Climate 101: causes and effects from National Geographic
How do we know whats happening?
How do we fix it?
How do we live with it?
Dark Matter: Women Witnessing is a response to the unprecedented changes humans are facing in an age of massive species loss and ecological disaster. As most of the world goes on with business as usual, others are asking: “How shall we live in these times?” Dark Matter is a home for the voices of these others; we welcome writing in all forms and genres, and artwork in all mediums, responding to the urgencies of this time.
Teach Your Child To Wonder, by Rachel Carlson,Article published in the Woman's Home Companion July 1956 pages 24-27; 46-48. The book, The Sense of Wonder, published in 1965, grew from this writing. Carson gives an intimate account of her outdoor adventures with Roger, her three-year-old grandnephew
PODCASTS TO FOLLOW
mHere are six podcasts recommended by New York Times columnist Emma Dibdin in February 2023 that provide "full of smart, passionate reporting about the natural world and our relationship to it — will leave you more informed and perhaps better able to embrace climate optimism."
‘Hot Take’ is an accessible podcast hosted by writer Mary Annaïse Heglar and the investigative journalist Amy Westervelt, that discusses the latest climate headlines and provides insight into the crisis. Starter episode: “Follow the Money, Eat the Rich”
‘The Climate Question’is a BBC World Service podcast that shares in-depth climate discussions with a global perspective. Hosted by BBC journalists Kate Lamble and Neal Razzell with a broad panel of interdisciplinary guests, Usually under 30 minutes. Starter episode: “Could Giving Nature Rights Help Fight Climate Change?”
‘Drilled’ is an investigative show, also hosted by Amy Westervelt that tackles the causes of climate change through the lens of true crime! Starter episode: “The Bell Labs of Energy”
‘Outside/In’ is hosted by Nate Hegyi, an environmental reporter, offers a weekly tribute to the joys of the natural world, and reflections on humans’ relationship to wilderness alongside discussions of environmental news stories. Starter episode: “Hot Dam! Climate News That Isn’t Terrible”
‘How to Save a Planet’from Gimlet Media gathers a crew of self-proclaimed climate nerds to discuss environmental problems and solutions. Hosted by Alex Blumberg, it is packed with information and tips; each episode ends with a “call to action,” offering listeners concrete ways to live more greenly. “ Starter episode: “What’s Your 2022 Climate Resolution?”
‘Outrage + Optimism’Is a pragmatic podcast hosted by Christiana Figueres, a former head of the United Nations’ climate agency, oversaw the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015 with Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson, who founded the Carbon Disclosure Project, a nonprofit group focused on corporate transparency. They discusse environmental issues and breaking news with guests who have included Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough, "and each episode offers a sense of community to anyone grappling with eco-anxiety." Starter episode: “The Breakthrough Effect”
JUST A FEW OF THE BOOKS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL THEMES
Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Diseases by Drew Harvell. Essential reading that offers us a terrifying, heartbreaking view into what disease is doing to ocean life. Dr. Harvell offers hope that these disasters aren't inevitable and humans can still make policy changes to protect and restore health to our beloved Oceans.
The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy by Michael McCarthy. The author asks us to consider Nature as an emotional and spiritual resource, capable of joy, wonder, love. Loving nature as an act of resistance in the face of climate destruction is his passionate call to action.
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage. and Solutions for the Climate Crisis by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson, is an anthology of writing by sixty women that illuminates the expertise and insights of dozens of diverse women leading on climate in the United States — scientists, journalists, farmers, lawyers, teachers, activists, innovators, wonks, and designers, across generations, geographies, and race — and aims to advance a more representative, nuanced, and solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis. These women offer a spectrum of ideas and insights for how we can rapidly, radically reshape society.
Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush. A book on how climate change is affecting sea levels, and a haunting meditation on how to let go of the things we love.
The Vanishing Present: Wisconsin's Changing Lands, Waters and Wildlife Edited by Donald Waller and Thomas P. Rooney. Brings together scientists, naturalists and policy experts to examine how human pressures on Wisconsin's changing land, water and wildlife have redefined the ecology of the home state of Aldo Leopold and John Muir.
