What Does May the 4th Have to Do With Climate Action?

"This is our most desperate hour..."

Climate change is an urgent and pressing issue, and it is imperative that we take both personal and political action to mitigate the effects of climate change and create a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

Yet, even among those who recognize the urgency, there is disagreement on the actions we should take, and there is so much finger pointing. At least people are more professional and collaborative on LinkedIn, though, right?

If you have been reading some of the posts and articles that many of us rely on for the latest information, opportunities, and research, you probably know that the comments section here is a great place to learn even more (unlike the hatefest trainwreck comments sections elsewhere). Hopefully, you feel safe enough to leave a comment and engage in reasonable discussion about it.

Undoubtedly though, climate change is scary. It's an existential threat. And the lack of recognition and decisive global action is even more frightening. It's little wonder that climate-induced anxiety is so prevalent.

For this reason, I appreciate everyone who takes the time to respectfully share their points of view. We can have dialogue, collaborate, and work towards solving problems when we treat each other respectfully. While LinkedIn's culture promotes this, inflammatory reactions do surface.

Perhaps this fear is what drives the occasional rude comments here. What comes to mind are the repeated ad hominem attacks that a well-meaning (?) vegan leveled onto someone who dared to politely and reasonably introduce nuance into the discussion in their comment section recently. The author was unable to engage in any meaningful discussion, perhaps because of the all-consuming fear they live with. As one of the wisest characters of the Star Wars fictional universe once said:

"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

Each of us has the power to pause before reacting. We can choose to wait on posting an angry reply--coming back later to re-read everything and decide how we might want to be addressed if the shoe were on the other foot. At least, this is how I hope people would choose to behave.

Similarly, each of us has a part to play in making a difference regarding climate action.

As individuals, we can take political action by voting in elections, signing petitions, canvassing, demonstrating, pressuring elected officials, and supporting NGOs and other organizations working on climate action.

We also need to advocate for policies that prioritize renewable energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and protect habitats, biodiversity, and our natural resources. We must demand that corporations also take responsibility for their impact on the environment.

Comment below with advocacy and action opportunities!

Why?

We have a voice. You have a voice. Let's speak up.

And while I have seen several people argue that smaller, individual actions are simply distractions at best or ineffective in the grand scheme of things, well, "It's a trap!"

Reducing energy consumption, recycling, and using public transportation or biking instead of driving--they alone might not solve the problem, but they are important.

Every one of these actions we take, no matter how small, contributes to the larger goal of combating climate change. More importantly, they give us agency in the face of crisis.

Small actions are better than no actions when we feel impotent in the face of the systems that must change. What would you say to the person who says "I can't do anything about it--we need systemic change," throws their hands into the air, then drives to a certain fast food place, leaving their car to idle as they shop on a fast fashion site, finally picking up their cheeseburger, driving off while eating, only to chuck their bag with the plastic wrappers and unused ketchup packets out the window...?

"There Are Some Things Far More Frightening Than Death," such as inaction and the guilty burden of having made no effort to ensure the survival of life on Earth.

Look, I understand that climate change may not always be apparent; after all, "Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them." That's why we must have patience, and seek to discuss in a respectful way--without name calling, and doing our best to interpret and address what people write.

And if people want to take small actions because that is what they can manage at the moment, let them. Who among us has done everything possible to live up to our ideals? Very few, I imagine. Let's do our personal best, and when possible, do better. And let's support system change at every opportunity.

Here's why individual actions are important: these actions support our intentions to live better. The intentions come from a sense of purpose. And these actions and intentions are based in hope, one of the most powerful fuels for change.

"We Have Hope. Hope That Things Will Get Better. And They Will."

And "rebellions are built on hope." Rebelling against the exploitive, extractive, destructive systems today is what's needed.

Our actions today determine tomorrow's reality. We must remain focused on the importance of taking action on climate change. After all, "Your focus determines your reality."

Innovators, policy makers, educators, activists and so many others began this fight decades ago and have made some progress. "This is the way." Let's push ahead to make even faster progress.

The time for action is now. We cannot afford to delay any longer. Together, we can create a sustainable future for ourselves and for future generations. Let's take action, make a difference, and empower each other through respectful and meaningful dialogue.

PS: It's May the 4th! While this date is important for many reasons--including the first Freedom Ride in the civil rights movement to protest segregation in the US, the Kent State tragedy in my home state where protesters against the Vietnam War were shot by the National Guard and the beginning of Napoleon began his life in exile--I'm focusing on a more lighthearted, global pop-culture phenomenon that, essentially, is a play on words.

That's right--it's Star Wars Day. As in, May the Fourth (Force) be with you. This article has some of my favorite quotes from Star Wars. I decided to challenge myself to incorporate them into a quick article, which was inspired by some recent discussions on LinkedIn. Feel free to comment with a quote and the character who said it. We can have some fun, can't we?

1. "This is our most desperate hour..."
2. "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."
3. "It's a trap!"
4. "There Are Some Things Far More Frightening Than Death,"
5. "Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them."
6. "We Have Hope. Hope That Things Will Get Better. And They Will."
7. "rebellions are built on hope."
8. "Your focus determines your reality."
9. "This is the way."

And the image--it's of an excavation driller used in the fictitious Star Wars universe for large-scale excavation and mining operations. I chose this image because this theme of exploitation is prevalent in many of the books and also in some of the TV series. The Empire ravages other planets to mine for materials without regard to the life on those planets. The materials are used to make weapons to further subjugate other populations, often causing catastrophic loss of life, habitat, and biodiversity. We see similar practices in real life, don't we?