But solutions to climate change require action. And since action usually has more in common with hopefulness than despair, I asked Bill McKibben recently how one might spread an inspiring message on climate change, even in the face of frequent bad news.
McKibben has learned a thing or two about inspiring others, not only through his journalism (described by reviewers as “matchless,” “gorgeous,” and “galvanizing”), but also through Step It Up, the April 14 national climate action day that McKibben launched a few months ago. He has been touring the country recently touting Step It Up and promoting his new book. I met him at a reception for Seattle Step It Up organizers.
In a nutshell, McKibben’s answer was this: Responding to climate change holds opportunity to build community and reconnect to local places.
In keeping with the principle of strong communities, Step It Up is rooted in places people love and live in. Communities and individuals launch local events and link them to the national Step It Up—a scrappy, low-budget operation McKibben says is run by twenty-somethings at a cramped office table with laptop computers. Powered by sweat much more than by dollars, Step It Up has grown by leaps and bounds—to 1,100 events in 50 states plus some in Canada and the UK. Through emphasis on the local, McKibben is reaching rural audiences that rarely hear a solutions-oriented message on climate: “People who have never done anything like this before are organizing events in towns where nothing like this has ever happened before.”
Some snapshots: The event in Hamilton, Montana, in the Bitterroot Valley, will feature a contra dance for “reel change” (ha!) on climate. In Ashland, Oregon, organizers are seeking local artists to submit “Art in Action,” visual representations of solutions for climate change. And Seattle and Portland are rallying crowds of singers, artists, labor activists, church congregations, elected officials, local businesses, and concerned citizens (and friends of Sightline—which is now an official partner of the Seattle event).
Like MoveOn.org, Step It Up feeds Americans’ hunger for community. “We just gave people permission [to take action on climate change],” McKibben says modestly. But the true genius of Step It Up is this: McKibben gave those of us who are concerned about climate the chance to discover that we are not alone. We are in good company among neighbors ready to “step up” and take action.
In addition to spreading the word regularly about Sightline’s work via proposals and pitches to foundations, Madeline Ostrander serves on the Step It Up Seattle organizing committee, where she has met a lot of new neighbors and dedicated climate heroes. To find out more about Step It Up Seattle, visit http://www.stepitupseattle.org/. Or join or start an event in your own town or neighborhood: http://www.stepitup2007.org/.
Paul
It is becoming increasingly clear that strengthening local economies (and by extension local communities) is fundamental to any global warming response. In fact, I would submit that “local economies” should be the organizing principle for our response to global warming. We will face many options to respond to global warming – taxes and incentives, renewable energy technologies, emissions capture, etc. In each case, we should ask ourselves if the solution strengthens local economies. If it does, then it is likely a good path to follow. If it does not, then it is a Trojan Horse and we should be very suspect about proceeding.This shift to local economies should be seen as a positive event. It is a return to our American roots, roots that will give us back the satisfaction of belonging and community that we find so lacking now.Paul Birkeland
Jeff Douthwaite
I traded in my 2005 SCION on an all electric ZAP car! A 72 volt system good enuff for in city driving. This is something many could and should do. It’s fun learning how to drive and care for an all-electric car. And nice to know I’m not now adding (much) to our air pollutn prob. Since our elec pwer comes from Hydro mainly. Am keepin records of costs to compare too. ZAPs made in China sell for ~11,000. Scions for 16,000+.