Climate Change is an undeniable fact, it is real, I cannot ignore it or shove it out of my awareness,
much as I wish I could.
The fossil fuel industry buried the facts
“Who cares”! is the response of the Fossil Fuel Industry and every other powerful organisation,
Mainstream Media, Politician or World Leader that prefers power and wealth and economic growth
now, rather than the survival of a planet that is habitable for life as we know it, now and in the
future. The World Leaders and Governments have known for over 40 years that how and what we
extract from the Earth has caused Climate Change and the heating up of the Planet. They have lied
to us, hidden the facts, put business as usual over all of our futures. It really is incomprehensible. I
cannot get my head around how and why they continue to lie to us when they also will need air to
breathe, a temperature that allows us exist, and land with soil that is still alive to grow our food in.
I have lived in Tamworth for 40 years and been an inhabitant of our beautiful Planet Earth for 68
years, and I never imagined in my wildest dreams (or nightmares) that the home we have ALL lived
on would at some point in time, and now we know in possibly our own lifetimes or that of our
children and grandchildren, that our home, our survival system, would be so compromised and
damaged by the actions of humans, that our survival as a species is called into question.
Individual actions are not enough
I care! I’m a caring person, I’ve worked as a Counsellor for over 30 years, helping people with their
relationships, their loss and grief, their mental health and their wellbeing. I care about my family
and friends, as I’m sure the majority of us do, and I care about my clients and colleagues. But
beyond that I care about our Planet, and as the information and evidence of Climate Change has
been more available, I have been making the small changes in how I live my life, so that my existence
does not add to the problem. So you probably all made or are making some changes like recycling,
composting, saving rainwater, cycling, eating less meat or being Vegan, growing wild flowers, doing
‘No Mow May’, reducing car journeys, choosing to not fly etc. There are so many things we can do
that help us reduce our negative impact, but in reality, even if every one of us did these things, it
would not be enough to halt the trajectory we are now on. There has been an idea pressed upon us
as individuals that it is our fault, (Green Washing) that our Carbon Footprint is responsible. This is to
deflect from the major causes, worldwide. The systems have to change and we are running out of
time. We need alternatives to fossil fuels now, 2050 will be too late, we need to greatly reduce the
consumption of meat and the destruction of rainforests that are used to then grow animal feed.
I’m not going to quote scientific facts, they are available for anyone who is brave enough to look.
The fact is, it’s very scary. I feel Eco Anxiety, it is sadly very valid. I feel grief for all the species that
we have lost and are losing. I feel afraid for all those I love and hold dear, and for those not even
born yet, my descendants to come. But as a counsellor, I have to put into practice what I preach.
Grief is a process. Some of its stages are Shock, Denial, Fear, Anger, Blame, Shame, Guilt and
Depression but also Acceptance and Renewed Energy for Moving Forward. Anyone who has lost
something small like their mobile phone, to something or someone large like their loved one, their
job, home, relationship, pet or health, will recognise some of these stages of grief. They are not easy
to go through, I understand the denial, the avoidance, the wish to not believe what is happening
because never before have we as a species had to face this existential crises. And I SO wish it were
not true and not happening.
I shift in and out of these stages, these often unpleasant and uncomfortable feelings, in between
living my own life, which consists of looking after my own health, spending time with family and
friends, tending my garden, delivering my Counselling Service and giving time to the most imperative
job of playing my own small part of ‘saving the planet’. I know my little bit won’t actually do that,
but I hope to inform, inspire and act in ways alongside millions of others who know that the time is
now and together we can make a difference, get the powerful to act, to change the systems, to give
us a chance to continue here on Earth as a species alongside the millions of others that at present
live here too.
I wonder what stage you are at? I encourage you to do the research if you haven’t already, to use
your anger when the truth dawns fully and to put that energy into some form of action. Find others
that are aware so you don’t feel alone with this awareness and feel helpless. Find your group that
you fit in, where your feelings are understood and accepted. Are we that group? Would you like to
chat to one of us to talk about your concerns and see how you can help? We are small but growing
in number, locally we want to provide support for these issues. Where can our energies best be
utilised? Maybe you have some good ideas, locally or nationally? What difference could you then
make? Who could you inform, inspire or support? We all have certain skills that can be useful in this
fight for OUR survival. I leave you with this slightly altered typing practice sentence. “Now is the
time for all good humans to come to the aid of the Planet”.
A Member of Tamworth Climate Action.