{"id":49789,"date":"2021-08-26T11:16:24","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T15:16:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=49789"},"modified":"2025-07-02T04:08:41","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T08:08:41","slug":"advice-from-a-climate-activist-how-to-manage-eco-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/49789\/advice-from-a-climate-activist-how-to-manage-eco-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"How to manage eco-anxiety: Advice from a climate activist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"#climateanxietytips\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#climateanxietytips\">SKIP THE INTRO: TAKE ME TO THE CLIMATE ANXIETY TIPS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cThe moon is following us home again!\u201d My daughter exclaimed as she always does when the line between day and night becomes blurry and we begin to make our way home from the park in the evening. \u201cBut why is it red?\u201d<\/p>\n\n<p>Her question hit me with the weight of the realization that with the moon, the climate crisis, too, is following us home. I explained that there were wildfires burning in Ontario and the smoke was blowing particulate matter through the atmosphere, turning the moon a red hue. \u201cWill they come here?\u201d she inquired, referring to the fires. \u201cNo\u201d I said, (not yet, my inner voice added).<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that is orange when it shouldn\u2019t be because northern ontario is currently on fire\u2026 that\u2019s a-climate change <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XPjBpEScuG\">pic.twitter.com\/XPjBpEScuG<\/a><\/p>&mdash; abi (@rockford_peach) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rockford_peach\/status\/1417317328325332995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 20, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<p>This was on the day that Toronto\u2019s air quality clocked in at second worst of any city in the world. And it was one of those moments when the climate crisis crystalized in my mind as an overwhelming reality \u2013&nbsp;the extent of the damage, the monumental task in front of us. The fact that others living in more vulnerable circumstances around the world have already been dealing with the impacts for years \u2013&nbsp;and despite that knowledge, we\u2019ve failed to act with the urgency the situation requires.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yikes\u2026 Toronto ranks number 2 in the world this afternoon for lowest air quality of any major city. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OZVFxJq8m1\">pic.twitter.com\/OZVFxJq8m1<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Anthony Farnell (@AnthonyFarnell) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AnthonyFarnell\/status\/1417225563626954756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 19, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<p>As our newsfeeds fill with videos and images of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmodo.com\/here-are-the-5-major-regions-literally-on-fire-right-no-1847389046?fbclid=IwAR3ZCf9GSysrq2Er8KYBVTrb6C81vVSbxkAx4oekMEsN2sWGEtaKFugK5XE\" target=\"_blank\">wildfires raging<\/a> out-of-control and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CRhR9HPN3Pd\/\" target=\"_blank\">floods<\/a> that threaten to wipe towns off the map; as news headlines turn dark with stories of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CR6eZGgtUjb\/\" target=\"_blank\">animals cooking in place and cherries turning to raisins from record-breaking heat<\/a>; as more people are directly exposed to the impacts of the crisis \u2013&nbsp;the sense that the task at hand is overwhelming and impossible can lead to feelings of climate anxiety, or <strong><em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/fashionmagazine.com\/flare\/identity-politics\/eco-anxiety-what-to-do\/?\" target=\"_blank\">\u2018Eco-Anxiety.\u2019<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>These feelings are normal. <\/strong>We\u2019re being confronted with horrible images, videos and stories in our newsfeeds, events which are increasingly being directly tied to climate change through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/49182\/were-bcs-horrific-heatwave-and-wildfires-caused-by-climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more accurate climate science<\/a>. More of us are also directly experiencing the impacts first hand. It\u2019s natural to feel grief, despair, anxiety, depression and anger when faced with such suffering \u2013&nbsp;and the infuriating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/49627\/extreme-heat-events-affect-the-vulnerable-the-most-this-must-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">inadequate responses<\/a> to such events from those in power.<\/p>\n\n<p>As someone who lives in the flow of information online working as a Digital Campaigner for Greenpeace Canada, I inevitably struggle with these feelings. But over the years I also feel like I&#8217;ve learned a thing or two about managing them, moving through them and coming out the other side, transmuting eco-anxiety into action. I&#8217;m sharing some of this here in the hopes it might help if you, like me, struggle with feelings of doom in a world that feels increasingly destabilized.<\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"climateanxietytips\"><strong>1. Get outside<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p>When I find myself in a pit of climate doom, I make a conscious effort to disconnect from the screen world and spend time in nature. I go for walks, I sit in parks, I swim, I stop by some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/davidsuzuki.org\/take-action\/act-locally\/butterflyway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">butterfly way projects<\/a> that are near me and commune with the bees and the butterflies. There is nothing like the calming effects of the natural world \u2013&nbsp;and spending time in it is a reminder that we are deeply intertwined with this world. We are not apart from nature, but a part of it. There is something incredibly healing (and empowering) when you let yourself sit in that knowledge.