The world is a little noisier this week, after the environmental blow from Trump this week, pulling the US out of the Paris Climate Accord--leaving a stark party of 3, standing alone.
Of course, as Trump may or may not know, it's not as easy as pulling a plug and walking away. Due to a clause in the Paris Agreement, to withdraw, you need to give written notification to the UN depository, but it can't happen until 3 after the date the agreement was enforced:Nov. 4, 2016 + 3 years = Nov. 4, 2019.
At that point, it takes another year before a country can officially leave. That date will be Nov. 4, 2020, which just so happens to be one day following the US Presidential Elections of 2020. This allows for a bit of a sigh of relief, as this will now be a campaigning point for whoever runs for our next president. Time will tell if that will involve Trump or not.
Of course it begs the question: When did our planet (or science for that matter) become a political issue?
Clearly this week (and when the 31% EPA budget cuts were proposed).
But an interesting thing has happened amidst the sideswiping news. America has rallied. The world has rallied. Almost like "Wonder Twin Powers, Activate" (from way back when, when I was a kid), An inadvertent uprising has occurred since Trump's announcement & withdrawal, and a boomerang of events has happened:- Many buildings were lit up in green lights Thursday following the withdrawal. This visual solidarity in buildings like New York's City Hall & State Fair, Boston's City Hall, and DC's Wilson Building (as well as others internationally) show that there is support and understanding that Trump's decision isn't every American's decision.
- Mayors representing 187 cities as well as 4 state governors (California, Washington, New York, & Massachusetts) and nearly 100 companies have jumped in saying, "It doesn't matter--we're still in and committed to upholding the Paris Agreement." This activism on many levels shouts what is important to many.
- Michael Bloomberg has pledged $15 million to the United Nations to make up for the United States' absence in the Accord.
- French President Emmanuel Marcon has issued a video invitation to American citizens, scientists, entrepreneurs, and activists voicing his understanding that the decision might not be all of ours--and the doors to France are welcome to anyone who wants to work with France to fight climate change.
- June 1st, Leonardo DiCaprio (an avid environmentalist) listed on his Facebook Page the importance of going forward as grassroots activists, mentioning these 5 organizations as excellent starting points:
- Indivisible Guide: https://www.indivisibleguide.com/act-locally
- NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): https://www.nrdc.org
- Resistance Manual: https://www.resistancemanual.org/Climate_/_Environment
- Stand Up America: https://www.standupamerica.com/act
- Take action on https://www.beforetheflood.com/act
All of this, and more, are definite calls to action. These are the elements that give hope to the difficult environmental situation many of us feel we are facing this week. Hope is certainly the opposite of fear and desperation. This fighting spirit is the foundation of many American tenets and much global inspiration. Perhaps, it is in the face of adversity that people truly become united, discovering what's important to them, what's worth fighting for, and what counters complacency.Here's some inspiration from Larry Page, Co-Founder of Google, to get you out there, fighting for what you believe in. May it be "uncomfortably exciting" going forth while you "grab a dream" for a cleaner, healthier planet!
Video from Goalcast: https://www.facebook.com/goalcast/videos/1420272168049969/
Image from https://medium.com/@ClimateMayors/climate-mayors-commit-to-adopt-honor-and-uphold-paris-climate-agreement-goals-ba566e260097;
Eiffel Tower pic from https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/12/what-does-the-paris-agreement-say/419577/
map from https://thetruth24.net/2017/06/02/buildings-light-up-in-green-in-support-of-paris-climate-accord/
Environmental wordle http://www.insidesources.com/saving-the-planet-how-climate-breakthroughs-are-made/
Wonder Twins pic from http://sprinklepuffball.blogspot.com/2009/04/cartoons.html
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