Don't join the climate movement.

[@cniddy7228]

Thank you so much for this video Leena! I’m a scientist working on the climate crisis and I can tell you for sure, we are tearing our skin off fighting for change 😅 but there is an army of clever and dedicated experts who won’t go down without a fight! Thank you for making my day a little bit more bearable

[@leenanorms]

Thank YOU for keeping up the fight

[@lemsip207]

There was time to have done something about this back in the 70's and 80's. There were a few people who did by forming intentional rural and off grid communities and who researched into alternative energies. But the majority of people back then couldn't care less. They wouldn't even use phosphate free detergents. Phosphates were causing algae to grow in rivers which killed off wildlife in the rivers. And they expected to drive everywhere even though there is limited parking in city centres.

[@cosmicpolitan]

THIS gives me hope. How do we connect the scientists “on the front line” with the lay people who want to help, who desperately need to know there are a dedicated group of angels fighting for the same things?

[@bismoth7251]

@@cosmicpolitan I do research on this too (biofuels), and in my opinion you can help the most demanding better funding from the government. We are very underpaid and unappreciated (PhDs can barely afford basic expenses in many places). And being vigilant of green washing by companies. In terms of direct contact, labs often host events and make social media accounts for scientific divulgation, search for those labs in your local universities and/or research centers :) really helps with motivation and feeling like people care about what we are doing.

[@lawrencium2626]

I can't convince friends or family "their" favourite niche of media is lying to them. Either they believe climate change is a hoax and nothing to be concerned about, or they believe it, are concerned by it, and then also believe that it can be fixed by building only windfarms while closing down nuclear power plants - which is actually worse. Arguing with either case is equally frustrating, much like trying to play chess with a pidgeon. And that's at least 95% of the conversations you can find on this, anywhere, with anyone. And these two "halves" feed off of each other, and end up thinking they're on the right side of it because they're on the opposite side of the other group, who they despide, and then they start trying to weasel-word me into affirming that i'm on "their" side, because it's "better" than the other, while trying to demand I surrender all my thoughts, leaving only theirs in control of all the conversation, for which they bring no solid facts, nor substantiate any meaningful conclusion that would translate even into a napkin level plan for anything. Not even as a pipe dream. That's not a conversation, and its almost every conversation I can find, is this weird 'friendly' gaslighting. I haven't given up trying, but i've given up believing people when they tell me they're "concerned" about something, or that their opinion is actually theirs. I give up believing that, gladly, it's much better for your mental health if you don't believe people mean what they say, especially if they want you to believe you're "on the same side" after they demolish everything you say without using a single meaningful fact, leading to no tangible conclusion. From these arguments, their brain gets a little kick from grabbing control from a willingly polite person who gives them a mile of inches and lets them feel like the scientist for an hour. There's the root of it. Most people you meet don't care about the things they say they care about. Not even this. They don't actually care; but they will act like they do if it means they get to spin you into a yarn for them to play with. That's what they care about. They have more loyalty to their favourite news outlet than they do to you. In all this, they repeatedly demand your conscious complicity, that you surrender to their undefined opinions, that form no conclusions (but your conclusion, and all the reasons you gave, are wrong). They demand you give this surrender freely, but try doing exactly this as an experiment, and you'll find they still want to extract your surrender from you like pulling wings off of a fly - even the very demand for your surrender is a lie! That's because the whole conversation isn't about what they say it is about, none of it is. Not the topic, and not even letting them win, it's a very popular form of madness that's as difficult to pin down as nail jello to a wall. In the heat of the moment, you don't stand a chance, they would need to be required to watch a recording of them doing it with a therapist to even be aware of it, and the therapist will almost certainly fail any meaningful objectives, this is a powerful bug at the root of our code. I haven't given up trying to concince people, but I must suggest we give up believing people's opinions are theirs, or that they actually value keeping one in the first place. It isn't about ideas, or what they think is right, or even what truth actually is; it's about controlling YOU in the conversation, whatever "side" they're taking is often irrelevant, the pattern of gaslightning always seeks the shortest path. The sooner you give up believing people mean what they say, the sooner you can cope with sticking to reason, and repeatedly trying to share it. Stick to reason. Share it. But it will be painful, like peeling off your own skin to please people who will never be satisfied. Your multitude of frustrations are not unshared, you are not alone in your experiences; this has always been the path of reason. It may be a grind, but grind it we must, for not enough people have the innate desire to grind away honestly through the facts and figures, they have othervinnate tendencies that serve them candyfloss, that's gone as soon as they taste it. We are for substance. We are for the grind.

[@HiInternetImAbby]

I am in the process of writing a Master's thesis about corporate Ecocide (a.k.a the deliberate murder of the environment by corporations). My dream is to work in the field of climate justice. This video is so spot on! While activism is important, there are so many other ways to engage with whatever skill set you have, whether that's community organizing, art, research, or even just incessantly talking about climate change to the people in your life! Thank you Leena for a great video as always.

[@makslargu5799]

Community organizing is activism b

[@johnfleming5470]

Lenin explained the phenomenon when he said that a capitalist will sell you the rope to hang him with

[@chaoticcreative]

thanks for sharing this leena - i’m a south asian “climate organiser” in australia and i just want to add that i think there is a lot of systemic analysis missing here! there’s a lot more to unpack, especially for us trying to join movements in the western world, about how the climate crisis and lack of justice-focused solutions is an intersection of capitalism and colonialism, not just a decision for a handful of leaders/billionaires to make. i would recommend looking to First Nations, African American activists and those from the global south about this (the people who, by the way, often don’t get to choose whether to “join the climate movement” bc they have to do this work for their current survival… yet aren’t even counted as climate activists!). might link some suggestions in the thread :) however, i get that doing that deep dive or looking at systemic problems could actually be more overwhelming for target audience in this video lol. so i would also reiterate that yes we can embrace climate everywhere, similar to what you said we need to organise and connect to our communities around values/issues that are immediate to us (eg. housing, healthcare, migration) bc they all intersect. and importantly, those community foundations will be the bedrock for tackling systemic injustice in the long run! i have hope that those of us in the climate movement CAN get ourselves together to build a more effective/inclusive strategy that will welcome everyone into collective action - in a way that works to our strengths/communities… rather than burning us out!