<\/p>\n\n<p>Research has also confirmed what we all know intuitively: spending time in nature has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utoronto.ca\/news\/walk-park-how-spending-time-nature-can-boost-mental-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">positive mental health benefits<\/a>. This is something more people have discovered since covid lockdowns, and all the more reason that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2020\/08\/5-things-covid-19-has-taught-us-about-inequality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ensuring natural spaces are available to <em>all<\/em><\/a> needs to be a priority for a green and just recovery.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/Rpcw3Rn4L_lSl2RAUPYcl26Qy6ncquFLc9n52VIBQ74V0SXYnB18RjlhqLMSxskjb9ueO4EAlfYHm0s-wbCMIhXbzsCz4UhWfiNoOochM1xkmpOghASxjsSVuj2crasPgmh455o=s0\" alt=\"\" width=\"639\" height=\"720\"\/><figcaption>source <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B-7imrOg1Ud\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@futureearth<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Cook, clean, garden<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p>Being a full time digital activist means I live in the flow of world events online \u2013&nbsp;what these days feels increasingly more like a rapid raging river with a rip tide. The trending hashtags, the photos and videos of all \u201cclimate-hell-broke-loose\u201d looking more like a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CSSgcT1NowJ\/\" target=\"_blank\">dystopian movie<\/a>, oil companies <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/unearthed.greenpeace.org\/2021\/06\/30\/exxon-climate-change-undercover\/\" target=\"_blank\">admitting to covering up climate science<\/a> to continue turning a profit, politicians giving <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GrahamHnatiuk\/status\/1410643229993623559\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">callous remarks<\/a> about the suffering of the vulnerable in the midst of a climate crisis, billionaires playing star wars using the money they hoarded destroying the only home we\u2019ve got \u2013&nbsp;and then having the nerve to say they\u2019re <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CR1Ux-StQQh\/\" target=\"_blank\">giving our children the opportunity to build the future<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to know what\u2019s going on in the world, but it\u2019s also important to know when you\u2019re coming untethered.<\/p>\n\n<p>When I feel myself getting lost in the rip tide, I take a break and find activities that ground me again. I do laundry and hang it outside, I cook or bake, I water my garden, I clean my apartment, I read, I play my ukulele.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Find an activity that restores a sense of calm and allows you to find your centre again<\/strong>. This will lead you to being more effective when you\u2019re ready to jump back in. We are not at our best when we\u2019re burned out and scattered; it\u2019s better to take breaks, rest and realign.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image caption-alignment-center\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/429a0656-236476609_197967599045178_5756465923559357642_n-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49793\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/429a0656-236476609_197967599045178_5756465923559357642_n-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/429a0656-236476609_197967599045178_5756465923559357642_n-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/429a0656-236476609_197967599045178_5756465923559357642_n-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/429a0656-236476609_197967599045178_5756465923559357642_n-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/429a0656-236476609_197967599045178_5756465923559357642_n-340x340.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/429a0656-236476609_197967599045178_5756465923559357642_n.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>How to deal with climate despair by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CShQThYA_v7\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@sarahlazarovic<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Tailor your newsfeed to include positive stories&#8230;and funny animal videos<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p>Set yourself up to run into the good equally (or more) often than the bad. Being exposed to global disasters and negative news stories all day every day can leave us feeling like there are more problems than solutions. <strong>But the solutions, and the people working on them, are out there<\/strong> (for example, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/indiginews.com\/vancouver-island\/kelp-farming-as-a-climate-solution-on-cortes-island?fbclid=IwAR0xRN654v9KAz3jVgFkZFS4ThIoZWecWBzXXYOlFHGMqr8ggwCH_5UIAQk\" target=\"_blank\">this story about a seaweed farm off Cortes Island<\/a> makes me want to give it all up tomorrow and become a seaweed gardener ?). Start looking for the groups and the projects that inspire you, and follow along with their work. Make sure you\u2019re taking note of the wins as often as you\u2019re keeping up with what more needs to be done (for instance, in the last couple of months, people power managed to stop not one, but two pipelines \u2013&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CSFoflSHbZc\/\" target=\"_blank\">GNL Quebec<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CQ9cyVZthal\/\" target=\"_blank\">Goldboro<\/a> \u2013&nbsp;and also <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CRudTWQBT6F\/\" target=\"_blank\">saved a wetland<\/a> from demolition). They\u2019ll continue to try to pave paradise, and we\u2019ll continue to stand in their way.