An informed public understands the natural and human factors that affect climate, comprehends the potential large-scale impacts of climate change and considers responsibly the personal and societal choices that might help reduce the rate and magnitude of climate change and lead to resilient communities and a sustainable world.
Climate Literacy Network
Of all the issues confronting us today, climate is the most important. We must live within the biological limits of the Earth. We cannot negotiate with Mother Nature. She alone makes the decisions regarding life on Earth.
Climate literacy is of such crucial importance that the Climate Literacy Network created a pamphlet to help educate the public.
If living within the constraints of the Earth is the most civilized activity a person can pursue, as Paul Hawkin suggests in his book, Blessed Unrest, we are the most uncivilized country on Earth. We are the creative and innovative stars of the planet, but when it comes to protecting the environment and living within our environmental means, we are abject failures.
Do we know where our food comes from and at what environmental cost? Do we realize the environmental impact of our lifestyles and what we consume? As we water our lawns, do we give a thought to the western half of our country and other parts of the world that are suffering drought? Are we aware of the environmental havoc wreaked by mountain top coal removal, gas and oil fracking and tar sands oil production that supports our current lifestyle?
It’s time to become climate literate. We cannot plead ignorance any longer. We cannot remain asleep in the face of continued environmental destruction.
Case in point: While we were held spellbound by the creeping wreckage of the Keystone XL pipeline debacle, another even larger Canadian oil company, Enbridge, was sneaking into our Congress with a permit to build even more pipelines through the middle of our country.
If we care at all about the continuation of life on Earth and the quality of our lives, this should engender outrage. We must remain vigilant for the actions of companies like Enbridge and take action to stop them.
There is no more time to tiptoe around the issues. We need to wake up to the severity of our predicament and redouble our efforts to heal the Earth. And so the questions that I pose to you, dear reader, are these:
How can we help friends, neighbors, family and community—and yes, even Congress and corporate leaders– to awaken to our environmental dilemma and begin the inner transition that is a necessary part of healing the Earth?
How can we keep hope alive in the face of overwhelming environmental catastrophe?
How can we overcome our inertia born of fear and denial?
How do we transition from the Industrial Age to a life-enhancing and sustainable lifestyle?
We are not alone in seeking answers to these questions. There are several million groups throughout the world that are actively working on climate and social justice issues. Do not allow this fact to make you complacent! The Earth needs the active involvement of every single one of us to turn this crisis around.
If we are to be successful, we need to do more than click like on a Facebook page. I invite you to become engaged in the effort to turn our country in the right direction. I promise you won’t be alone.
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