I do not consider myself a writer, but at least one person I admire who is a marvelous writer once told me that I am. And that same amazing writer and human being, with his very moving account of his participation in the People's Climate March that took place in NYC on September 21, 2014 has inspired me to write about my journey. So I now feel compelled to share those thoughts about this momentous experience in my life--in our collective lives. So here goes.
I participated to the March for many reasons. I was too young to participate in some of the most remarkable marches of the 60s and 70s. And I haven't taken part in marches in a very long time-though I try to contribute to the causes I feel strongly about. But this time--this felt like such a watershed moment that I felt I had to be part of this march. This march I could choose to go and I had to do it.
For one, I had absolutely no excuse for not being there, no major personal event occurring on that day that I would be missing. I did not even have to miss work. And I wanted so much to contribute and be part of this tipping point event in history.
I also wanted to be an example for my 31 year old daughter who has never participated in a march of any kind for any reason. Yet I waited to last week to make my reservation on one of the busses going from Buffalo. And as late as Saturday afternoon, I again nudged my daughter to go with me. At the last minute she decided to join me and both of us are so glad we went.
I had to be there because no matter what other issues I care about--peace, justice, equality, feminism, education, children, gay rights, immigration, our water and food sources, health, animals, the land we share on this planet--everyone one of them demands that we face and deal with climate change. And so we must. We must be a witness and we must demand change--as stewards of the earth--for our future and the future of generations to come. All of the other issues should not be ignored and must be addressed, but if we do not address head on the climate issues we are facing, none of the others will be an issue.
I also recognize that I have not been a particularly good steward of the earth--I admit am too lazy most of the time to consider how I contribute to global warming. I act irresponsibly. I cannot promise to change everything I do, but I hope to do better, a little at a time. And hold those who can make decisions to make it easier for all of us to do better by changing how business and government do business accountable. If we create an environment that promotes better collective and individual actions--we all will act more responsibly. But until that happens on a greater scale, I have a responsibility to do better. I must take responsibility and do something whenever I can.
And so I got myself on the bus--and with my daughter, and some old friends and new, we made the trip. The buses were filled with a variety of folks young and old--a coming together of three generations. And we all felt that energy that is created when there is a joining together for a shared purpose.
And we made a difference. A sea of humanity that stretched at least three miles across NYC coming from near and far, with diverse backgrounds and levels of activism who don't agree on everything, but with a shared goal. To share that space and that moment with others who made the effort and who cared enough to show up. To share that space and moment with many more who couldn't be there physically, but who supported what we were doing and who were with us in spirit. We made our (and their) voices known--peacefully, but forcefully. Everyone treated everyone around them courteously, with respect. And we left the streets clean. Not one negative incident reported. That in itself was an example of how the world can be a better place. We lived it for a day--and hopefully the world is going to go in a better direction because we came out on the streets and made our voices heard.
From beginning to end it was an inspiring day--the Moment of Silence and collective "sounding of the alarm" that came after those two minutes-they were the most moving. For me the silence was a prayer of mourning for those who have and continue to bear the brunt of what climate change has wrought - and of hope for all of us and this planet. I brought with me and wore a dolphin whistle I had picked up on Cape Cod this past August--it seemed the most appropriate way to sound the alarm--not just for myself, but also on behalf of all the creatures who could not speak for themselves at the March. And so I blew the whistle at the appropriate time--for us and the dolphins and all the other animals threatened by climate change
Back on the bus home I thought my legs would be sore (after all I am not in the greatest shape at the ripe old age of 58), but they were not. I was very tired but also exhilarated, and grateful to have been able to participate--and that I had made the choice to do so. It was a gift to be there and a reminder of what must be achieved.
I am grateful to everyone who promoted the March and participated in it and who are writing about it now. I am particularly grateful to the organizers of the NYC March--and those who organized marches around the world. And to the dedicated folks from Buffalo who made our participation easier --four buses altogether, PUSH Buffalo had a busload and the Sierra Club had three (one of which I was on). Also, so very glad my daughter came along--she is too. She was very moved. And we lived through a moment together that will always be with us, that will always inspire us to keep up the struggle, each on our own way. An important legacy.
I do not consider myself an activist--but at a minimum, I have always been a supporter and sometime participant. During the upcoming Days of Awe that start with Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur, when Jews everywhere contemplate how they can do better--I will recommit to making more of an effort to Tikkun Olam-repairing the world--to do more, both personally and collectively when it comes to Climate Change. If we desire a future--we have no choice--I have no choice. Although I know I (we) take this amazing world of ours for granted--we just can't get away with that anymore. It's been going on for too long already.
Thank you for the space to share my journey and experience. And thank you for sharing yours.