[@emilymccrohon5655]

Hi Shoi, I'm also in Australia, Naarm specifically. I think the way you framed climate crises as needing to be 'justice-focused' is incredibly interesting... and also might make it all more understandable to someone like me. I very much have my head in the sand a lot of the time, cos I've convinced myself that even if I look at the data and reports, I won't understand what to do or how to fix it... but as with these other systemic issues, I understand them very well, and realise that if we intend to remedy overarching issues such as colonialism, patriarchy and capitalism, focusing on the climate is very much a part of all of these solutions! Thanks for sharing!

[@editor4201]

Yeah I think it’s pretty much impossible to fit everything into a 12 minute video. Also people who care about climate are all well aware of the role of capitalism and colonialism by now. The point here is a much more specific and less often discussed one

[@wildersystem]

Yes, definitely agree. Thank you for bringing in this perspective, because it’s vital. Climate recovery and exploitative systems have to be tackled in tandem.

[@user_unsub2553]

This should be further up

[@Loutron3030]

Exactly. The problem with groups like ExR is that they outright encourage people to get arrested and evangelise to police who have already told them that anything they say can be used as evidence. Just coming from a working class background, that's not an option- I don't know how good your lawyer has to be to after you've already done the cop's job for them. It's really not surprising knowing their M.O. that the majority of ExR's members are white and middle-class. They completely lack the perspective of those marginalised by the same systems that create climate crisis; namely capitalism and colonialism. Personally I think that anyone able to do so should participate in some form of climate activism, but the strategies and perspectives of the movement are an important consideration. Look at what each group is saying and who's saying it, ExR or JSO aren't the entirety of the climate movement and nor should they be.

[@humwengus1204]

Just thought I'd share something that resonated with me. You might feel like the burden is all on you in trying to save life on the planet, but it's really not. Working in groups to combat these issues will share the burden and make it less daunting, and you might gain some valuable friendships out of it! I believe climate action directly links with community engagement and social cohesion and like with the Venn diagram in the video, there's so much joy that can be had in the climate movement. Radical hope is a really powerful tool and is better for your mental health than pessimism💚

[@myragroenewegen5426]

Yeah, I agree. What hurts the most when I'm striving to do things is seeking what should be a really joyful community that finds a place for what I can do and instead things feeling not that-- the anger or sadness can define things or the kinds of traditional politics I'm being pushed to do is for the people who are there but it feels so joyless and dry and nobody is at the center thinking "do these human interactions feel humanly good and fulfilling?". I also feel like fighting the employment battle can be similarly isolating and disheartening, so, if I was convinced the connections I was making to climate movements was actively training me for ANYTHING I could be hired for my energy would pour forth, but for me and another young friend that kind of balancing of making it in the workforce and saving the planet that contains that workforce hasn't appeared yet. I finally found some work writing grants for an eco-friendly health food store that seems like it works as a contribution for me, but that's not the community that SO needs to be there. Maybe what folks need to hear is that for me a few skills that you might not think are climate-movement relevant will do wonders if I find groups where someone is doing them. 1. Make it fun (when the group I was in stopped meeting for an actual meal and went over to zoom the last shreds of social structure went away, it was all punishingly boring and hard and I bailed ) 2. If you can't find a use for the skills people actually are good at, maybe help connect them to those who have that and prioritize the kind of participation that will feel accessible to people who need work experience or a social community, ideally both. 3. Look after the human feel of the group generally. This is different than doing a "climate anxiety" reflection workshop which starts and ends and is exclusively geared to dealing with feelings - that may have some value, but feels pretty empty if action doesn't flow from it and stoke real better group support vibes.

[@ginal2643]

Rebecca Solnit is a fantastic resource for this exactly. 👏👏

[@felixhenson9926]

One quote i saw from a meme i wish i could post that i always try remember is "Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but nor are you free to abandon it.".

[@ginal2643]

@@felixhenson9926 This is from The Talmud and is absolutely beautiful and perfect in every way. Thank you for sharing it.

[@theprecipiceofreason]

In a time where "Radical hope" is what we call reasonable expectation, it helps to band together.

[@jo_aspen]

This felt both incredibly motivating and also deeply jarring. Every time you said "eight years" my stomach dropped because my son will literally only be 18 when shit really hits the fan if nothing changes. I know 18 is "a grownup" (lolllll is it actually tho) but, like, a whole ass climate crisis is what he gets for making it to adulthood?? Happy birthday, who needs candles when your planet is aflame! Anyway, I'll just stand here for a while and make some assessments, and then go back to trying my best and adjusting accordingly. Love your videos, Leena. Thanks for all you do.

[@mawkernewek]

I'm not exactly sure why 2030 specifically has been chosen by some of the activists as the final deadline, I suppose it was because the world didn't end in 2012 with the rollover of the Mayan calendar.

[@lindsay6518]

Seems like people need to start considering whether its right to subject children to a future of suffering death and austerity.

[@angelxsiren0]

Yeah 18 might be considered legally an adult but as someone who is 21 now, man have I really "grown up" in the last 3 years. Maybe I'll feel more like an adult at 25 XD or whatever the science is

[@ennemuk]

We have much more than 8 years do not worry. Sure, every passing year we do nothing makes the world a little bit worse, but also everything gets a bit better with each action we do take!

[@Gmackematix]

@@mawkernewek A deadline suggested because we need to aim at improving policies that are making things measurably worse isn't really comparable with the end of a mythological calendar is it?

[@ArtAnimeEmerly]

As someone who is an expert and spends every day doing science to find out exactly how humans are impacting nature, I really appreciate your videos for helping me take a step back / breather and remember why I do what I do. Those of us working in this sphere have a tendency to get a big too bogged down in the doom and gloom of it all (there's only so many papers restating the problem that you can read before it's all you think about). Thank you for not only helping people outside the sector understand what's going on but those of us within it to remember there's a reason to keep working.

[@vee1545]

Thank you for doing what you do, it can't be easy!! Please take good care of your body mind and soul, we need more like you 💜

[@cathyjack8459]

I feel like it’s so important to realise that you don’t need to impact 1000s of people to make your efforts impactful - if I can convince 5 people , which is 5 households in my office to care that will grow exponentially - got to keep the hope!

[@phillipwalker8827]

Hello, how're you Cathy?

[@taylorjobye]

I first heard that “don’t just do something, stand there.” quote from John Green @vlogbrothers in the context of addressing human loss and grief. It’s such a good reminder that we cannot just rely simply on ourselves to change the world or make things better. Sometimes we must be still. We must take a moment and recognize, we are not all powerful. But in that stillness and silence, “a still small voice” whispers hope over it all.

