"I have a dream that the powerful take the climate crisis seriously. The time for their fairytales is over."
-- Greta Thunberg
When Swedish
teen and climate advocate Greta Thunberg landed on the shores of the U.S. on a
zero emissions boat this month, she brought her voice and passion about
the critical need for dramatic actions to solve the climate change crisis. Rising atmospheric temperatures, melting
glaciers and Arctic ice, rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes, more frequent
floods and forest fires call for immediate change to business as usual.
Teaching
kids to protect the planet by reducing, reusing, and recycling is a
message that needs to continue. But it
is not enough. Our planet needs healing
from the damage caused by for profit companies that are exploiting our growing
dependence on fossil fuels like coal and petroleum.
Carbon is
being dumped into the atmosphere and it is killing people and changing our
climate faster than we can adapt. Land is being clear cut in the Amazon to make way for cattle production at a time when we need more trees, not less. Food production is being affected, national security is affected, and migration of birds is affected. The planet is heating up and the planet is on fire.
As a
lifelong member of the Sierra Club, spending time outdoors and protecting our water,
air, and land are strong values of mine. As a Florida coastal resident, I stand witness to worsening hurricanes and hotter summers.
Begin talking
with your kids about climate change in ways they can understand and identify
things you can do at home, at work, and in your community to embrace the concept
of reducing carbon emissions and zero fossil fuels by 2030. Next time you need a light bulb, buy LED. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Eat less meat. Start advocating and saving for an electric
car. Support solar and wind energy.
We can – and
must – act to save Mother Earth. This
planet is the only home we have. Our children
are counting on us. Their health and
lives depend on how soon we act to reverse the climate change crisis.
With gratitude,
Nancy Heinrich
Founder, Growing Healthy Kids
