ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Beyond Thoughts and Prayers: Climate Catastrophes as Teachable Moments
BY PAUL ROGAT LOEB 7KH GHDGO\ 7H[DV ÀRRGV KDYH UHFHGHG OHDYLQJ ORVW DQG VKDWWHUHG OLYHV'RQDOG7UXPSWHOOVXVQRWWRSROLWLFL]HWKHPRPHQW , with spokes- ZRPDQ.DUROLQH/HDYLWWFDOOLQJWKHÀRRGV³ an act of God,” meaning no RQH LV UHVSRQVLEOH %XW EHFDXVH WKH ÀRRGV DQG WKH FOLPDWH GLVDVWHUV that will follow them make the costs heart-wrenchingly visible, they give us the chance to talk about root causes and the choices we face. ,I ZH GRQ¶W KDYH WKHVH FRQYHUVDWLRQV WKHVH WHDFKDEOH PRPHQWV ZLOO quickly fade. 'HPRFUDWLFSXVKEDFNKDVIRFXVHGPRVWO\RQFXWEDFNVWRWKH Nation- al Weather Service and )(0$OHDYLQJFULWLFDOṘ FHVXQGHUVWD̆ HGDQG undermining the ability to plan. But the pushback has focused less RQ FOLPDWH FKDQJH HYHQ DV WKH GD\ EHIRUH WKH ÀRRGV WKH 5HSXEOL - cans paid for massive tax breaks for the wealthiest in part by slashing federal support for wind, solar, battery, and electric vehicles, energy Ḣ FLHQF\DQGRWKHULQYHVWPHQWVWKDWJDYHXVDFKDQFHWRMRLQ&KLQD and Europe in leading the technologies of the future. So we need to talk about the choices presented to us by this tragedy — and all the others that will come. :KHQ'HPRFUDWVKDYHKHOGSRZHUWKH\¶YHUDLVHGWKHVHLVVXHVIDUWRR OLWWOH1R$PHULFDQOHJLVODWLRQGLGPRUHWR¿JKWFOLPDWHFKDQJHWKDQ %LGHQ¶V,QÀDWLRQ5HGXFWLRQ$FWEXWWKHQHZ5HSXEOLFDQELOOPRVWO\ gutted it. And Biden was largely quiet in the face of a succession of HSLF FOLPDWH GLVDVWHUV IURP WKH ¿UHV WKDW GHVWUR\HG WKH 0DXL WRZQ of Lahaina and the Colorado town of Superior, to the North Carolina
3KRWRE\0DUNXV6SLVNH ÀRRGVRQWKHHYHRIWKHHOHFWLRQ+HGLGVD\+XUULFDQH,GDKLJKOLJKWHG the “climate crisis.” But the administration never created a sustained conversation. Kamala Harris also stayed mostly silent, and when cli- mate was raised late in her single Presidential debate, she discussed it for only a minute and then moved on. So although the administration addressed the issue in groundbreaking ways, they did far too little to bring it to greater public salience. That led to it receding further in
Plant Power Heal Yourself with Medicinal Mushrooms, Roots, Flowers, and Herbs Wouter Bijdendijk With Joris Bijdendijk A full-color reference guide to beneficial plants and mushrooms $35.00 • Hardcover • 288 pages ISBN 979-8888502693
Explores the ethnobotany and practical applications of 30 plants, fruits, nuts, bulbs, roots, flowers, and mushrooms that support the immune system, digestion, endurance, vitality, and the brain.
InnerTraditions.com • (800) 246-8648 •
38—PATHWAYS—Fall 25
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