[@madison1275]

Beautifully said - thank you! I was hoping someone would mention the source of this quote

[@lewis8654]

Glad to see someone else got the reference! It broke me in a good kinda way when I listened to it on his podcast.

[@lucymoon]

god that eight years quote hit hard. feeling the existential climate anxiety a lot atm!

[@maggiescarlet]

I just watched your elf bar video, and from the comments it seems you've impacted a lot of people- so props to you for helping them to improve their health and throw away less single-use batteries! Hope that helps your climate anxiety a bit :)

[@Mimi-xi1bm]

I’ve felt for a while like I’m not doing anything to help the climate because I don’t get involved in the groups or the protests. So thank you for talking about the other strategies that are needed, because I am alway banging on about climate issues to everyone in my life!

[@sheilagarrick]

Leena. I think we are F****D AND I'm still engaged, I feel the feelings and I work through. I'm doing what I can to make things a little bit better. I have and will continue to change my behavior and work with others in my community. I did stop and stand in the discomfort of awakening to this crisis. I did A LOT of grief work, I found people I could talk to about my thoughts and feelings and I decided to carry on. I'm convinced it's going down and it's too late to stop it, AND I can still focus on harm reduction, cushioning the blow. I keep visualizing the Miracle on the Hudson landing. My hope is to help extend the glide. Ultimately, it's all impermanent. I think we will all benefit from palliative care, comfort care as we move forward. The other idea, along with the glide visual, that supports me is the idea of living like you know you are dying. Simple things become more profound, life becomes richer when we accept how fleeting it all is. Thanks for your videos. It is so beneficial to witness your process and creativity. Keep sharing, let's extend the glide!

[@theonlyenekoeneko]

8 years. That’s it? On my home island of Australia where I was born and live, we have experienced big scary environment events since a long time, with increasing frequency in just my lifetime. This year, especially in the last few weeks, my sense of relative safety in my little corner of this island has completely crumbled. Normally the devastating floods that destroy homes and lives all happen way up north, leading my child brain to reason well that’s the natural environment up there, maybe folks should build their homes somewhere safer. Then there’s bushfires, again I reasoned people should probably not be living in the bush with trees so flammable. All that nonsense I was lead to believe, despite being born into the climate crisis well established, it’s lies. These emergencies are happening so often and now touching even the cities we thought “safe”. I saw the news reports with horror the flooding just down the street from my parents, and I called my mum and dad frantically to ascertain if they were ok, never imagining it would happen here. How can we forget already the bushfires so big and close, the air was so unsafe for months on end, I missed the entire summer just before covid hit, my asthmatic lungs couldn’t even handle walking out to the letterbox. This is reality now. No where is safe, this crisis affects everyone, everywhere. I want to have hope we can collectively save ourselves and all the plants and animals we’re taking with us, but I’m constantly stressed out by the lack of giving a damn those few in power who play the biggest role.

[@Reeshspieces]

I also think it’s so important to look at the good global news as well, for example, it’s been reported that 1/3 of the coral reef has made a comeback which is insane given that it seemed impossible, it really gives me hope and shows that we are heading in the right direction with the small changes we are making, and it encourages me to talk to other people about the changes they can make to keep good news like this going

[@darthfiende1]

I think it's important to distinguish that giving up hope that we'll all come together to right this ship doesn't mean doing nothing. If you're convinced it's going down and it's too late to stop it, you can still focus on harm reduction and cushioning the blow. The collapse of civilization doesn't have to mean the collapse of humanity or the planet. Look into degrowth if you lean this way.

[@zauberholz8357]

I had a bit of a breakdown about whether trying to fulfil my dreams was worthwhile what with the state of the world... but yes, we only have 8 years - which can be seen as terrifying, but also as a motivator in as much as, what else is there to throw yourself into if not this? Not in a martyr way that will burn you out, but in a way that you're using your skills and the force of your joy to create change. We need some more (perhaps romantisised) wartime spirit of "muck in, get it done, it WILL be over at some point - so let's try our best together to get the right outcome!"

[@ennemuk]

The world isn't ending in 8 years though. Just .. the later we implement policy the less great the outcomes would be..

[@oliviabird2681]

Definitely agree that activism isn't the only way to help prevent the climate crisis getting worse. I'm a part time activist and I'm still studying at uni, but some of my activist friends are regenerative farmers, fabric upcyclers, researchers, artists, or work for ethical investing companies. My partner just became a junior producer for a national news show and wants to push for a piece on the morning news about eco anxiety. It's just about doing what you can in the spaces you already exist in! 🥰

[@sharks2571]

Thank you for this video. I'm about to start my PhD looking at marine food security in the next 80 years in the west Indian Ocean. What is going to happen, the fates that have already been sealed in, and what is already happening is absolutely fucking terrifying. At this point, no matter what we do, hundreds of thousands-millions of people will starve in this region, essentially due to climate change. However, the differences in model outcomes between a 1.5 degree warming scenario and a 6 degree warming scenario are stark, equating to differences in the millions of people dying/being in extreme poverty. I don't have much hope that we can achieve 1.5 degrees, but 2 is always better than 3, and 3 is always better than 6. Every degree, every 10th of a degree we can keep from warming equates to many, many lives saved. That's why we need to fight like lives depend on it (as they very much do) in the next 8 years, and we need to keep fighting beyond then.

[@novisna]

Thank you so much Leena for this video! I really needed it, as someone with a lot of anxiety about this, I need hope to keep going, because like you said we can’t shut down, the worry lives in my head so much, I need to get it out, put my phone down and start doing things, I think that’s the first step whether I join a climate group or not, the hardest thing for me is to actually act and stop with the obsessive and negative thoughts and actually enjoy and engage more in the real world.

[@charlottesteed1026]

I don't know if you've already made a video about this, but it would be helpful for a video compiling a list of accessible and meaningful things people can do (lifestyle changes, etc.) to help. I think the more people learn, the more they want to help, but may just be unsure of how to start when it seems like such an insurmountable issue.

[@CecilyaKitty]

Yes! I found the idea of a venn diagramme really nice, but got stumped at the first circle already - what NEEDS to be done? When talking to my peers it feels like we're all already of the same opinion so making people aware of the problem does not really need doing. So yeah, some resources for that would be great!

