Climate Reality Leadership Training, part 1

From July 30^th to August 1^st, I was one of 1500 people from 70 different countries in Chicago for Climate Reality Leadership training.  I was there being trained to raise awareness of climate change, its impacts, and what we can do about it.

Climate change is happening, it’s by us, it’s serious, but there are tons of solutions, and there is enormous hope.

Every major scientific society in the world in the fields related to the study of global warming, the National Academies, and 97% of climate researchers endorse the scientific consensus: the need for urgent action to address human-induced climate change is now indisputable.

We have to adapt, but we also have to prevent changes that are impossible to adapt to.

What compelled me to go to put my job and family aside for three days to go to Chicago?

The climate crisis resonates with me.  It is too important to ignore, and I think I can use my skills and passion to help.  I cannot imagine losing what is so precious about this earth.  I want to protect the things I love, but we are making the world more dangerous every day, and these things are at risk.

http://climaterealityproject.org/whatilove/

At the training, when asked what inspires him, Al Gore said: “it is a rare privilege to be alive when the future health of this beautiful planet is in the balance.”

The time will soon be here when my grandchild will long for the cry of a loon, the flash of a salmon, the whisper of spruce needles, or the screech of an eagle.
But he will not make friends with any of these creatures and when his heart aches with longing, he will curse me.
Have I done all to keep the air fresh?
Have I cared enough about the water?
Have I left the eagle to soar in freedom?
Have I done everything I could to earn my grandchild's fondness?

- Chief Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh (1899 - 1981)

It's been a while since I posted, but I plan to blog more regularly about my journey on my renewed purpose of the climate crisis.  Stay tuned.