It’s still early enough in January to take some guesses about the coming year and to make some resolutions. Maybe you recognize Bill McKibben’s name, but don’t know who he is. Born late in 1960, he pursued a path in journalism through high school and college, determining in 1980 to devote his life to environmentalism and non-violent advocacy. His first book in 1989, The End of Nature, sounded the alarm about climate change and raised many people’s consciousness. Since then he has written 18 books and countless articles. He founded the group 350.org and led it in demonstrations and led it in organizing demonstrations and spreading the word about climate change activism on most continents. He led the campaign against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project, going to jail for participating in a protest. He’s been awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize and the Right Livelihood award. He’s been named one of the nation’s most influential people and leading environmentalist. So when Bill McKibben writes something, people take it seriously. Here is his review of the past and future in battling climate change. Talking about predictions, Laura Paddison of the HuffPost also weighed in on what top environmental stories might dominate 2021.
Now for a few resolutions to make before January passes. The online news organization Grist suggests that 2021 be the year to resolve to be a better ancestor. Billions of people will be born in the future, and if we do not solve the climate change problem, they are going to be very unhappy with us. Many of these people will be our own descendants. Roman Krznaric wants each of us to reflect on our legacy and our politicians to make decisions based on the well-being of people 200 years from now. One of the goals of the global youth organization Earth Guardians is to “protect our planet and its people for the next seven generations.” How will you live as a seventh generation advocate?
More immediately, if you are a gardener, it is also time to make some resolutions. How about becoming one, even if your veggies and herbs grow in pots. Or enlarging your garden. You won’t have so much grass to mow, and you can donate your extra produce to a food pantry. There are three other easy resolutions in this article also. And here’s an article about preparing in January for the things that underpin a successful garden.
A last holiday gift for you: this month’s climate quiz from The Washington Post.
You can find this and all the Creation Care blogs for the church website I have written at a consolidating blog I have created: ststephenscreationcare.blogspot.com
Thanks for your interest in caring for God’s creation!