[@blubli3824]

I think a good and effective thing to do can be writing to representatives and signing petitions about specific issues that interest you or that are relevant to you. Basically complaining to the authorities and asking them questions. It might feel weird at first, because we're often told we shouldn't complain, we shouldn't bother other people, and the response we receive is often "if you're not happy about the situation you should start doing something yourself". But complaining is already an action, and it might feel safer and less exhausting than being a full time activist or going to protests. The more people complain about a situation, the more representatives are compelled to act the right way. It might be easier to convince your friends and family to write letters and emails themselves than going to protests. And it can be a group activity, you don't have to do it alone. Also, If you decide to join an activist movement, you are allowed to give as little time as you want. You can help once a month, or once a year, you don't have to make it your full time job. And most activists who are there often have built up to it, they find joy in what they are doing and that's what gives them energy and motivation to keep coming back, they don't experience activism as a chore or something you "have to do" in order to be a good person. They go to the reunions because they realise they enjoy it, or they learn something from it ,or they made friends there and found a community. Being an activist should feel good, and if you don't feel good maybe it's not the right association, or the right project for you to work on, and it's ok to find another group or another organisation. Even if you don't want to join an organisation, it might be nice to go to a reunion once to see how people are doing things, it might give you more practical ideas on how to approach a problem and an overview of what has already been done and what can be done in the future at your scale. Just writing a letter might feel like a drop in the ocean, and it often takes time before seeing results so in the short term it might not feel like you are doing much, or it might not feel very satisfying (especially if you don't receive an answer, or if the answer you receive is not what you hoped for). But it works on the long term, and the more people do it, the more consistently people do it, the more effective it becomes. Start small, build up to it and do it with other people.

[@loopy4laughs]

lifestyle changes are not an effective answer to the threat of climate change, & the idea that they could be is messaging that has been actively funded by the oil lobby for decades

[@naomihepworth1642]

Bump for this - thanks for the suggestions below, maybe people could add more or link to any resources specific to this (if it gets high enough up the thread). Right now I am putting a lot of energy into things like recycling, and it feels like deckchairs on the Titanic!

[@anacaeiro1049]

Unfortunately individual action is not gonna be close to ennough :( we need a systemic change

[@corano500]

I'm a member of XR and overall, I think this is generally a good, hopeful video with the message of "do the things you're good at and have conversations with those close to you". I think activism is definitely one of the things you can do to build community and make change. After XR's first huge action in April 2019, the government declared that we're in an emergency (which is symbolic, but something we can use to hold them accountable), and changed the emissions target from 80% reduction by 2050 to net zero by 2050. There are some activists who are willing to get arrested for what they believe in and I love these people and what they're willing to do, but there are also thousands of people such as myself who don't want to get arrested who get involved in other ways such as making art and banners, cooking up food for protesters and whoever wants it on the streets, playing music, samba drumming, talking to the public, running talks, posting to social media and so many other ways. I do many things outside of activism such as outreach, education, reducing my own impact, collecting people's food waste to compost (my local council doesn't collect), conservation tasks, and building communities. I did these before XR and still do them, but out of everything I do, activism is the thing which gives me the most hope, because historically, it has worked with people like MLK, Ghandi and the Sufferagettes, who we base our tactics off.

[@ennemuk]

What do you mean we have 8 years? As an ecologist and climate activist this statement really pisses me off tbh. It's not like if we miss the deadline we die immediately and lose everything completely. But the later we turn in our work, the worse our outcome is gonna get. So yes, it is actually a movement of 40 or 50 years and the movement has been building over the past decades. And the current "new" groups are building on that great wealth of experience. The skills needed for these ever developing groups are diverse and you can contribute, whatever your skill. Or who knows, you might learn something new you didn't even know you might enjoy! Joining now might seem overwhelming because of an intense sense of urgency. It seems like leaders are refusing to get the ball rolling, and quite frankly after all the marching and talking we're a bit sick of it. So sure there's more radical action, but we're also building communities and structures to be in this for the long haul 🌿

[@happytofu5]

Also, the homework was due like 30 years ago 😬

[@maedchenmusic]

I appreciate and definitely agree with most of these points, but as someone who has professionally worked in national and local political campaigns, I do just want to say: please, PLEASE join/support your local movements. This doesn't mean you need to choose between XR and Just Stop Oil and get yourself arrested - because there is so much more out there - but you have no idea the kind of difference it can make when you show up to a meeting or a protest. I disagree with the idea that political groups and campaigns are or should somehow be separate from your community or friends. Alot of national campaigns run local groups or even encourage you to start your own in your area - With your people! And the very success of a campaign hinges on how many people engage, donate/become members, show up to meetings, hold their own meeting, share pamphlets and go to protests. I'm not saying that working on your own corner of the world isn't powerful or important - it is! But if you can affiliate/join a group it gives more power and legitimacy to the campaign and the message itself and widens the community in the process. Climate campaigns want more people to be involved and need more people to be involved. People = Power.

[@charlotteboys3337]

I was looking for someone making this comment, and feel exactly the same way. Thank you!

[@silverlinedheart]

I adore that song - shout out to all of Grace Petrie's queer protest folk music for working our your anger and hope about *gestures broadly*. "If I spend my life on the losing side You can lay me down knowing that I tried There's a better world and on a quiet day When I hold my breath, I can hear her say She's on her way" My contribution to the climate crisis (based on my specific skillset/expertise) is campaigning for improved democracy in the UK. Specifically changing the voting system to proportional representation so that all votes matter equally. This makes our democracy more accountable and our MPs more reflective of its people, so that when people are shouting "Please government do something about the climate crisis!"...they are more likely to act. Statistically, countries with proportional voting act faster on the climate crisis. In the UK it would result in waaaay more Green MPs than we currently have bc the system is literally rigged against them. Under PR, addressing the climate crisis will still feel like a marathon, but at least we wouldn't be running through sand.

[@elyse49]

While watching I kept thinking about a book I read earlier this year, "Saving Us - a Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World" by Dr Katharine Hayhoe, specifically this passage "The most important thing every single one of us can do about climate change is talk about it - why it matters, and how we can fix it - and use our voices to advocate for change within our spheres of influence." Thank you for the video Leena and all that you do 💛 p.s. if you haven' t read the book you might enjoy it.

[@ramona4290]

I did a semester abroad in Aber at the beginning of the year and whilst I was actively trying to listen to what you're saying, I'm just actually thinking about how much I miss the place and trying not to cry...

[@annesphantasia]

Thank you for this!! Absolutely needed the reminder that this cannot be the singular time in human history when we don't collaborate & innovate to survive. I'm an improv teacher so focusing on joy and collaboration is my heartbeat. I'm doing the Venn diagram exercise now and putting some creative muscle into how I can stand here & now in my life and activate greater change.