<\/p>\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a few places to start:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B1fvY4Ggp4o\/\" target=\"_blank\">@brenna_quinlan<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/sarahlazarovic\/\" target=\"_blank\">@sarah_lazarovic<\/a> on Instagram (Sarah also writes this <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mvp.ist\/p\/youre-a-beautiful-person-with-a-body?ltclid=ae41e681-3f48-4ba4-8a0c-4c28793ea451\" target=\"_blank\">inspiring newsletter<\/a>)<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/futureearth\/\" target=\"_blank\">@futureearth<\/a> on Instagram<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gogreensavegreen\/\" target=\"_blank\">@gogreensavegreen<\/a> on instagram<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/get.waste.ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@get.waste.ed<\/a> on instagram<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.apositiveclimate.com\" target=\"_blank\">A Positive Climate<\/a> podcast<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.upstreampodcast.org\" target=\"_blank\">Upstream Podcast<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p>And don\u2019t forget to expose yourself to inspiring and\/or funny animal videos. These are essential in surviving climate anxiety (I post one every Saturday morning on the Greenpeace Canada social media channels, follow along! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/greenpeace.canada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GreenpeaceCA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/greenpeace_canada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/4f414f08-ezgif.com-video-to-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49805\"\/><figcaption>source <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/auroreptile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@auroreptile<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<p><strong>4. Talk it out&#8230;with your elected representatives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>On top of everything else we\u2019re all struggling with in these uncertain times, we\u2019ve just been plunged into a federal election. Regardless of how you\u2019re feeling about it, this is an opportunity to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalobserver.com\/2021\/08\/18\/opinion\/we-need-election-20201-all-about-climate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">make climate change and social justice THE key issues<\/a> \u2013&nbsp;and the centre point of The National Conversation.<\/p>\n\n<p>So \u2013 feeling upset about the state of the planet, and the increasingly unequal social system that harms the most vulnerable? <strong>Pick up the phone and give your <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourcommons.ca\/members\"><strong>elected representatives<\/strong><\/a><strong> or candidates an earful about what you want to see<\/strong> ?\ufe0f\u260e\ufe0f Think of it as a form of talk therapy. And technically you pay them to solve your problems through your taxes \u2013&nbsp;so why not get your money\u2019s worth? ?<\/p>\n\n<p>We\u2019ve heard a lot in the last year and half about <em>\u2018building back better\u2019<\/em> from the pandemic for a green and just recovery. A lot of promises have been made. But so far, not as much tangible and concrete action has been taken to get us there. When you call your elected representatives, feel free to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/42556\/throne-speech:-meh-or-yay\/?\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">talk to them about the following<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/act.gp\/2Wr7jaM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fair transition<\/a><\/strong> to a sustainable low-carbon economy<\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/41993\/why-we-need-nature-the-abcs-of-a-restoration-economy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Protecting and restoring of land, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems<\/a><\/strong> along with the wildlife that call these places home<\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/act.gp\/3Dj08T6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ending single-use plastics<\/a><\/strong> in favour of building a circular economy<\/li><li>Replacing toxic chemicals used in agricultural, consumer goods and manufacturing with safer alternatives&nbsp;<\/li><li>Developing accessible, affordable and healthy communities and transportation networks<\/li><li>Prioritizing social and racial justice, economic equity, and well-being, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and the communities most exposed to environmental harm<\/li><li>A <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/act.gp\/3Dj2Cku\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wealth tax on the super rich<\/a><\/strong> to make them pay their fair share of a green and just recovery<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/b3e93932-screen-shot-2021-08-26-at-8.28.48-am-1024x1022.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49797\" width=\"768\" height=\"767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/b3e93932-screen-shot-2021-08-26-at-8.28.48-am-1024x1022.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/b3e93932-screen-shot-2021-08-26-at-8.28.48-am-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/b3e93932-screen-shot-2021-08-26-at-8.28.48-am-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/b3e93932-screen-shot-2021-08-26-at-8.28.48-am-768x767.png 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/b3e93932-screen-shot-2021-08-26-at-8.28.48-am-341x340.png 341w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/08\/b3e93932-screen-shot-2021-08-26-at-8.28.48-am.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>source <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B1fvY4Ggp4o\/\" target=\"_blank\">@brenna_quinlan<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Take an action, any action<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p>Just as climate anxiety can cause a vicious circle of despair, acting on climate can create a virtuous circle of empowerment.