Dear Jennifer,

My physical therapist is as brilliant with her skill-set as she is (necessarily) patient with me.  While I was/am grounded because of the pandemic she has guided me steadily away from a looming, serious back operation that 18 months ago appeared inevitable –the results of a life lived with enthusiasm!
Last week, as she looked me over, I noticed tears in her eyes and she asked me, “What does ‘Code Red’ mean for my children? At dinner last night they had tears from what they heard on the television.” The IPCC (UN climate commission) had just released its report and the message was dire.

So, here we are, with figurative red lights flashing and klaxons blaring despite 40 years of warnings, data, and not so figurative rising temperatures, unstable weather patterns, raging wildfires and floods, and more to come.

My purpose here is not to explain the report as much about that is easily accessible, and also accessible are good practical ideas for what each person can do.   We will not escape the consequences of human actions…the natural world that supports us has laws not feelings…but there is much we can do to avoid catastrophe. Everything helps: nothing is too small. But some things matter more than others.

1. Be politically active at every level—demand  and create enlightened leadership
2. Be financially active at every level – demand and create responsible business and finances
3. Be a personal demonstration – make the changes in your own consumerism, travel and food that makes a difference.

All of the above are important. But even more important is how you/we respond with each other to this crisis. Danger, emergency, and threats can drive us inwards, defending and isolating ourselves from others as a matter of what we perceive as self-preservation. That is not the answer and, in fact, will only worsen the negative impacts of our situation. This is the time to reach out, not in; to integrate, not polarize; to be sharing, not selfish; and wisely loving, not negatively suspicious. More than anything be hopeful, not hopeless. And don’t forget that your sense of humor is a great ally!  In short, be the best possible person you can be.

We need to tell our children what we know is true, that nothing in life is certain, and the only thing we can control is our attitude and actions.  It’s up to us, and that has a certain comfort to it.

Vance G. Martin
President, WILD