[@KayaKenzie]

Leena, every video you put out gets me thinking, reflecting and planning. Not only that, they inspire me, make me face things I'm terrified of, calm me down and make me feel a little sense of sanity, reason and community amongst the panic. As you were talking about the Venn diagram I realised that your thing in the middle must be, in part, making these videos. I'm sure you know you're doing an amazing job, but as someone that does a lot of activist action in my community, I have to say I wouldn't be doing what I am if it weren't for you. Thank you for being such a guiding light in this maze of a world!!! 🤍🤍

[@sandramaki7819]

Hi Leena! I totally understand you. I would recommend that you read Saving us by Katherine Heyhoe to feel more encouraged. I have joined some local climate action groups and what I have decided is that the most important thing to do is discuss it with others, as suggested by Katherine. After that, I tell people they have to do three actions: vote for governments that want to take action on the climate, talk about it and educate others and lastly, take your money out of fossil fuels and buy from companies that are taking climate action. We can never give up because there is no other alternative. Love your thoughtful perspective! Hugs from Montreal 💚💚💚

[@cleonawallace376]

Great video... first of yours i'd seen and admittedly as someone very focused on climate collapse I clicked because of the title! But it's true... I work at FAO, am doing a masters at CAT Wales, do permaculture and talk endlessly about climate to people in real life and online, but I sometimes I still beat myself up for not doing enough 'activism'. I so agree with what you say at 3:10... when I think of sufragettes, or civil rights campaigners or people fighting for independence from opressive regimes, I feel obliged to keep fighting and not give up until my last breath. This is often my issue with the Deep Adaptation people, that they term pretty much anything positive as 'hopium' and seem to just want to lie down and accept it. It's hard balancing the grief, anxiety and fear for how bad things are going to get, against belief that we can change it... I find Joanna Macy's 'work that reconnects' very helpful.

[@Saika789]

I went on a vacation this summer with my family. I will not name the country because it's not about that, but I remember feeling like all the small steps I take in my country, back home, are completely rendered null and void by the carelessness of others. I realised that I'm in this bubble that is quite invested in climate change, but that most of the world probably either doesn't know about it or doesn't care. It really made me want to give up. It all felt so meaningless. But it is indeed hard to just lay back and not even try.

[@morgannyan2738]

so let me get this straight, you actively contributed to climate change by going on vacation and you still blame others for your own faults?

[@bluefernlove]

@@morgannyan2738 yeap. Typical clueless angsty activists who think their recycling efforts somehow greenwash their vacation footprint while comfortably judging others just trying to get by.

[@Saika789]

@@morgannyan2738 I'm not blaming anyone. I'm pointing out that it feels ridiculous to for example recycle plastic bottles when the neighbouring country doesn't. Yes. I went on a vacation. Yes it might be hypocritical to say I care about the climate and go on vacations. You also wrote this comment on an electronic device that I can assure you is not climate friendly either. We're all hypocrites to a certain extent.

[@morgannyan2738]

@@Saika789 The difference is i never claimed to care about the enviroment, especially with hypocrites like you who excuse yourself of all your wrongdoings and point your finger at someone else. So the only hypocrite here is you and im betting you went by plane too and have kids as well wich makes your virtue signaling about climate change sound even more hollow. You want to really fight climate change? Rid yourself and your family of this world so the climate isnt affected, but you wont because youre all just words.

[@bluefernlove]

@@Saika789 yeah but I'm not a hypocrite though. I'm just doing what I do from my little corner of the world without making too many waves. Many people can't afford to be bothered by other woes but the ones they have in front. So spare me the sanctimonious bullsh*t because you're hopping on planes while judging another country from your high and mighty point of view while your little judgy wudgy ass is being catered by the locals who have to put up with your sh*t to get paid. Must be nice to be that clueless and disconnected.

[@alessandraventura8555]

Thank you for this video! I have tried to join local groups for a while, but I wasn't convinced. I was experiencing a lot of guilt for not getting involved, but recently I realized that talking to friends and family is the best way to start and can really make a difference. 🌏

[@sallys.2707]

I feel like nihilism and "we are fucked anyway, let's not change anything" are feelings for privileged people. People who have "le nez dans la merde", as we say here, can't give up, they have no choices but continuing to fight.

[@elisazouza]

There’s definitely so much doom on social media that I’ve experienced my brother become a doomer and be like we’re going die but also be so influenced by titkok too which is sad. With the just stop oil, the sort of activism doesn’t make sense to me. Like it takes going to the oil companies

[@katjweiss]

This kind of goes along with what you say at about 10min: I was once at a fire and emergency orientation for an event space we were going to be using, and our instructor said, what is the first thing you do? You don’t panic and start rushing to do things. You stand still, analyse the situation, decide what to do, then delegate tasks. I don’t know if it’s naive or too hopeful of me to think but I do wonder if our response to the climate emergency should be the same

[@IguessImight]

I have often heard that quote ("don't just do something, stay there") from John Green, and he recently did a talk (the William Belden Noble lecture) where he also discusses hope and the apocalypse. Thank you for this video!

[@milliekirk5851]

I clicked on this video cause it sounded interesting. Turns out it's one of the best things I've watched in weeks. I really needed to hear that today. To hear that we should have hope and we can do this. Thank you Leena

[@catrinevansmusic]

What the helllll I've been having this precise conversation with myself recently! I'm still very split on whether I think I should just go for it and do SOMETHING even if it's not perfect for me or whether I should do as you mention, step back and figure out how best I can support the movement. One thing a very wise friend of mine said though is this: "the work climate activist groups are doing definitely feels like the front line, but the truth is there are lots of front lines."

[@phillipwalker8827]

Hello, how're you catrina?