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>The ultimate cure for climate anxiety \u2013&nbsp;at least for me \u2013&nbsp;is action.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If you&#39;re looking at the news today and thinking &quot;Fuuuuuucck&quot;, know the best thing you can do to counter feelings of doom is action. And to find the best action for you, think about what your skills and passions are, then start from there. I&#39;m sure you&#39;ll do great.<\/p>&mdash; Alice Bell (@alicebell) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/alicebell\/status\/1424705251555389442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 9, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<p>The helplessness that comes with feelings of existential dread around climate can leave you feeling like there\u2019s nothing you can do. And we know that\u2019s not true: of all the things laid out in the IPCC report the one that stood out to me the most was that it\u2019s not too late:<\/p>\n\n<p><em><strong>&#8220;If we reduce emissions to Net Zero by 2050, we can keep temperatures close to 1.5C.&#8221; <\/strong>&#8211;<\/em> @ipcc Working Group, Co-Chair Dr. Val\u00e9rie Masson-Delmotte<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>We already have many of the solutions we need to get there:<\/strong> Regenerative agriculture rooted in Indigenous knowledge of food systems; redesigning cities not around cars but around good public transport, walking and biking; replacing single-use packaging with sophisticated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/41535\/reusables-are-doable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reuse systems<\/a>; ensuring that our stuff is made to last and can be <a href=\"https:\/\/act.gp\/3DkgpqZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>repaired rather than replaced<\/strong><\/a>; renewable energy; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/41993\/why-we-need-nature-the-abcs-of-a-restoration-economy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">restoring and protecting<\/a> what protects us: Nature.<\/p>\n\n<p>There is no shortage of solutions, and the people pursuing them are just an internet search away. <strong>But you need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">start somewhere<\/a>, and often that first action is an entry point to a journey that will take you where you need to be.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/KKuOaKPvPZKuMRrU20HXh4164YKgHUg1QRBDfWEfEaDxETrLgMKdznvuGnvSlYybjrA7uamuCI-1Y9Zm1HVk8e2DYVvmsItZemsXHMZBOVHgU1w_y2gRc5v8G39eaiODQVFeHfA=s0\" alt=\"\" width=\"598\" height=\"597\"\/><figcaption>Source <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CSenTVugPu6\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>@sarahlazarovic<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CSenTVugPu6\/\"><\/a>Find the issue that resonates with you, start with what you\u2019re passionate about \u2013&nbsp;<em>and take one first step<\/em>. It might be picking up litter off the street each day or slowly replacing single-use items in your home with reusable ones. It might be committing to getting what you need from the secondhand market rather than buying new. It could be calling political representatives on the daily to give them an earful about the type of climate action you want to see. It could be searching for climate action groups that you want to become involved with. Whatever it is, just take the first step. I guarantee you it\u2019s more powerful than you think it is.<\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Come together, right now, over climate change<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/act\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/XMYhhBlRTquuHJRq_x0p62jyP5ce_pP09UEYDFh4i8CqwbKXMjh0AC0n3XVUarYNjfxCx-NSmJ1BILZztSoffTEfVp9X5hZ2nihUT8ftDLHnxRb-Z3CWv4TMua52PiKmQKspka8=s0\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"383\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<p>Our socioeconomic system is not built to foster community: in fact, the opposite. It is predicated on individualism and hierarchical power structures (this is where phrases like <em>\u2018pull yourself up by your bootstraps\u2019<\/em> come from, normalizing the notion that it\u2019s a dog-eat-dog world out there and we should just accept our fate while stepping all over each other on our scramble to the top). These myths prop up the notion that the system we live in now is inevitable, that human beings are selfish and greedy by nature \u2013&nbsp;and therefore there\u2019s no other possible way. But <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/dn22071-inequality-why-egalitarian-societies-died-out\/\" target=\"_blank\">research has been challenging this narrative<\/a>: Anthropologists and evolutionary biologists increasingly assert that for 90% of the time our species has been anatomically human, we lived in communal, egalitarian social structures rooted in reciprocity and cooperation. That \u2018social selection\u2019 \u2013&nbsp;the process by which behaviours that serve the needs of the group rather than individuals \u2013&nbsp;played a large role in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/52879286-humankind\">the survival of homo sapiens<\/a>. Maybe we can call on these very traits that were socially selected for all those thousands of years ago to help us survive this particular moment in our evolutionary history, too.<\/p>\n\n<p>The individualism and lack of communal support that runs through most of the institutions that make up the infrastructure of our society is a central aspect of what keeps the infinite growth extraction economy going. <strong><em>And it&#8217;s far from inevitable: it can be challenged.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>One of the best ways to manage climate anxiety also happens to be one of the best ways to confront this system: <strong>connect with others and build community.