Moving From the Center and Into Action: Part 3

Of all of the places I could really move into action, why climate change? This is a question that I find somewhat difficult to answer as there are so many elements involved. Let’s see if I can break it down. It’s an opportunity for me to learn.

Full disclaimer: I’m far from being an expert on climate change. I’ve studied it quite a bit over the years, but their is always new research and I have so much to learn! That’s actually one of the things I like about my work. It’s an opportunity for me to grow and change. Who can say what will come out of this work in our community, or even in myself?

I belong to an amazing community of environmental educators.

As I mentioned in Part 2 of this series, I chose to kick off this Art and Action Project with my local ECO Network. This diverse group of environmental organizations each has their own focus, whether it is the health of puget sound, prairies, or limiting wasted food. I wanted to focus on something that could link all of these groups together and climate change does that. Because...

Climate Change affects us all.

Climate Change, in the forms of sea level rise, ocean acidification, and changing weather patterns has the potential to affect each and every one of us. It is likely to affect our economy, health, and environment. While it is true that poor and marginalized populations are likely to be hit the hardest, no one is immune to the potential effects.

The science is complex and and art can help with that.  

One of the challenges of climate change is that the science can be quite complex and there are a lot of different things to look at. The project we are creating has the potential to break it down into different pieces and translate the science in a new and engaging way.

The prospect of climate change can feel overwhelming. Art can help with that, too.

I know, climate change feels HUGE! And so overwhelming! And like there’s nothing any of us can do about it. But there are ways we can engage, take action, and make a difference. Art allows us to use other aspects of our brains and to process information differently. This kind of project is an opportunity to learn, and share what you learn with others, compounding the potential for making positive change. It will include real actions that each of us can take, and taking action is the first step in overcoming the stagnation that can be the result of the overwhelm.

So, when I tune into my center, this is where I’m coming from. I am very excited to journey into the unknown aspects of climate change science through the lens of art. I hope you will join me!