We need Olympic flame of hope
for climate-ravaged planet
As the 2024 Paris Games begin, the Olympic torch inspires us with its flame, symbolizing hope for everyone around the world.
But as we watch the athletes' dazzling performances, our climate-ravaged planet brings us closer to extinction every day. We desperately need to feel the same kind of Olympic flame of hope in our hearts for our planet—hope that we can stop the destruction and devastation caused by climate change.
However, 123 members of Congress in the United States are climate deniers, according to a report just released from the Center for American Progress. We can no longer wait for politicians to find solutions. We need to take action and do something right now, individually, on a personal level!
"But what can I do?" you may ask. That is the top question readers ask climate change journalists.
I've been an environmental educator for 35 years, with a Ph.D. in environmental science. I have taught at the University of California, Berkeley. I have experienced the transformative power of reconnecting with nature in my personal and professional life — we can gain a deeper understanding of our place in the natural world and feel a sense of responsibility towards it. Nature can empower us to mitigate climate change, heal our souls, and inspire us to save our Planet.
I've experienced two wildfires and two earthquakes in the past six years. My husband and I lived in the Plumas National Forest in California for the first three years. Every year, we constantly feared wildfires and evacuations. The stress became unbearable, so we moved. A new fire devastated our neighborhood while we were packing, but miraculously, our home survived.
In search of a more peaceful existence, we moved to the coast and settled in Rio Dell, but we soon discovered we lived in an earthquake zone. We've had two earthquakes in the last three years, 6.4 and 5.4 magnitudes. Glasses broke, plants tumbled, chimneys cracked, candles fell, our dog trembled, and our cats hid while we clung to each other in shock and disbelief.
Yes, climate change has a deep, profound impact on our lives. Experiencing these disasters has deepened my commitment to protecting our Planet.
Reestablishing our relationship with nature is something that we can all do, on a personal level, by taking time to experience the natural world. Our love for all the plants, animals, and people will deepen and motivate us to support climate change actions on a personal, national, and global level, filling us with the hope that we can save our Planet.
I love our Planet — nature's beauty and wonder have always inspired me to want to protect it. My family was fortunate to spend summer vacations at my aunt's cabin in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Every morning, I would quietly tiptoe outside, excitedly with anticipation to see the tiny chipmunks scampering across the field. In the afternoons, my family would walk down the hill to the river behind the cabin. I joyfully splashed around and played in the sun on the rocks. We rode horses, hiked on mountain trails, and had picnics in meadows bursting with flowers and grasses in the fresh air.
While growing up, I loved working in our backyard with my father, a small-scale urban farmer in the suburbs. I would run outside in my overalls, ready to dig in the dirt, plant vegetables, and pick berries and fruit. These early childhood adventures nurtured my love of nature.
My personal and professional interactions with nature have taught me that renewing our connection with nature, no matter where we live, is the first step toward taking action on climate change. The more we experience nature, the more we want to protect it.
My favorite restaurant in Eureka overlooks a harbor and marina. The water can be rough or still, the climate can be sunny or rainy, hot or cold, but I always feel the powerful presence of nature when looking out at the water. The air and water seem to vibrate with life—the water, moving ever so gently, singing in my soul. Each time I eat there, I am renewed and recommitted to saving our planet so others can share nature's moments of peace.
You can begin tonight. Take a moment before going to sleep and look outside. Watch as the moon and stars illuminate the night. Feel the fresh night air. Rest peacefully, knowing our love of nature brings hope for our world.