[@aoifebrowne2302]

I can't tell you how much I needed to hear this! I'm a primary teacher and just yesterday I finished prepping a course to teach children about climate action. This vid was a nice reminder that I actually can make positive change within my field - education. Thanks Leena 💜

[@teen-at-heart]

The statement that losing doesn’t matter or exist and we should keep trying - in particular as every 0.1 degree saves thousands of lives and hundreds of species - doesn’t work logically together with the statement that we have only 8 years and no extensions. :) We should do as much as we can in as short a time as we can in order to keep the bad consequences down and in order to “achieve” as few 0.1 increases in temperature as possible….but we can still avoid several 0.1 increases after 2030. So: keep fighting now, do what you can, but also keep fighting on after 2030 and do not stop then as you think that was the end point of the “game” and we’ve “lost”. 🎉

[@AlexThinksAbout]

Grace Petrie is the artist of The Loosing side 😊 Such a phenomenal artist, well worth a listen 😄

[@fionahorne9283]

Thank you leena 🧚‍♂️💚

[@Lunareon]

We do not all have to join a/the movement, but we all have to do our part in driving the change for better. The experts are not some holy saviors, who will invent a magic bullet within the critical time limit, if simply left to their own devices. They need to be backed by the government, legislation/regulations and the will of the people. While waiting for the experts to solve things, there is a lot we can do, on a personal level, to give them more time. For the wealthier parts of the world, it simply means reducing consumption, in general, and voting for better policies. It does not have to be more complicated than that.

[@mindart237]

This inspired me to join the repair café again i used to work for. Making things last longer and reusing stuff is important to save ressources and also you can meet a bunch of new people there.

[@natashapaveyuk]

As a youth climate justice activist, I don't think the climate movement is the losing side. We have won. We recently stopped the cambo oil field and have pressured big cooperations to divest from fossil fuels to name a few! People power works, collective action works, history has shown us that. But definitley some good points in this vid. Also, it's not just sitting in roads and throwing soup (this is defo a small percentage of us!), we need everyone and there is a role for everyone. I agree 100% that everything is the climate movement for sure!! I'm defo not giving up anytime soon xx

[@beccyshore1303]

I studied at Aberystwyth and I can assure you that unfortunately it is very possible to be very sad there 😅 Edit: Having actually watched the entire thing now, I can say thanks for making another thought-provoking and well made video 💚

[@samanthabartlett4562]

Those venn diagrams are such a good reminder. I often feel like I'm not doing nearly enough to combat the climate crisis because there isn't a lot of overt action in my day to day. But I'm also in the fledgling stage of a career as a librarian and libraries are one of the best/most easily accessible examples of how a sharing economy is very doable and infinitely more sustainable

[@happytofu5]

Also, you can host events at libraries!

[@jsalnut]

Another lovely vid! Actually had to watch it twice to grasp the thesis of this video essay. We don't need to join big protests or community groups--rather we can just start with our current relationships. Politely inform others of our own environmentally conscious choices and hopefully they can make the same environmentally conscious choices in their lives

[@leenanorms]

Glad you liked it! I meant not to emphasise individual 'lifestyle' changes but to realise that our neighbourhoods and the industries we work in need to change - so starting where you have authority and knowledge (like your workplace or your field of training/expertise) and completely changing how those work is as urgent as anything else you could be doing. We also need to mentally prepare our friends and family, and were often best placed to do that over starngers. Both need to happen, and if you're not up for joining protests or direct action, that doesn't mean there's not a lot to be changed closer to home.

[@rhifri4398]

I discovered your channel because of a review you did of Wurthering heights - and I stayed because you’re able to so eloquently voice all the opinions I have of climate change. I appreciate you

[@rosiejones6692]

I had a few days of near constant panic back at the start of October on whether I should get arrested with Just Stop Oil in a road protest. It was horrible - I was sitting in my lectures (I’m a second year foreign languages uni student) learning about the Habsburg Empire, thinking, “What the hell am I doing here? How are we all just sitting like this like nothing’s going on?” For a day or so I seriously considered quitting my degree and becoming an activist full time. That was my panic brain talking, because I had no clue how I would be a ‘full time activist’ - how I would feed myself, what I’d be doing, where I’d stay etc. I didn’t go on the protest in the end. I did join a general march at the start of November instead, and I’ve realised for me that marches seem to be the best approach (right now) because I can support climate movements yet still ensure I won’t get a criminal record and get a career to actively help the climate crisis through work. I still highly respect all those getting arrested though because it really takes guts. It’s something I’m still considering, but I’m realising I need to think a little more long term to make sure I sustain my impact. As my skills are foreign languages, I’m thinking I can join some communications team for an environmental organisation, or maybe transition into a Masters focused on environmental policy. Something like that. And I’ll eventually end up in teaching because my best teachers really opened my eyes to the power I had as a young person, and I think your teen years can be so crucial to developing who you are. Still figuring it out! Thanks for reading my thought splurge as I procrastinate finishing a German essay 😂

[@person2225]

Your videos are the type of KZbin videos were I actually take a moment after watching them to sit down and take notes because I think “there were so many good points in that I don’t wanna forget about them”. Thanks for making them!

[@person2225]

And I really like the idea of the Venn diagram that you showed. queue Kamala Harris saying I love venn diagrams haha

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Aber

[@BryonyClaire]

So agree, even though a lot of me thinks we're screwed it doesn't mean I don't spend my energy at least trying in all the channels I can because as you say, we can make it better than the worst case scenario by doing many things now

[@katherinegregory2806]

I'm at aber at the moment doing a masters course and it's so lovely! Whenever I get overwhelmed (which has been a lot more recently because of the sense of doom about the climate) I go sit on the beach, watch the waves and think about how beautiful the world is.

[@beccyshore1303]

Sounds like how I got through my Master's, too 😅 hugs to you

[@thomascampbell9030]

My tragic opinion is it has to get worse for the majority to start caring. When we can say we all know someone who died due to a heatwave, flood, etc the majority will get on board. It will just be too late to fully recover.

[@purpleskies91]

Thank you Leena, I always find your videos incredibly helpful in making sense of the jumble of emotions I feel when thinking about our current state. I appreciate your "positive panic" mentality and the reassurance that we're not alone in feeling it, and the nudge to continue to take action and not stand frozen in our dread.

[@annabeinglazy5580]

One Thing about climate (or any) movements is that it needs a huge amount of mental strength. I am vegan, and spent a couple years in online spaces, advocating for better conditions in animal farming and legislation. It wore me Out. Because those spaces Turn toxic quite easily, and you might end up in an environment where nothing is ever enough (again... The Internet. Dont recommend online groups at all if you want to Join a movement. Try to get a local group, If youre inclined to activism). Or you spend a few years lobbying and nothing ever seems to change. People laugh at you, or get aggressive with you for "accusing" them of shit, you have the same conversations over and over and over again. This applied to all types of activism, human rights, climate, animal welfare, you Name it. People will get into your face because that one other activists that one time was an asshole, therefore You are too. You need to learn to disengage or you Run the risk of getting cynical quite quickly. Thats my pet theory of why a Lot of full time activists are actually really hard to be around. Their activism is their Job, their Life, and 90% of the time it's a slog where your trying to crawl towards a Goal that might Take years to accomplish. It's hard to keep a Sunny Disposition and a balanced approach If Frustration is your daily experience.

