#103: Outgrowing our bedtime stories
On updating our internal narratives
Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!
In the face of bad news, I’ve been trying to remind myself that I’m probably holding on to some narratives that aren’t helpful anymore. They’re stories that I grew up with which might have given me hope when I was younger, but they’re no longer a fit. Here are a few of them, maybe you recognise some in yourself:
🦸 A hero will save us → 👪 We’re part of a bigger change
This is the idea that problems can be solved by a single hero who comes along to save the day, and we should strive to be that hero (or at least a high-ranking side-kick). However, most social progress is through sustained community-wide effort. Being overly reliant on a single leader can hinder progress, e.g. focussing too much on gaining recognition and validation of impact, over actual impact. Here’s to the community, the volunteers, and the supporters who have always been the foundations of big change.
🧗 Boss battle → 🚶 Daily practice
Most Disney or Marvel movies would have you believe that big problems can be solved by overcoming one ultimate challenge. But most big issues like climate change take years of perseverance, trial & error, and adaptation. This is hard for me to stomach in the face of an urgent climate crisis. But I am working on accepting the parts I can’t control (e.g. what US politicians are doing) and focussing on the parts I can control (e.g. what our politicians are doing).
🙇 Trust in existing power structures → 🤔 Imagining better alternatives
As a straight-laced student all through school, plus with my East Asian upbringing, I’ve long held assumptions that traditional authority figures and hierarchies are for our best interests. As a result, critiquing politicians, protesting, and questioning existing power structures didn’t come easily at first. Now, I’m inspired by seeing first-hand the real power that lies with the people in grassroots action. I’m loving diving into the possibilities of a better future, freed from the constraints of existing power structures.
👿 Good vs. evil → 💞 Common humanity
Cheesy good-wins-over-evil movies, don’t you love them? But we all know that there are many shades of grey, and we’re all just humans trying to do our best with the knowledge and capacity we have – even climate deniers, corrupt politicians, racists, etc. It doesn’t excuse their actions, but it might explain why they behave that way. Acknowledging our common humanity helps us be better climate communicators. We can tap into genuine needs, compassion and understanding to create change, rather than resorting to threats, shaming, or fear. Except billionaires. They’re lizards.
Like a beloved pair of shoes that no longer fit, I’m leaving these behind and getting much further in a new pair. Onwards!
What can we do today?
The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was the petition asking the PM to stop freshwater protections from being rolled back.
🐝 If you have 5 minutes: Send a late love letter to oil loyalists
Despite the US’s recent pause on new LNG export approvals, Japanese corporations are still investing in the growth of new liquified natural gas (LNG) export terminals across the vulnerable U.S. Gulf Coast.
Action: Send this templated letter
Action: Here’s another one-click send, in the form of a (now belated, but still cute) Valentine’s card!
🐇 If you have 15 minutes: Open letters to close new mines
Urgent: We shared this last week, but it’s one of the most impactful actions in this week’s letter. The government’s proposed “fast-track consenting bill” is being rushed through Parliament with almost no consultation from the public, despite its far-reaching implications. “This isn’t normal, everyday bill-making – this will bypass environmental law that we have had in place for 30 years.”
Action: Email your MP or the Minister for RMA reform (chris.bishop@parliament.govt.nz) and CC us in via climateclubnz@substack.com. You can base it off the open letters by these freshwater experts:Article by Marnie Prickett (Research Fellow at the University of Otago)
Letter by Dr Mike Joy (Senior Researcher at Victoria University)
Canterbury: Regional councils are consulting on their Regional Land Transport Management Plans. First up is Canterbury, with a short survey and an option to accompany it with a longer written or oral submission.
Action: Fill out Environment Canterbury’s survey on what you’d like to see in the region’s transport system by 5pm Monday 26 Feb. Some pointers:Ask for a more ambitious Target 2, eg. “We should aim for at least 50% reduction below gross 2005 levels by 2030, in line with NZ's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC1) under the Paris Agreement.”
Extra for experts: Attach a longer written submission to your survey, and/or give an oral submission by ticking the box at the end about speaking to your submission in March. Oral submissions have the most impact.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: Climate jobs are how we role
Feeling bored with your day job? Want something new to spice up your 2024? There are lots of new opportunities to get involved in a climate organisation regularly! Climate action is more fun, effective, and easier as part of a community.
Action: Check out our jobs board. New roles to note:
Volunteer for The Future Is Rail (passenger rail policy advocacy)
Paid ($38/hr) part-time remote Coordinator for OraTaiao (health professionals calling for climate action)
Paid part-time Youth Advisory Group (18-24yos, Ministry for the Environment)
Auckland CBD, 6pm this Thursday (RSVP today): Songwriters 4 Climate Action are having a release concert for their new album! It’s a compilation of shared perspectives from our local creative community on climate change. We’re always in awe of the way that music and art can get through to people, especially where facts and numbers struggle to connect.
Action: RSVP to the album launch (ideally by end of day today)!
Save the date
April 5th: The nationwide strike for Environmental, Indigenous and Social Justice is coming up. Add it to your calendars and invite your friends!
Wins!
Last June we shared Greater Christchurch’s submission on their 30-year spatial plan. Now results are out! We haven’t had time to look through the whole thing (please comment below if you have!), but we noted that enough people called for:
denser living and reliable alternatives to cars (pp.14-15)
reliable renewable energy (p20)
healthy waterways (p24-25)
Some climate deniers also submitted (p36), but overall we’re stoked that “climate change, a clean and green environment, and drinking water quality are top priorities” (p15)! Ka rāwe, whānau!
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy these fantastic street art pieces around Christchurch done by ākonga (students) and their kaiako (teachers) on the topic of climate action.
See you next week,
Jenny & the Climate Club team
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