Imagine how the world would look and feel if we made a healthy, joyous, safe and equitable planet a reality. Now imagine it would only take 25% of us to bring this about*. Research has shown this can happen. (See post below on critical mass to learn more.) But in order for it to happen, we have to imagine it, we have to feel it, we have to believe it, and we have to take action.
The above is the beginning paragraph of my book, Advocating for the Environment. It’s also a terrific way to begin the New Year. Humanity everywhere is expanding its understanding of who we are and where we fit with the rest of life on the planet. We see this in the recent Victory in Cancer Alley, which you can read about HERE.
Yes, there are difficult things happening. An unprovoked war in Ukraine. A surge in fossil fuel investment, a dangerously warming atmosphere, and more than 85,000 toxic chemicals in the environment. Poverty, racism, oppression, sexism, and irresponsible capitalism. There are lots of things to worry about and work on.
But despite these things it is vitally important that we lift up our hearts and anticipate joy in the New Year. In order to realize a healthy future a critical mass of people need to awaken, to feel joy, and to spread joy to others. It is from a place of joy that solutions and abundance can emerge.
I often compare the climate crisis to the Second World War. It took everyone in this country to win that war. Grandmothers rolled bandages and sent care packages to soldiers. Children collected tin and steel cans to be recycled into war supplies. Women took jobs in the trades. Retirees grew vegetables in “victory gardens”. We are in the same place with the climate crisis today: everyone needs to figure out what they can do in their daily lives to address it.
One of the things I’ve been studying lately is the power of communities. Communities have achieved amazing things by coming together to achieve their goals. We can’t solve the world’s problems alone. Research shows that every time positive social change is achieved, it is because a group of people came together to achieve it.
So maybe what should be “new” in this New Year is a renewed commitment to sharing your ideas with others and making something good happen. Your interest might be in gardening, cooking, music, building a solar farm or community garden, studying the issues, writing, teaching or lobbying. Or something else.
Whatever it is you’ve been thinking about, now is the time to take action. As the light returns, it’s time to reach out and join with others who can help take your ideas to the next level. It will be worth the effort, regardless of whether your ideas are local, international or somewhere in between. Because this is the path to a healthy, joyous, safe and equitable future.