After you recognize that denial and succumbing to doomsdayism aren’t great choices, you might be looking for optimistic groups that focus on solutions, support your learning, and offer accessible starting places. There is no shortage of valuable resources and innovative initiatives. We thought these three might be useful to you.
“Green America harnesses economic power — the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace — to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. What makes Green America unique?
- GA mobilizes people in their economic roles — as consumers, investors, workers — to address issues of social justice and environmental sustainability.
- GA empowers individuals to make purchasing and investing choices to build a just and sustainable world.
- GA works on issues of social justice and environmental responsibility. We see these issues as completely linked in the quest for a sustainable world. It’s what we mean when we say “green.”
- GA works to stop abusive practices and to create healthy, just, and sustainable practices.
- GA demands an end to corporate irresponsibility through collective economic action.
- GA promotes green and fair trade business principles while building the market for businesses adhering to these principles.”
Starting places:
> Self-assess: Use “Green Living: 10 Habits of Highly Sustainable People” to see how green you are!
> Act: Use “10 Ways You Can Fight Climate Change” to choose an action you can take today.
“Bioneers is an innovative nonprofit organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet. Founded in 1990 in Santa Fe, New Mexico by social entrepreneurs Kenny Ausubel and Nina Simons, Bioneers acts as a fertile hub of social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. A celebration of the genius of nature and human ingenuity, Bioneers connects people with solutions and each other.”
Starting places:
“Bioneers thought leaders have shared research and observations about nature’s intelligence for decades. In this reader, we’re excited to share a small selection of the groundbreaking concepts buzzed about within our community. While Indigenous cultures all over the globe viewed (and often still view) the entire natural world as imbued with consciousness, it’s only very recently that contemporary science has finally begun to question the dualist, Cartesian worldview that for the last few centuries has seen humans as our planet’s only conscious agents, radically separate from nature.”
> Watch: Dreaming the Future
“How are we going to protect the world that gave life to us? Bioneers CEO and co-founder Kenny Ausubel emphasizes the importance of recognizing interconnectedness, because healing nature means healing ourselves in the process.”
“The All We Can Save Project’s mission is to nurture the leaderful climate community we need for a life-giving future. The Project was co-founded by Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, who also co-edited the anthology All We Can Save. The Project and the anthology were both born out of a longing for climate leadership that is justice-centered, heart-centered, and rooted in the work and wisdom of women.”
Starting places:
> Read: “Each month, the Project sends out a short message designed to nourish, sustain, and fortify everyone who is working towards a life-giving future. You can expect art, poetry, and key updates on their work.”
Ready to read the anthology? Check out one of the copies found in the Climate Action Team’s lending library
> Join a circle: “Circles are a free, open self-led framework of 10 sessions that follow the course of the All We Can Save anthology. They’re designed to nurture connection, encourage generous dialogue, and seed action for climate solutions.”
Are there other groups that provide you with the hope and optimism to do this work? We would love to hear about them. If you find the groups above helpful and feel you would benefit from engaging with a group of like-spirited people, consider joining the Climate Action Team, where you can put your passion into action.
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JOURNEY WITH US: The Climate Action Team extends a radical welcome to activists, contemplatives, readers, meditators, questioners, tree hugging hippies, scientists, policy wonks, radicals, pacifists, nature enthusiasts, and all who seek community as we navigate our changing times together. Learn all about the group here, and check out our lending library and Carbon Offset Fund grant opportunity. Contact Nicole Haines to connect to the CAT.