#162: Green-brain contagion

On keeping calm and carrying on

Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!

In neuroscience there’s this idea of “green brain” and “red brain” (you might have also heard of it as the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system). Green brain is when you’re in a state of calm, chemical balance and ready to reason. Red brain is when you are stressed, the chemicals are all out of whack, and you’re ready to be everything BUT reasonable.

When we’re constantly bombarded with bad news, it’s easy to see why many of us find ourselves constantly in that red brain state. We’ve all experienced that headspace where everything feels too much, that “whats-the-point-of-doing-anything-we’re-doomed-anyway” mindset. Worry triggers anxiety, anxiety triggers red brain, red brain triggers anxiety… it’s all a big spiral.

When the green brain is activated, stress hormones are reduced and the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin is released, stimulating positive physical and psychological effects. These include enhanced emotional processing, kindness, creativity, compassion, calm, connection with others, and ability to see the bigger picture. Sounds like a lot of the components we need to solve our climate challenges, ay?

Brain states like these can be ‘socially contagious’, meaning they can spread to people around you. I challenge us all to find what moves us closer to that green brain state. Whether it’s an intentional break from the laptop during the workday which lets you spend more time with others, a pause and some deep breaths on the commute home, or choosing to spend an evening with friends to debrief rather than isolating yourself. By helping yourself you may be helping someone else get one step closer to their green brain state, where we can all be much more effective in taking climate action.

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link last week was the petition urging the government to support the large-scale roll-out of solar!

🐝 5 minutes: Just like fossil fuels, pay gaps are so last century

• Last week the government passed changes to the pay equity laws, making it harder for people in women-dominated fields such as education, social work and healthcare to claim pay discrimination. Teachers nurture the next generation of activists and scientists. Social workers and nurses build resilience in vulnerable communities. Undervaluing their work is a setback for both gender and climate justice.
  Action: Sign the petition to stop scrapping equal pay claims and law

🐇 15 minutes: Doing our part for the Pacific

• One of the most important ways we can do our part in Aotearoa as a Pacific Island Country is by contributing to climate action funding for the Pacific. In the past, Aotearoa has continued to increase our financial contributions, and given them as grants rather than expensive loans. We will be renewing our contributions this year with the new Budget being released May 22nd, so it’s a good time to let the government know that we support giving our fair share.
  Action: Send a quick letter to ministers to encourage them to support climate action in the Pacific
  

💃🏽 30+ minutes: People power

• Ōtautahi / Christchurch, May 16th: In early April, Denniston coal mine protestor Hannah, with several others, climbed into coal buckets at the Denniston coal mine to stop operations and protest Bathurst Resources seeking fast-track approval to extract 20-million tonnes of coal from the Denniston and Stockton Plateaus. The peaceful protestors have court hearings scheduled, and are facing charges of willful trespass. Packing the courts with supporters is an effective way of signaling that ‘everyday people’ endorse their cause.
  Action: Show up to Hannah’s court hearing to show solidarity at the Courtroom Services Counter at the Christchurch District Court

• Online, due June 1st: How our waste is managed is hugely important to reducing our emissions, for instance organic waste makes up 4% of our total emissions and 9% of our biogenic methane emissions. The government is currently taking consultation for how the overall waste system is managed, how effective it is, and the differing roles of local and national government.
  Action: Attend this short webinar (or watch a recording of the previous webinar) explaining what’s up for consultation, and provide feedback here.
  Bonus action: if any of our readers or networks are working on a submission guide for this email us and we will share it next week!

In case you missed it!

• Last week there was a cool “paddle out” action in Ōpunake where 200 people went out to sea to protest Trans-Tasman Resources’ plans to begin seabed mining in Taranaki. It’s a great time to add to the pressure and sign the petition for Chris Hipkins, leader of the Opposition Party, to take a firm stand against seabed mining!

Wins!

• Finland shut down its last coal-fired power and heat plant last month, having rapidly increased their solar and wind power over the last few years. Finland still has Europe's third-cheapest electricity after Sweden and Norway!

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That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this 5 minute Headspace de-stress meditation to shift towards a ‘greener-brain.’

See you next week,

Evelyn & the Climate Club team

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