<\/strong> This is effective for three main reasons:<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Knowing we are not alone in tackling something that feels so big immediately makes it seem more manageable. Seeing other people join together with you to take on the work feeds into that virtuous circle and can be extremely empowering.<\/li><li>We are stronger together. Whatever your message is, it\u2019s going to be amplified many more times over the more people are shouting it together.<\/li><li>Building communities of care outside the aggressive, competitive market system is already laying the foundation for a society that cares for people and lives in balance with the natural limits of the planet. As systems scientist Donella Meadows said, you don\u2019t force systems to change, you dance with them. Building community is a way to dance the new world we all know is possible into existence.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n<p><strong>Building community can come in many different forms. <\/strong>Here are some ideas to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>My journey into the activist world began with meeting a group of people who were interested in building the infrastructure that would help cut back on individual consumption patterns: We opened the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.torontotoollibrary.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Toronto Tool Library<\/a> (like a book library but for stuff!), hosted community swaps (think clothing swaps, gift swaps, art swaps, etc), ran DIY and upcycling workshops and hosted free repair events. <a href=\"https:\/\/localtools.org\/find\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Find a lending library to get involved with near you!<\/a><\/li><li>Join an organization working on systemic solutions to the climate crisis, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Greenpeace<\/strong><\/a>! Greenpeace also has local volunteer groups across the country who come together to take direct action (Connect with them here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Greenpeace.Groupe.Montreal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montreal<\/a> \u2013 plus ones for McGill University <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GreenpeaceMcGill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/44351369876\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GreenpeaceSherbrooke\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sherbrooke<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/greenpeaceclarington\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clarington<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/greenpeacewpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Winnipeg<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/GPTLG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Toronto<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GreenpeaceOttawa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ottawa<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gplocalgroup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vancouver<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/greenpeacehamilton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hamilton<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/2006503676272379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Victoria<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GreenpeaceHalifax\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Halifax<\/a>,). If there isn\u2019t a local group in your area, and you\u2019re interested in starting one, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/join-a-local-greenpeace-volunteer-group-or-start-your-own\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>get in touch with us and we\u2019ll help!<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li>You could join a community garden or a group looking to make <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sundanceharvestfarm.com\/liberating-lawns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">growing local food more accessible<\/a> or start get involved with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/48371\/the-no-mow-may-challenge-is-on\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">No Mow May Movement<\/a> to increase biodiversity and ecosystems for pollinators.<\/li><li>Join a community beach cleanup or a street cleanup. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shorelinecleanup.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup<\/a> helps you set up\/locate them. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agreenerfuture.ca\/?fbclid=IwAR3DX9mbRWie6cLDWweINvdDvnsSccvp02vV5gkNmNxYnPqCYCDUvJ54MAk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Greener Future<\/a> also organizes and runs them.<\/li><li>Help with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breakfreefromplastic.org\/brandaudittoolkit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">waste audits<\/a>, which are tactics communities can use to hold big polluters responsible for their enormous contribution to the waste crisis<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Well, well, well&#8230;if it isn&#39;t the top 3 usual suspects showing up again in a waste brand audit.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CocaColaCo_ca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CocaColaCo_ca<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Nestle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Nestle<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PepsiCo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@PepsiCo<\/a> are the world champions ?of plastic pollution year after year. <br><br>It&#39;s time for a change. ADD YOUR VOICE &gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sAmgp6CKea\">https:\/\/t.co\/sAmgp6CKea<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PlasticFree?