U-sustain 4/13/21

 

This strike is about  making the climate crisis visible and to provide place to discuss the complex details of environmental topics. At the same time it is a challenge to Union college leadership to seriously connect their actions to the environmental goals released in the “five year plan” and to address sustainability challenges new to covid. A different approach to solving the climate crisis with the intention of up leveling the campus discussion on the topic. Reverses the helpless feeling of climate change and is a complementary action to my education and outreach position at U-sustain and personal commitment to reducing my carbon footprint and plastic waste. The first climate strike I attended was the student strike in Albany in September 2019. This is the first strike at Union and is also a strike in solidarity for world causes causes like the coup and loss of democracy in Myanmar, farmers protests in India, for places in need of covid support, and targets of recent racial or ethnic violence. The intention of the event is not to spread fear or to complain, but to create a foundation for discussion and education. Gretta Thunberg has been a tremendous inspiration for me in how to overcome difficulties and inspire others. I hope this tabling positively contributes to the student climate movement. 

[...] Easily overlooked, though, is the process of how something gets on our agenda or doesn’t. Working on voting rights, paying attention to voices unheard, grabbing possibilities for learning or growth or contribution–these are easy to ignore if they’re not on the list of jobs to be done. [...] And the people who do have these on their list… part of their job is to put their issue on our lists. [...] If all you’re doing is the jobs you used to do, you’re certainly missing out on the contributions you’re capable of.         “Jobs to be done” Seth.blog 4/6/2021

Striking is also a reminder about the challenge of climate change and the steps society needs to take to reach zero emissions. Climate change must be avoided and the school strike sends a direct message about this issue. 

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/07042021/climate-crisis-ecocide-vanuatu-the-fifth-crime/ 

• Group of lawyers, environmentalists, and world leaders are pushing to make ecocide an international crime in the International Criminal Court 

• Would be the 5th crime - after genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression, war crimes

• “The Pope describes ecocide as “the massive contamination of air, land and water,” or “any action capable of producing an ecological disaster,” and has proposed making it a sin for Catholics.”

• “would mean political leaders and corporate executives could face charges and imprisonment for “ecocidal” acts.”

• Movement = long shot, lots of pushback

• “environmentalists must also figure out how criminal law would address climate change, which has been driven by practices like burning coal and gasoline that are not only legal, but central to the global economy.”

Thanks Alyssa for the collaboration. Thank you so much for reading.