I’ve stolen this week’s post title from an excellent British podcast hosted by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson — three people who encompass a tremendous depth and breadth of knowledge on the fight against climate change. If you want to delve into the global political and financial aspects of this subject, their podcast is a great place to start: Outrage & Optimism
Cooking again.
As another northern hemisphere summer brings daily reminders of the enormity of the climate crisis, I find myself on an emotional roller coaster. In preparing these posts, I confront a witch’s brew of bad news, ignorance, greed, misinformation, nonchalance and hopelessness in the people I talk with and in the news I read. Sometimes it’s hard to avoid a sense of doom and hopelessness.
The next day can bring the opposite — I might talk with a hardworking foot soldier in the fight to make a difference, or listen to an inspiring activist with a fresh take and lots of enthusiasm. There are daily stories on new technologies that offer solutions, new agreements that move the ball forward, new renegade investor groups that think as much about their children’s future as their quarterly reports.
But as the summer’s calamities mount, I hear and see a sense of hopelessness in many of the people I meet. It’s worth remembering that, at this point, climate deniers make up a very tiny, if very vocal, fragment of the population. Almost everyone else understands that something very frightening is happening. The petroleum industry’s toadies, having largely given up on denial, now use their fearsome media machine to hammer home the idea that addressing climate change will mean sacrifice — they’re coming for your paycheck, your hamburgers, your car, your furnace, your guns! Evoking fear is an effective tool to cow those who might otherwise start acting on their worries about the future.
My youngest daughter, with the ink fresh on her Environmental Sciences diploma, told me, “Dad, this problem is so big it can only be addressed by governments — your focus on individual change won’t make it happen.” But as someone who witnessed the effectiveness of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War protests, I just can’t swallow that! Women didn’t get the vote by waiting for the men in Washington to decide it was a good idea. The end of apartheid in South Africa didn’t come because the white rulers decided it would be the right thing to do. Even the most powerful dictators ignore an outraged populace at their peril.
Of course, ultimately, my daughter is right — the key to forestalling climate catastrophe is concerted government action. But watching the stream of infantile behavior that passes for government in Washington would be enough to send Pollyanna looking for a bottle of antidepressants. In the midst of another record breaking heat wave, it can be hard to keep despondence at bay.
In these newsletters, I have tried to heed my daughter’s other piece of advice — keep it positive, don’t stoke the doomsday fires. Fear and worry sap the energy needed for action. So, I’m here to suggest an alternative.
Outrage!
So when you hear that Joe Manchin, a man so clearly on the leash of the petroleum industry, has torpedoed yet another climate initiative, try replacing that knot of worry in your stomach with Outrage! When you read what the Supreme Court has done to limit the government’s ability to move forward, feel Outrage, not fear. When you see conservative media pundits spewing their bilious poison, don’t just shake you head sadly — be Outraged! As an emotion, Outrage is an activator — a sense of doom immobilizes.
And Optimism!
In order to fight bravely against a deadly foe, you must feel that there is hope of success. And there is hopeful news every day. An army of people of good soul and sharp mind is out there working their hearts out to turn this tide. Fall in step with them for a while, and replace your dread with outrage.
Thanks for reading,
Doug Hylan, Brooklin, Maine
“Climate doomerism can be harmful because it robs us of agency, the agency we still have in determining our future.” Climate scientist Michael Mann
“As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contageon may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness. …. Hang onto your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.” E. B. White
Doug, that was outrageous! But beautifully presented. Here's a resource that's helped me channel some of my outrage into transforming energy for the common good on the climate crisis front. Patagonia, one of the best of the B corporations (beneficial) out there in TV Land is doing a great job of running their business in a way that's focused on saving the planet. Patagonia cofounder Yvon Chouinard is one of the great environmentalist of my generation and his company has a department called Patagonia Provisions that puts the whole climate mess into a really brilliant vision that revolves around eating well! Leave it to Chouinard to turn his outrage into a healthy, delicious meal! The 2020 Patagonia Provisions Report spells it all out in a wonderful collection of inspiring essays and regenerative soil-building strategies that have the potential to get the climate back into balance by restoring human food procurement and agricultural practices to sanity. At the end of this 90-page publication is a double-page spread titled Words to Eat By that lists some great books guaranteed to feed your microbiome and make it thrive. The publication is free from Patagonia.com.
Bon Appetite!
You give me hope Doug! Thank you.