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Dear Climate,

11/5/2018

I'm starting my blog with thoughts about our changing climate. So many of us are concerned about the environment and the planetary crisis we're in, one that will make life on earth pretty horrible for our children's children.

Years ago I made a promise to be a steward of our planet, high on a mountain top in the Andes. Now I create art about our Mother Earth — it's beauty and crises. I'd love to hear from you regarding your thoughts and feelings on our climate crisis. Here's a chance to write directly to our climate! Please take a moment to put something down, or send your drawing, poem or whatever about your concerns.

It all starts with "Dear Climate,". You may post your letter in the Comments section. I am not selling your emails or doing anything that may worry you about your privacy.

Thank you.

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15 Comments

David

11/6/2018 04:57:25 pm

Climate change, global warming, whatever you want to call it, has always been an issue, like Nuclear Winter, which, despite whether or not you "believe" the science of it, demands a presumption of validity because the potential outcomes are so catastrophic to humanity. The present "It's a Hoax, Do Nothing" policy of the American administration and the willingness of a plurality of the American electorate to go along with a non-policy that potentially puts their children and grandchildren at risk not only for a diminution of their standard of living but also for their lives appears to reflect the depth of ignorance in the national character, and the willingness of established American political leadership to abrogate its responsibility to the future in a short term quest for political power.

It does not matter what future generations will say about our dilemma. What matters is what we do and how we, the opposition, mobilize to address both the politics and substance of climate change.

Pamela

11/7/2018 10:14:34 am

Thanks for your response.
I agree, what matters most is how we mobilize to address climate change. There are many examples of what countries, regions and local governments are doing. Maybe each of us needs to find out more about what IS being done, and shout it to the rooftops!

Nan

11/6/2018 06:33:02 pm

Dear Climate,

I am deeply afraid about the future of the planet . Many humans seem to have great difficulty in making present-day sacrifices in the service of longer-term benefits. It is not clear to me how we can change this mind set.

Pamela

11/7/2018 10:21:16 am

Thanks for your response.

That is the million dollar question! Asking people to change their present day behavior for long-term benefits of others. Will people use their "altruistic genes" vs. their "selfish genes"? E.O. Wilson writes all about this in his book "The Social Conquest of Earth". He seems optimistic.

I think we have to get people to think of their own future generations and what kind of world they want for their grandchildren. Wealth will not protect people from devastating climate change. There will be nowhere to run or hide.

Sam

10/17/2019 02:50:07 pm

Our economic model is based on the use of fossil fuels. We went to war in Vietnam for oil, we went to war in Iraq for oil and we continue to support dictators for oil. People like the Koch brothers who own oil refineries, have billions of dollars and do not want their industries to be regulated or taxed, they do not want to pay for the pollution they release into our atmosphere, and they most certainly do not want to see the end of the use of fossil fuels…”
“I am sorry for all the plastic I’ve consumed throughout the years, and all the times I have thrown plastic in the trash out of haste. I hope you can forgive me. I have put into practice consuming less plastic, using reusable thermoses, straws, and bags every single day!”
“…We have begun to think and act globally, rather than tribally. While there is some backsliding, the overall movement is toward internationalism, political stability, and peace.
We live in a world that our ancestors would not have thought possible — it is a utopia in comparison. And humanity made the changes — sometimes kicking and screaming at best or after the deaths of thousands or millions at worst. We do change in spite of ourselves. So I have hope, and so should we all…”

Diane

10/17/2019 02:55:33 pm

We are caught in a spiral together. The more we change, the more you change. If we don't adjust to your changes, we'll suffer the consequences. You're creating challenges for us that will be hard to meet from at least two perspectives: our ingenuity and our willingness to sacrifice some current comforts for the sake of future sustainability. We need to figure out how to guard against more flooding, fires, drought, blizzards, freezes and change our behavior to lessen the rate of their continuing increase. I think you are a powerless player in all of this because your just passively react to the environmental changes created by both humans and geological forces. I wish you could override what is happening, but that's not your nature. We are the elements that have free will and it's up to us to make you act in support of our existence.

Karen

10/17/2019 02:58:43 pm

that Rebecca Solnit, an American writer, sums up the situation very well:
Climate Change is Global scale Violence against places and species. Once we call it by a real name we can start having a real conversation about our priorities and values. Because a revolt against brutality begins with a revolt against the language that hides that brutality.