[@ChristopherDraws]

This is a fantastic video, Leena, and it oddly feels like it follows on a little thematically from your video about slogans: it's far more important now to work within the field/circle/community you understand to make good changes, versus joining a club (or wearing a t-shirt with a slogan).

[@silverlinedheart]

That's such a good connection to make!

[@Will-kt5jk]

The overall message was pretty positive - sort of ‘if you can, put your skills to work where they might matter’ I think that’s a good message. We spend most of our waking lives at work, so it would be great to see more regular almost ‘careers fair’ style schemes for adults/professionals to pivot into impactful careers to move more effort into impact (I.e. open guidance, not behind loses doors, building a special group of heroes) The trouble with a lot of the general ‘climate movement’ stuff is it’s more about ‘posting’ than actually doing anything practical. It’s “Kony 2012" - but for the environment. Awareness raising has its place, as does applying political pressure, but a lot of the protest movements just feel like the IRL equivalent of ‘share this post to help save kids’ & all it ends up doing is stoking the ‘oh dear-ism’ which people are already pretty good at & at worst become more about ‘influencer’ culture & egos (I.e. using ego/saviourism as a motivator, rather than journey/outcomes) than the actual issues.

[@bobsrussi598]

Omg one of the things I have to do when I get too anxious to function is hop on the train to Aberystwyth. My mum's family have lived there forever and it makes me feel so at peace! So glad I'm not the only one who loves this little town

[@FayCreative]

Such a lovely voice and speaker!! 🌊🌼

[@brimarie4196]

It's so hard to find hope. I really really appreciate this video.

[@yvonnebouwhuis9419]

i can't usually make it through whole videos on the climate crisis i panic and stop mid way, i always try but cant quite do it. this one i did watch to the end so thanks for that.

[@RM-cj8uj]

The Venn diagram was super interesting! What I struggle with is knowing what the alternatives are to being involved with direct action. Can anyone enlighten me?

[@mouse72x]

I was in Aber for 4 years for university and this has made me really crave another trip. It's such a wonderful town and place. Also the food game is strong, I've never found a replacement Sophie's anywhere else

[@helloelin]

Outstanding video Leena!

[@MOONBATHING98]

Thank you so much for this, I needed it so much today ❤️ "don't just do something, stand there" and everything you said in that portion of the video really blew my mind

[@silliepixie]

Watching you talk about the approaching climate crisis while you were watching/worrying about the tide coming in resonated and felt appropriate somehow.

[@selmalovestodance]

Thanks for this! Scientists and engineers etc not giving up as a hopeful factor is a great insight 🙏🏼

[@shallwe8010]

Love this video, what mic are you using??

[@chiarathomas5044]

god, I need to get myself back to aber STAT it's such a dream

[@GreenBrett]

Non-violent direct action is our only hope for the radical change we need. We need everyone in the streets. This video minimised all the research into the success of non-violent direct action. And says, do what you think is best which in the majority of cases is… people doing nothing.

[@kimswhims8435]

I'm not a joiner, but I have bought solar panels this year and contribute power to the grid. I've had a solar hot water system for about 10 years. I consider my "carbon footprint" all the time. I vote for political candidates who make climate action policy a priority, and I have vocalised with members of Parliament, that climate action an important issue to me. I have a car but I only use it about once a week, I work from home. I live in a city that has a renewable centric energy policy. I am doing my best to educate myself on impacts on our planet. There's lots we can do as individuals.

[@el1636]

I've been feeling really down lately about the climate and many other things that are going on in the world and my personal life. But after watching this videos I feel a little bit more hopeful a d empowerd. Thank you Leena

[@carhoness78]

That particular dip in the rock is one of my favourite places too 😂☺️ xx

[@jenniferhofstede4587]

Loved this video. Made me almost emotional. Watched it while enjoying an upcycling project (=widening a t- shirt that no longer fits me). Thinking of offering this ‘service’ for friends because I like doing it so much.

[@agirlnamedtuesdaye]

Honestly, this video was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. Thanks, Leena!

[@Acehigh-Jenkins]

I just wanted to say I work in a Gp’s and I’d like to urge anyone who has asthma to try a greener inhaler it can really make a difference to the climate crisis. If it doesn’t work for you that’s ok and you can swop back but it’s worth a try. We are trying to swop anyone who’s willing.

[@sophatt]

I just came across this at time of feeling overwhelmed by the climate situation and this has got me thinking differently, and added some well needed levity ❤️❤️

[@t.wrecks1976]

Clicked like for your microphone on the beach-subscribed from your description of humans 💯

[@kimwarburton8490]

when i get despondent about the climate crisis, i remember 'rethink x' vids (i think they are called) whereby they prove via historical examples (car, internet, printing, coal) about positive tipping points and exponential growth as a newer, cheaper, more efficient technology becomes a game changer. We currently are at the beginning of huge changes in key sectors of energy, transport, food production etc. Trajectory looks like an S-curve; there is slow growth and adoption to start with and then once a tipping point is reached, it compounds and becomes a self-reinforcing exponential feedback loop. Things get cheaper with mass production, which leads to more R&D, more competition, which makes things cheaper, so more adoption. SolarPV is already the cheapest form of energy generation, it is simply that upfront costs and allocation of space resource stop many who WOULD adopt, such as myself, renting a social housing flat. In short, because what is good is also what is economical and logical, we will be able to by-pass 'the powers that be' with the power of our wallets. I also hop onto channels such as 'have another think' '2bit davincii' and 'undecided'. As they have a focus on the climate change and technologies which are in R&D and shown good progress, overcoming problems, or soon to hit the public market. Covering topics from energy storage to new types of cargo ships. While a focus on new technology has also been considered a cognitive distortion, due to the capitalist mantra of infinite growth on a finite planet, that these new technologies and solutions wont necessarily combat other problems such as inequality, they give me hope that we can 'buy' ourselves more time without resorting to drastic measures (cloud seeding/terraforming)by making better use of those limited resources, changing our economics (donut economics perhaps). Climate change is in my mind akin to those good vrs evil stories we all grew up with. I wont stop believing in hope (dum spiro spero) I wont stop trying to point out the illogic in climate-denier arguments etc. I wont stop sharing the information i learn due to my advantages; being disabled, i have ALOT of time to keep up to date and write in debate threads. I have stability and safety thanks to ESA and social housing, i have no dependants, i live a limited life where i am time rich and a mind i need to keep sane with my love of learning lol

