Did you ever have one of those weeks?
When your top priorities are unseated by even top-per priorities, and your sturdy to-do list smizzles away like a sandcastle at high tide?
Yup. I thought you had.
That’s been this past week for me and though I don’t regret any of the truly necessary items I attended to, my one priority of writing a fizzingly-splendid post about the Global Climate Strike just has not gotten done. Rats!
However, I decided to do a not-so-fizzing post anyway because I really want the Orange Marmalade community to engage with this fantastic effort.
Tomorrow — Friday, September 20 — throngs of people around the world are joining together for the largest climate demonstration in human history and I’m tickled green to take part in it!
I will be at the Twin Cities strike drinking in the enthusiastic courage of thousands of Minnesota youth climate activists, saying with my presence that, Yes!, we must and can purpose to tackle climate change.
These sweeping Friday climate strikes were initiated a year ago by the unlikeliest of persons, 16-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg.
Over the past year millions of students across the world have joined in, rising up, calling for action on the climate crisis.
On Sept. 20 for the first time, these youth are inviting adults to join them in their climate strike.
If I were writing a fizzingly-splendid post, I would wax eloquently about how thrilling it is to see school-age children boldly taking leadership, using the tools of democracy, and honestly speaking out on this matter. I admire these kids so much!
I would comment on how all of Orange Marmalade’s values coalesce in the efforts toward climate justice and environmental stewardship;
that caring about climate change is an act of love, especially towards the poorest members of society;
that cultivating imagination is precisely what’s needed as we seek innovative solutions, smarter, more humane, more just, more Earth-wise ways of living that are actually better for all of us.
Extreme weather displaced a record 7 million people in the first half of 2019. Love for climate refugees spurs us to action.
Instead, I’m offering a couple lists of Top Ten Titles I’ve reviewed in the past and recommend you read in your households, along with some further links for learning more.
All of next week is Climate Action Week around the world as the UN Climate Summit meets in New York City, making it a great time to consider the magnitude of the stakes, the urgency of the moment, the scale of action necessary, and the tremendous hope and beauty which is our aim.
Top Ten Reads for Understanding Our Environment
ages 7 and up
(Click on the title to find my full review)
Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels Have Changed the Earth – a brilliant explanation of the carbon cycle
Planet Ark: Preserving Earth’s Biodiversity – an excellent, long-ish explanation about the critical nature of biodiversity
Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth — a gorgeous book about biodiversity for all ages
No Monkeys No Chocolate – an intriguing book revealing the surprising, critical interconnectedness of the natural world
You Are Never Alone – a beautiful, poetic book illustrating our human connection with nature
One Well – a clear explanation of how precious Earth’s water resources are
Dive In: Exploring our Connection with the Ocean – a longish title exploring humankind’s connection to, pollution of, and restoration of our oceans
Trash Talk: Moving Toward a Zero Waste World – another jam-packed title discussing our burgeoning habits of consumption and materialism, its impact, and steps to amend that
Trees: A Rooted History – an elegant account, crammed with the splendor and critical role of trees
The Boy Who Grew a Forest – a phenomenal example of environmental restoration
Top 10 Reads to Encourage Care for Planet Earth
ages 3-6
A Tree is Nice — one of my all time favorite picture books extolling the beauty of trees
The Honeybee – sparkling, gorgeous peek into the wonder of a bee
The Variety of Life — an exuberant display of the tremendous variety of creatures in our world
Water is Water: A Book about the Water Cycle — lovely, simple, celebration of something so vital to our well-being
Miss Rumphius — another of my all-time favorite picture books, beckoning us to do something to make the world a more beautiful place
The Golden Glow — a happy tale of outdoor recreation and caretaking of our Earth
And the Good Brown Earth — rich with gardening-love and appreciation of the miracle of soil
Run Wild — an Orange Marmalade Juicies winner, it’s an exuberant call to relish outdoor play
More — a simple, striking tale showcasing how sharing, rather than accumulating material goods, brings happiness
The Earth Gives More — a vibrant account of how nature refreshes us every day
And here are some Links for Learning:
A new picture book about Greta Thunberg is coming out on September 24. I have not seen it, but you might like to look out for it:
We Are All Greta: Be Inspired to Save the World
One of the best all-around books I’ve seen on Earth’s resources but haven’t had time to get on my blog yet:
The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth
Find out more about the Global Climate Strike:
7 reasons why they’re going to be awesome
Join me at the Twin Cities Climate Strike:
Twin Cities Climate Strike Info
Learn about the UN Summit:
United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019
Read about many of the most hopeful solutions to the climate crisis:
Challenge yourself with this futuristic essay by Bill McKibben:
Hello from the Year 2050: We Avoided the Worst of Climate Change but Everything is Different
Learn from Katharine Hayhoe, a brilliant scientist and climate spokesperson:
The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it
You can talk about climate change just by sharing this blog post!
If you’re heading to the Twin Cities Climate Strike, I’d love to see you there. Message me at jillswanson61@gmail.com
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