Recently on Mastodon, Todd Medema writes:
Hypothesis: If someone asks you what they can do about the environment and #ClimateChange … is the single best answer “to meditate in nature”?
Hear me out: You can give lots of individual, tactical answers: Buy an EV, shop local, fly less, grow your own food, call your senator, go to a protest, etc. But those are all tactics. So if you can only give someone one answer, it has to be a *system*. And I think regulate meditation in nature /could/ be one of the best systems, because it not only inherently forces us to slow down and consume less, it also helps us see past all of the Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt and Hatred in the world and reconnect with nature and our passion to defend it (giving us the energy and motivation to take on more tactical improvements)
Thoughts?
Here’s what I wrote in reply:
I really like the idea of giving this someone a positive to aim for instead of a negative to avoid.
I’m not sure there even should be a single best answer, though. Meditating in nature might be the right choice for some people, but could be hard on those with allergies, or whom mosquitos especially adore, or who are more sensitive to pollution.
I’d probably give a list like yours (maybe including walking/biking/taking transit where possible, eating less meat, switching to a solar power energy provider, moving money out of banks that invest in fossil fuels, and buying less stuff new), and give them this two-part advice:
1. Pick something that feels doable, and try it.
The crisis is too multi-pronged for there to be a single thing that makes sense for every person to do, and they know their situation best. But every actual step they take helps cement an identity of Someone who Does Something about Climate Change, and makes further action feel more doable.
2. Find a community of people who feel similarly.
Wanting to do something about climate change but not realizing others want to as well is a classic case of pluralistic ignorance, for which the solution is just talking about it more. Meanwhile, there are also groups specifically dedicated to finding meaningful levers to push on — Citizens’ Climate Lobby, 350, Sunrise Movement, Project Drawdown, … many of these have strong online presences as well as local chapters that meet in person.
For local New Haveners, I’d also add the New Haven Climate Movement, but there’s also something to be said for getting more involved in whatever community you’re already a part of (assuming it’s not actively worsening the climate crisis). Not only would it expand your options for bringing climate to the group’s attention, but we’ll need strong communities to navigate climate shocks and survive the climate transition at all.