More than a story about global warming, Hurricane Katrina is a story about a people left to die by their government before, during, and well-after a disaster most of us could never imagine. Last November my friend Jeca and I made the trip down to New Orleans to gut houses and help in the recovery effort. Below are two stories from my experience posted in my blog last year.

Major online communities are becoming a huge force in making Global Warming a political priority. While there has been a lot of ink spilled about how online communities are changing the face of politics, the fact is that they really raise the profile of ordinary people’s concerns. Well, people are concerned about Global Warming, because there are only about 10 years left to get a handle on the problem.

The climate movement has been going about its business fighting coal plants, promoting wind energy, and working for comprehensive carbon reduction policies. Suddenly, there’s a new development. The new development is not about limiting growth, it’s about redefining prosperity. Not going to change the world? Let’s scale up. It’s time to forge a development paradigm that actually works: one that empowers people, strengthens communities, and sustains the world.

In the West, we fundamentally misunderstand the role of pollution and the environment in China. We also don’t recognize the global injustice being conducted in the name of our prosperity in China. China has become the environmental sacrifice zone for the global economy. Toxic air and water are killing an estimated 710,000 to 760,000 Chinese each year. In China, they know the power of online media and the political fallout from the environmental injustice the Chinese people are facing from the global economy. Do we?

Maryland steps up to take on Global Warming. It is no longer just California anymore. Read about how the Chesapeake Climate Action Network is taking on this fight through incredible grassroots activism, like the National Polar Bear Plunge or dumping Coal on the Capitol, at their new blog.

Al Gore calling for Direct Action against coal?! “I can’t understand why there aren’t rings of young people blocking bulldozers,” Mr. Gore said, “and preventing them from constructing coal-fired power plants.”

Step It Up 2 is coming! Let's all mobilize to change how we deal with Global Warming. Learn how you can help make this huge, it is simple and easy.