[@geraldineharrington6210]

Thank you for going to Aberystwyth for a bit of hope. I went to uni there so it was nice to see again

[@theelfdruid8325]

Goodness, I did not ever think I would see a video filmed in my sleepy little town blow up on KZbin! Nevertheless one that is about something I'm quite passionate about. For context, I'm a veterinary bioscience student (though I plan to transfer to Zoology next year), with a heavy interest in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. I'm very familiar with the Extinction Rebellion; I'm on their newsletter, however, as a busy Uni student, I've never been able to go to any of their events, as I simply don't find them engaging enough to me to take precedence over my other extracurriculars. However, you know what I do enjoy doing? Working with the Aber Conservation Society to travel around Wales on tasks to help clear and maintain land for wildlife. I love seeing more of Wales, the work feels important to me, and growing up in the middle of the woods, I've never shied away from working outdoors. I've also made great friends in the ACV because of it! That's why I prefer it to working with the ER. So, I agree completely that activism needs to fit your niche to be sustainable. It's... haunting for me to think about the fact I will only have just finished college when things really go down. I've already seen parts of my forested hometown destroyed for more single-family homes that nobody even wants, record temperatures and fluxes in weather, and I know this is only a taste of the climate crisis to come. I feel a constant pressure regarding my future in terms of the climate, and it can be exhausting. But, at the same time, that same pressure is what spurs me to do something; even if it's not much, it's better than nothing. At it's worst, it keeps me unlike my family, who refuse to believe the planet won't "just adapt". I can't do much myself now, so I want to thank everyone who has come before me who is throwing their heart and soul into fixing the climate crisis! I hope things will turn around, that the world won't need me to join you in just a few years, but I know that road is rough and steep. But, I'm going to have faith things are going to get better. And of, thank you Leena for the video! You've earned yourself a brand new subscriber, and thank you for putting a little spotlight on this sleepy little town I love ;D

[@FlipFlop2729]

this came at a good time. One of your best ones leena!

[@Miss_Lexisaurus]

You always challenge me to reconnect to hope and I appreciate that

[@martianpudding9522]

I really like the venn diagram example and I think I struggle a lot with choice paralysis when looking at that inner triangle. The overlap between what needs doing (concerning the climate as well as more broadly), what I can do and what brings me joy, is likely much bigger than the actual energy I have to spend. But then that means that I have to choose some things to do over other things and that feels like I also need to reject doing those other things, but I don't feel like I can justify that because they are also important, within my skill set, and things that I would enjoy. I understand it's irrational but when I feel like I want to do something like become a climate activist it's like there's this voice in the back of my mind saying like "oh so you're not going to be a mental health advocate then? That's pretty selfish..." and then I end up not doing either...

[@thebatridesagain]

I work for a sustainability charity. Never. Stop. Fighting.

[@wensdyy6466]

I would like to say that we have tried to combat the climate change for decades-we tried to reson with politics and poluters (show proof of how bad it is and how much worse it will get and how it will negativley impact their way of making money), try to show the public how bad it is, show stories of people affected and NO AMOUNT OF DATA OR EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE did ANYTHING to help ynd the situation is getting worse so these desperate mesures are the only thing there is that has not been tried on bigger scale (we have tried all other alternative methods and they all failed).

[@sophiaisabelle027]

Seems like there's much more going on that we may not be fully aware of. Somehow we all find this helpful.

[@magspies]

Yes for the righteous pissed-off-ness! Recently told an acquaintance recycling isn't going to save the planet and they were completely shocked (recycling is all they said the were 'prepared to do')....need to hear that's it only eight years until I can give up 😆 Thanks for the video!

[@Mrj-cv3xo]

As an environmental and energy engeneeiring student, we're defenelly fucked, we can only make it less painfull unfortunelly. Just to give you the facts, cuz i think there's a lot of things we can do and we should work towards it being less painfull for the other generations, but yeah, the climate collapse Will defenelly appen

[@happytofu5]

it has already started and some regions already encounter severe problems

[@luke28]

Sitting down, hvaing a bicuit and working out how to spend my energy on fighting climate change here ;)

[@leenanorms]

hahha proud! Don't just do something, sit their with a biscuit and have a Big Think. Hope it was yummy! x

[@player-ic9yj]

have you read 'hope in the dark'? i think youd dig it

[@rurubi]

Such a great video!!!! We all need to think about climate change as the umbrella cause, the one that needs to include everyone!

[@joturner3739]

This is such a great video, it really brought a tear to my eye. It's very hard not to feel anxious and overwhelmed, and I think reminding people that it's not a binary - that every little bit of progress will save many people and animals - is so hopeful and important.

[@ginal2643]

Read & listen to Rebecca Solnit. Radical hope is where it's at.

[@harriet.z]

That view is amazing!!

[@harriet.z]

I really enjoy your video, and this really helped clear my mind and calm me. I was contemplating the lack of panic I experienced upon hearing those famous paintings being “disturbed” by activists, and realized it’s because I KNOW nature, and humans, are so much older than those paintings, and surely if we haven’t being caring about the planet, it is absolutely not our place to clench our hearts at those wonderful human creations and turn our nose up at the young people who are trying to get a message across.

[@internetcultured]

Love this style of video! Super creative

[@SamWest96]

So that cove is where I stood when I came to accept that I was depressed, being abused at work, being abused in my relationship and that I may have ovarian cancer (I didn't, I have endometriosis.) Oof. Ok. I haven't thought of that cove in 5 years. Loving and leaving, will let it play silently with love and will maybe return another time. I hope one day I can return to North Wales and feel joy for the beautiful place.

[@xXNekou]

So what woud be other ways to help, apart from joining a movement/a group? Here are some ideas but please add your own: 1. Write to your politicians and urge them to take action 2. Go vegan (or even just try to reduce your meat and dairy intake) 3. If you need to buy stuff, choose small/local businesses over giant corporations like Amazon 4. Try to save water at your own house, as well as gas and electricity if possible 5. If you can choose products that are plastic-free or from recycled or compostable plastic 6. FFS don't litter 7. Try to buy less in general, and throw less things out 8. Use more public transport or a bike instead of a car or a plane 9. Switch whatever you can to more sustainable option (when needed). For example don't buy bottled water, invest in a water filter instead, and buy a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one etc