I’ve been reflecting on the benefits of being a climate activist as the weather heats up and predictions of a hot, dry summer increase.
Of course one of the biggest benefits is enjoying the wins: demanding that governments and corporations do something about climate change can actually succeed.
But enjoying those wins doesn’t help keep us fighting as coal mines continue to be approved😡, gas companies continue to greenwash their toxic product😡, and bulldozers keep tearing down ancient trees😡.
So what really sustains many climate activists?
Friendship, joy, purpose, solidarity and meaning.
Study after study has shown that it is the rewards of connecting with others that help us through the good times and the bad. 👊 For example, one study that interviewed 195 people found that doing activism - whether that involves joining a group, attending film screenings, participating in rallies or even blockading a forest - had a huge range of benefits such as :
A sense of purpose, empowerment, confidence and personal skills💚
Providing support networks, community and friendship💚
Building greater personal resilience and healthy habits💚
Of course activism can also be hard🥀🥺. Activists can struggle to balance other commitments while feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders, and may burn out in despair or frustration.
But that’s where friends can help friends. By building connections with others taking action on climate change we can support each other through the hard times and celebrate the wins together. These connections are so important that they are often described by people as the most important part of activism.
🌻Climate Club Queensland exists to help you connect to different climate groups in Queensland and find ways to join in and build those connections. We are lucky to have hundreds of environmental groups across the state and thousands of activists looking for new people to connect up with.
🌞🌞🌞So this week how about challenging yourself to try something new? Reach out to those who inspire you, and do something yourself to inspire others? 🌞🌞🌞
Check out this fortnight’s bunch of actions to help you build a better, more caring, more connected world. 💚🌱👊
What can you do today?
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
Despite the dangers of extreme heat, millions of people across the country live in homes that simply can't stand the heat. Join Parents for Climate to demand a plan to upgrade homes and create climate safe homes and communities.
Action: Use the Parents for Climate template to ask your MP to support climate-safe homes now.
We still have a big problem with chopping down trees in Australia. Queensland is ‘ground zero’ for deforestation and we need this to change! ACF has found that the majority of deforestation in Australia is financed by a bank, yet only Westpac has set a zero-deforestation target. Sign the ACF email petition to ask ANZ, NAB, CommBank, Macquarie, Rabobank and Suncorp to stop pouring billions of dollars into agriculture loans with no restrictions on land clearing, and to fund nature and climate solutions instead.
Action: Sign the ACF email petition to demand banks stop funding deforestation.
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
Did you know that one of the most important threats to our environment - climate change - is not included as a key consideration in our main environmental law (the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act)? Help Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) send hundreds of letters to Environment Minister Tanya Pilbersek asking her to put climate at the heart of the EPBC Act.
Action: Follow the ARRCC tips to write your letter to the Environment Minister.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
In October Malcolm and I were lucky enough to join the Gold Coast Climate Community Night. This fun evening is held at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse and is a welcoming space for climate activists, both new and old. The team is having their final community night for 2023 and enjoy an end of year celebration. Meet new people, make new friends and help build our activist community together!
Action: Come along to the Climate Community Night on Wednesday 6 December at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Burleigh Heads.
Sick of hearing about dirty money buying climate destroying politics? 🤑 You are not alone! The Parliamentary committee examining electoral matters (JSCEM), will unveil its recommendations on how our elections should work to protect our democracy - how election campaigns should be financed, spending and donations transparency, and whether there should be new laws that demand truth in political advertising are all in there. The Australian Democracy Network is hosting an online briefing for us to hear how the final report stacks up and what’s next in their campaign to get big money out of our elections. 💥💥
Action: RSVP for the online briefing on Thursday 30 November, 5.30PM in QLD.
🔦🔦🔦🔦Spotlight on a local Queensland environment group🔦🔦🔦🔦
Darling Downs Environment Council is the peak environmental group for the Darling Downs, with a focus on preserving the diminishing land and water resources of the area. They can connect you to a local group that suits your availability and interests. Lots going on! Check them out and sign up here!
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 👋🏽 👋🏽
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆Thanks for taking action. 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
See you in two weeks! Robyn plus Malcolm, Ron and Jan - The Climate Club Qld team
We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Meanjin - Brisbane. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded - always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
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