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PlasticFree<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4dwcg4cuIf\">https:\/\/t.co\/4dwcg4cuIf<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Greenpeace Canada (@GreenpeaceCA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GreenpeaceCA\/status\/1394986758333505536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 19, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Join a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/boomerangbags.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Boomerang Bags group<\/a> and start learning how to make reusable bags out of upcycled material to distribute in your community<\/li><li>Get involved with the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.repaircafe.org\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\">Repair Cafe movement<\/a> (either bring an item to get it fixed, or volunteer with your local repair cafe. If there isn\u2019t one near you, you could start your own!)<\/li><li>Got kids? Set up or get involved with a babysitting co-op<\/li><li>Set up a <a href=\"https:\/\/timebanks.org\/get-started\/start\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">time banking system<\/a> for your community<\/li><li>Start hosting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shareable.net\/how-to-throw-a-community-swap-meet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">local community swaps<\/a>, or using trading platforms like <a href=\"https:\/\/bunz.com\/explore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bunz Trading Zone<\/a><\/li><li>Join your local <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/fridaysforfuture.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fridays for Future<\/a> or <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/rebellion.global\/\" target=\"_blank\">Extinction Rebellion<\/a> chapter, or do an internet search for other climate action groups near you.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">How do you deal with climate anxiety? Please let me know your ideas and strategies in the comments below!&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n<p><em>&#8220;The future can&#8217;t be predicted, but it can be envisioned and brought lovingly into being. Systems can&#8217;t be controlled, but they can be designed and redesigned. We can&#8217;t surge forward with certainty into a world of no surprises, but we can expect surprises and learn from them. We can&#8217;t impose our will on the system. We can listen to what the system tells us, and discover how its properties and our values can work together to bring forth something much better than ever could be produced by our will alone. We can&#8217;t control systems or figure them out. But we can dance with them!&#8221; <\/em>&#8211; Donella H. Meadows, Thinking in Systems<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/bVLugZE5wXDiosI9qmvvCc9JrT2j5hO-1dEc2KEgnRj_TGJy7T2lSu6rg_uIvnLXZsGFenm2sFtgfb-Z0mgW5cN3mk4yjVPRyaFggLD5mb8BztYtAdouAUMx_DL-8j0t8l0blfk=s0\" alt=\"\" width=\"724\" height=\"471\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t<section\n\t\t\tclass=\"boxout post-5545 \"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\tdata-ga-category=\"Take Action Boxout\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-ga-action=\"Image\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-ga-label=\"n\/a\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"cover-card-overlay\"\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/act\/fundraise\/\" \n\t\t\t><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2018\/10\/abde70ca-gp04smi-1024x683.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2018\/10\/abde70ca-gp04smi-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2018\/10\/abde70ca-gp04smi-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2018\/10\/abde70ca-gp04smi-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2018\/10\/abde70ca-gp04smi-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2018\/10\/abde70ca-gp04smi.jpg 1200w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 358px, (min-width: 780px) 313px, 88px\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Save the Arctic Ice Ride in Toronto. \u00a9 Brett Gundlock\" title=\"Save the Arctic Ice Ride in Toronto. \u00a9 Brett Gundlock\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n            \t\t\t<div class=\"boxout-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"boxout-heading medium\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-ga-category=\"Take Action Boxout\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-ga-action=\"Title\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-ga-label=\"n\/a\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/act\/fundraise\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFundraise\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"boxout-excerpt\">Fundraising for Greenpeace is an incredibly powerful way to make a difference and take action for the planet.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t                                    <a\n                        class=\"btn btn-primary\"\n                        data-ga-category=\"Take Action Boxout\"\n                        data-ga-action=\"Call to Action\"\n                        data-ga-label=\"n\/a\"\n                        href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/act\/fundraise\/\"\n                        \n                    >\n                        Take action\n                    <\/a>\n                \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cThe moon is following us home again!\u201d My daughter exclaimed as she always does. \u201cBut why is it red?\u201d Her question hit me with the weight of the realization that with the moon, the climate crisis, too, is following us home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":71,"featured_media":49814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"not set","p4_local_project":"not set","p4_basket_name":"not 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