One Week In: Resources for Dealing With the Rollercoaster of Change

In the United States of America, we are approaching one week under the new regime since Inauguration Day 2025. I'm actually not going to go all political---this is an education, technology, innovation, and environmental education blog. But, it's been a lot. Rapid fire, whiplash-level, deep impact change has come from our new president and his executive orders, sweeping pardons, walking-back previous policies, and more. 

It's. Been. A. Lot! 

I'm not going to go into detail on them all, but here's a substantial list from Axios if you'd like to check out the list yourself. Many of these have been a significant step away from US climate leadership.

With change, no matter if it's good or bad, positive or negative, or whichever side you are on, change comes with a lot of emotions.

Given that, I felt these resources might be of assistance for anyone on the rollercoaster of change.

🌐 Greater Good Magazine: Where Do We Go From Here? In the wake of the 2024 election, our contributors weigh in on what we can do now to preserve our well-being and our democracy. (Article by multiple authors, Nov. 6, 2024)

🌐 Greater Good Magazine: Seven Skills to Foster Connection in Divided Times (Article by Juliana Tafur and Chriss Cuervo, Oct. 28, 2024)

🌐 Greater Good Magazine article: "Can We Build a World Where We All Belong?" (Article by Sahar Habib Ghazi, Jan. 20, 2025)

🌐 Upcoming free webinar from Greater Good in Education: "Teaching in Troubling Times: A Conversation with Parker J. Palmer" on February 24, 2025, 3:30 pm PST (Register here.)

🌐 Earthjustice's webpage: "Action Tip Guide: Find your way to speak out for change"

Image created at Canva.com

California Wildfires, Climate Anxiety, & What You Can Do to Help

We all have been devastated by the ongoing destruction of the California wildfires. Our hearts go out to our California friends (those we know and those we don't but know because we are fellow humans) as they continue to deal with the enormous power of nature. The photos coming through media sources of all kinds are heartbreaking.

I think too, the question of climate events being made more and more extreme and exacerbated by human activity is only becoming more and more obviously clear.

I ran across this from Heather White's Facebook page. Heather is an environmental policy expert and author of  60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action,  Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and  Eco-Anxiety: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet. Her commentary on her post I think helps guide how you can help through donations and how to help yours and other's climate anxiety.

Images from https://www.facebook.com/myonegreenthing/posts/pfbid0DdRRqZh8eKmjrEbvB4icEhfzCyuhwnPF8iFc8joiHv823G56tTPRzbWHWRD1VxWgl

Presidential Medals of Freedom

On January 4th, 2025, President Biden presented the Presidential Medals of Freedom to 19 individuals in a public ceremony. This honor is the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed to people. In his stated remarks, he gave them out to individuals who are "great leaders [who] keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else. These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place. They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world."

Biden's recipients included scientists, environmentalists, entertainers, political leaders, philanthropic leaders, and humanitarians: 

Denzel Washington, known for his work in entertainment as an actor, director, and producer, for his 25+ year work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Dr. Jane Goodall for her work in conservation and environmental stewardship for over 60 years.

Hillary Clinton, former First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State, and first woman backed by a major political party to run for president for her many years of work in public service.

Bill Nye, known as "The Science Guy," for his work advocating science education, space exploration, and environmental activism.

Fashion designer Ralph Lauren for his philanthropic work including fighting cancer, environmentalism, and strengthening community through advocacy and access to resources.  

Bono, known for his musical career with the band U2, for his activism against AIDS and poverty.

Actor Michael J. Fox for his advocacy for Parkinson's disease research.

José Andrés for his work with Central Kitchen & humanitarian efforts to feed people during natural disasters and global conflicts such as the Ukraine War.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, known for his basketball talent with the LA Lakers, for his philanthropy for underserved communities through his Magic Johnson Foundation.

George Stevens Jr., known for his work writing and directing and for being the founder of American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center Honors. for his work preserving American cinema. 

Vogue's editor in chief for 3+ decades and co-chair of the Met Gala, Anna Wintour for her work in fundraising for AIDS & the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Global investment leader David Rubenstein for his philanthropic gifts toward  historic landmark restoration and many other institutions.

Holocaust-survivor, investor, and philanthropic leader George Soros for his human rights, education, and social justice projects which have impacted people in 120 countries. His award was accepted by his son Alex Soros.

Computer software programmer and entrepreneur Tim Gill for his LGBTQI activism and advocacy for equality. 

Senator Robert F. Kennedy (posthumously): Awarded for who work fighting racial segregation and poverty prior to his 1968 assassination. His award was accepted by daughter Kerry Kennedy.

George W. Romney (posthumously): Awarded for his work in public service as Governor of Michigan, Secretary of Housing & Urban Development and his work supporting civil rights. His award was accepted by his son Mitt Romney.

Professional soccer player Lionel Messi (who was absent due to scheduling conflicts) for his work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and the Leo Messi Foundation, supporting children's healthcare and education programs.

Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumously): Founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, she was awarded for her work toward racial justice including her work with the 1964 Votings Right Act. Her award was accepted by her niece by marriage, Doris Hamer Richardson

Ashton B. Carter (posthumously): Awarded for national security and being the 25th Secretary of Defense, serving under 11 bipartisan Secretaries of Defense over his career and expanding the military rights for women and transgender service members. His award was accepted by his widow, Stephanie Carter.

The world needs changemakers who take the lead in service of others!

Images created in Canva.com using images from these websites: https://www.weforum.org/stories/authors/georgesoros/, https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/602689/ashton-b-carter/, https://mississippitoday.org/2025/01/04/fannie-lou-hamer-receives-presidential-medal-of-freedom/, https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250104-messi-misses-presidential-medal-ceremony-with-biden, https://www.gmtoday.com/news/national/hillary-clinton-george-soros-and-denzel-washington-received-the-highest-us-civilian-honor/article_342a9720-cb64-11ef-a04d-dbb3e24c30be.html, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-presidential-medal-freedom-honorees-include-hillary-clinton/story?id=117325468, https://wwd.com/pop-culture/culture-news/gallery/presidential-medal-of-freedom-2025-photos-1236789059/us-politics-medal-biden/, https://people.com/2025-medal-of-freedom-honors-given-by-president-joe-biden-photos-8769298

President Jimmy Carter's Environmental Achievements

With his passing on December 29th at the age of 100, his funeral on January 9th, and his body being in the DC U.S. Capitol this week for people to pay their final respects, President Jimmy Carter and his legacy have been very much in the news. Rightfully so. 

In addition to being a man of high ethics, strong faith, and moral integrity, he was an avid environmentalist and conservationist. He was a state senator and governor of Georgia and later our 39th President. He was the first and only president to live to 100.  

At the time of his presidency from 1977-1981, he was faced with a lot of challenges with the economy, oil embargo, and the Iran Hostage situation. Ronald Reagan did a major sweep of the 1980 election due largely in part to those two pieces. Yet Carter's legacy lived on for 44 years past his presidency. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for "his decades of untiring efforts to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” He was dedicated to Habitat for Humanity and in 2017 he used 10 acres of his land to supply solar panels which provide electricity for about half of Plains, Georgia.

Growing up on a family farm in rural Georgia, Carter had ties to both his community and the land. He was a charter member of the Georgia Conservancy in 1967.

Some of President Carter's achievements while he was in the White House include:

• Creating the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Atlanta in 1978.
• Installing solar panels on the White House in 1979 (which were later removed by President Reagan).
• Predicting the perils of use of fossil fuels and setting a goal of obtaining 20% of our energy from renewable resources by 2000. (Sadly, this did not come to pass.)
• Establishing The Alaska National Lands Conservation Act of 1980 federally expanded 157 million acres of protected lands which doubled the size of the National Park System. This stands as the largest act of expansion of its kind in history.
• Signing "15 major pieces of environmental legislation, including the first toxic waste cleanup and the first fuel-economy standards. His two major legislative accomplishments, the National Energy Act of 1978 and the Energy Security Act of 1980, transformed the energy landscape of America."
• Directing the National Academy of Sciences to analyze the greenhouse effects, becoming the first leader worldwide to view climate change seriously.

These are all the making of a great human being who has accomplished incredible things in his life time.

We thank you President Carter for your service. 

To read more, check out these articles, where I researched this post:

• NPR: Jimmy Carter's Environmental Legacy Set the Foundation for Today's Climate Action by Jeff Brady (12/29/24)
• Rolling Stone: Jimmy Carter: America's Greatest Environmental President by Jeff Goodell (12/29/24)
• CBS:  POLITICS For Jimmy Carter, protecting environment was an "exhilarating" challenge by Cara Korte (12/29/24)
• Yale Environment 360: Unheralded Environmentalist: Jimmy Carter’s Green Legacy by Kai Bird (3/29/23)
• Georgia Conservancy : Celebrating the Environmental Legacy of President Jimmy Carter

Quote image created canvas.com with quote from https://www.georgiaconservancy.org/president-carter-environmental-legacy, video from https://www.georgiaconservancy.org/president-carter-environmental-legacy

Top 10 TED Talks from 2024

The age-old traditions in the days between Christmas and New Year's include both looking forward and looking backwards. Making New Year's resolutions for the year ahead. Doing a year-in-review for the year that just passed. In thinking along the lines of both of these this week, it's no surprise when I saw this graphic on the TED Facebook page for the most popular TED Talks of 2024. 

Looking at the list of subjects, it's no surprise these are the top TED Talks: the economy & financial future of Generation Z, AI, Israeli-Palestinian relations, climate change, life beyond our planet, US politics & journalism in an election year, and women in the world of work. All of these topics have made headlines this past year, and all most certainly fall into the 3 tenets of TED: "Technology, Entertainment, and Design," 

If you are looking for some ways to direct your 2024 reflection and broaden your horizon, this list may be just the place to start.

Image from https://www.facebook.com/TED/posts/pfbid0P6rGtxFUAC3RJmst2Fi72mRm2reZm1Fb6bNd866A9SDPFvvaoTbCEsMgxkbQKigBl