Diana

10/17/2019 03:02:27 pm

We're dong better than we used to do, but not as good as we could be doing. We've found some ways to use more natural sources for our energy, but we haven't made a real commitment. We are losing animals to extinction and plants to deforestation. It seems we have moments of brilliance in solving our problems, but a lack of continuity in our plans. Young people and smart people lead the way and we must trust them enough to follow. Mother earth, you will continue on, with or without the human race. I do hope we are wise enough to go along for the ride.

Sandy

10/17/2019 03:05:47 pm

I never gave you much thought growing up. You were always just there and, I guess you could say, I took you for granted. I know I've done my share of harming you. Not meaning to, of course, but out of ignorance. I wish there was a Higher Power able to speak to everyone on the planet to tell us the irrefutable truth of what we can best do to stop harming you and help you get better. Short of that, I promise you I will do my small part to support like-minded people as we discover, develop and explore ways to help you.
Get well soon.

Anonymous

10/17/2019 03:08:14 pm

I promise to show my children, grandchildren how to be better at protecting you. If each of us in our own little corner do that, we will be able to protect you. It's all about awareness and movement - movement to do something with the air, the oceans, the land. I'm sorry we have been asleep at the switch.

Karen S

10/17/2019 03:15:38 pm

to check out Pamela's recent Mother Earth exhibit and you will be happy to see that we are not done yet. The good news is the ice hasn't all melted. The bad news, of course, is that we are careening toward the meltdown. In fact, we constantly hear evidence of the effects of warming of the planet. While the world is working on many fronts to combat the causes of climate change it is an inconsistent battle and it is not working fast enough. Our planet is warming now! I feel we really haven't enlisted our best and brightest to tackle this issue. I understand that beginning this year researchers at Harvard are beginning the first experiments in the stratosphere to test the physical and chemical effects of a veil of particles in the stratosphere might have on the climate. This is just one geoengineering idea. I have great faith in science and technology to help us mitigate the damage we are doing to the planet. Is there an Eon Musk out there to help Al Gore drive research and experimentation on proactive changes to eliminating carbons in the atmosphere or protecting us from the damage done?
I know you are thinking that it would make a lot more sense to stop using fossil fuels, etc to eliminate the carbons in the first place. That is true, but we need to work on all fronts since we are loosing the battle at the moment.

Kristen

10/17/2019 03:18:30 pm

I'm scared. And feeling hopeless. Watching the enormous iceberg break off the ice shelf recently felt like a wound. Hearing that the permafrost is thawing, releasing tons of carbon, leaves me in a mild panic. My worry, fears and desperation about you, feels unheard by those who can really help. I guess what I've been meaning to tell you, dear Climate, is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry this is happening to you. I wish it weren't.

Catherine

10/19/2019 01:07:38 pm

that I think it's crucial for it to be publicly acknowledged that climate change is a real, human influenced issue, and that there is a need for support of renewable energy research.

Mario

10/19/2019 01:11:35 pm

I want you to know how angry and hopeful I am. I am angry, because I see the willful ignorance being used by our elected representatives to increase the damage that is being done to you.
And yet I am also hopeful. I am hopeful that a moment of change is near. Hopeful that the collective impact of small actions will become known and embraced by our society to mitigate government inaction. And hopeful that our elected representatives will be held to account.

Bob Gregory

10/19/2019 01:18:12 pm

First of all, I would like to apologize for what we, the human race, have been doing to you. I don't know exactly when we started messing with your equilibrium, but the Industrial Revolution certainly didn't help. Back then we probably didn't realize the damage we were doing, at least not to the extent that it was affecting you. But ut today we know exactly what is going on. And it isn't as if we ALL aren't responsible, on one level or another. The rich, corporate nay-sayers; the self imposed blind politicians; the right wing Trump followers who take him at his word; all of them are at the top of the heap. But the rest of us who care, but don't do anything to change the policies that continue to threaten our planet, let alone change our own personal habits, are in some ways more guilty than the former. I am speaking to myself more than to you. Just writing these few sentences have opened my eyes to all that I am not doing. Perhaps we should all take a step back and look at our own personal commitment to saving our planet for future generations. It is a start!!!

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Pamela Tudor
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Dear Climate,

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Pamela TudorArtist and Environmentalist

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Pamela Tudor

Portfolio

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Pamela Tudor
Artist and Environmentalist