lfrankli’s Recent Comments

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  Really?

  As a staunch environmentalist/activist AND a complete romantic-- I actually received CARE packages with "Modern Bride" magazines at summer camp due to my early love for the whole idea of "wedding"-- I find it sad that you advocate no wedding as the ultimate green thing to do.

  I love the tips for reducing your impact, and I certainly think there is value in simplicity (weddings tend to be the ultimate examples of gaudy excess) but what about being more proactive and inspirational?  Celebrate love AND the environment by writing vows that incorporate environmental values! Leave tips for community involvement tucked into guest invitations! Make people feel involved, welcomed even, into the environmental and socially conscious fold, not excluded by the sometimes-pretentious eco-chic attitude.

  It is just another example of us environmentalists pointing fingers at everything in the world and deeming it wrong.  Let's try to change the dialogue a bit.On How to green your wedding posted 1 year, 7 months ago 7 Responses

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  Don't forget...

  "Now, you might want to add, it's important not just to elect good leaders but to pressure them once they're in office."

  Of course, but we also must pressure them before they get there.

  Enter Step it Up and 1 sky.

  Just a small reminder.On How can we get people voting green? posted 2 years, 1 month ago 4 Responses

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  On HTML

  Apparently I'm still learning HTML format. Hmm.On To act not to act posted 2 years, 5 months ago 20 Responses

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  On jobs, climate solutions... and action!

  
  To rebuild the society, to build all those solar panels and wind farms and trains and permaculture farms...and the end result will a much less energy/material intensive society, so the resource use will be less -- money is simply a measure of underlying wealth, the question is how to create a society that uses less resources, not less money.
  

  Yes, it will require money, but it will also provide  economic opportunity. The jobs/climate solutions connection is not a hard one to make, and it is imperative that we begin to see opportunity, not cost (and, of course, opportunity cost!!) in addressing climate change.

  AND, referring to our protest discussion, we can bring this connection to the forefront through protest and direct, strategic action.  I again, unabashedly, point to the upcoming marches in NH and IA.

  By calling our leaders to make the connection between jobs and climate solutions, we are emphasizing that connection to the millions of Americans that think of climate solutions as a cost.

  LindseyOn To act not to act posted 2 years, 5 months ago 20 Responses

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  Perfect timing...

  "when both protest and public opinion are at high levels, they jointly influence policy makers in ways that would be impossible if each existed without the other."

  How, then, do we protest in a way that both feeds on and builds public opinion, and in turn influences national leaders? We finally seem to have a public that is ready to take to the streets and call for action, and find ourselves at a point where national action is desperately needed. Yet, as we saw with StepitUp, localized protests become an empowering mechanism to foster local change and inspire people to act locally.

  "We thus need to protest in a way that inspires people on a local level, yet ignites large-scale, national action. StepitUp, of course, achieved this balance beautifully by connecting people electronically. Yet, to counter Arjuna a bit, I think there is still value in a mass gathering of people, provided it is done in a positive and strategic manner that both inspires local people and holds national weight.

  Enter climate summer. The March to ReEnergize New Hampshire and the March to ReEnergize Iowa will certainly call national attention with a demand for a national clean energy economy that cuts carbon 80% by 2050.  On the other hand, I have faith that those of us spending this summer in New Hampshire building local coalitions and knocking on doors (as are our fellow organizers in Iowa)  ensure that it will also be a venue for New Hampshire people to think about a clean energy future in New Hampshire, and in turn empower and ignite local action.

  To get this "protest" right and build the movement, we need both national and local action, so come join us!

  -Lindsey
  www.climatesummer.org
  On Convincing evidence for the central role of protest and a troubling cost-benefit analysis posted 2 years, 5 months ago 17 Responses