The Great Tide Rising: Towards Clarity and Moral Courage in a Time of Planetary Change by Kathleen Dean Moore. "Even as seas rise against the shores, another great tide is beginning to rise - a tide of outrage against the pillage of the planet, a tide of commitment to justice and human rights, a swelling affirmation of moral responsibility to the future and to Earth's fullness of life. Philosopy and nature essayist Moore, takes on the essential questions: Why is it wrong to wreck the world? What is our obligation to the future? What is the transformative power of moral resolve? How can clear thinking stand against the lies and illogic that batter the chances for positive change? What are useful answers to the recurring questions of a storm-threatened time - what can anyone do? Is there any hope? And always this: What stories and ideas will lift people who deeply care, inspiring them to move forward with clarity and moral courage?"
Finding Beauty in a Broken World by Terry Tempest Williams is an impassioned and luminous chronicle of finding beauty in a broken world. Williams is an advocate for the correct relationship between humans and the natural world. Also available in audio form thru Sounds True.
Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We Are In Without Going Crazy by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone. The authors' describe the book Active Hope as being about finding, and offering, our best response to the crisis of sustainability unfolding in our world. It offers tools that help us face the mess we’re in, as well as find and play our role in the collective transition, or Great Turning, to a life-sustaining society.
Flight Behavior: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. An exploration of climate change, economics, media exploitation and political opportunism. In the novel she uses her background in biological science to create a fiction that teaches about the complex science of the situation of the Monarch butterfly through the lens of a Tennessee woman grappling with her life decisions and the future for her children.
Ocean Country: One Woman's Voyage from Peril to Hope in Her Quest to Save the Seas by Liz Cunningham. A story, a call to action and a poetic meditation on the state of the seas. Most important, it is a story of finding true hope in the midsst of one of the greatest crises to face humankind, the rapidly degrading state of our environment.
To Life! Eco Art in Pursuit of a Sustainable Planet by Linda Weintraub documents the burgeoning eco-art movement from A to Z, presenting a panorama of artistic responses to environmental concerns, from Ant Farm's anti-consumer antics in the 1970's to Marina Zurokow's 2007 animation that anticipates the havoc wreaked upon the planet by global warming. This text is the first international survey of twentieth and twenty-first century artists who are transforming the global challenges facing humanity and the Earth's diverse living systems. The text guides students of art, design, environmental studies, and interdisciplinary studies to integrate environmental awareness, responsibility, and activism into their professional and personal lives. This open access digital book contains a teaching guide, consideration of DIY media and a list of artists whose work integrates environmental awareness.
Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History is Restoring Grace Justice and Beauty in the World by Paul Hawken. He describes his search to discover people around the world are involved with conservation, sustainability and social justice causes. He estimates there are over a million such organizations. What a discovery! This means that we have a multitude of choices for what we wish to focus our energies on. We are listing only a few and invite you to do a web search for the causes that most excite you. Please do not be overwhelmed; think of it as a banquet of opportunity!
The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg (2022) Curated by Thunberg, it is an essential handbook for any environmentally conscious reader concerned with what we can do next.
ENVIRONMENTAL WEBSITES:
Planet Experts is an environmentally focused, news and social media site that provides its Experts a platform to address problems and solutions for problems of climate, habitats, flora and fauna. This site is free of special interest groups so Experts can impart their unfiltered environmental research, informed opinions and interface with each other, allowing readers to bolster their environmental literacy. "It is the steady stream of sound science and related discourse that makes Planet Experts a crucial resource for environmental education and a potent force for influencing public policy
The Green New Deal, a big, bold transformation of the economy to tackle the twin crises of inequality and climate change. It would mobilize vast public resources to help us transition from an economy built on exploitation and fossil fuels to one driven by dignified work and clean energy.
Leap Manifesto: A Call for a Canada based on caring for the Earth and One Another. The writers have a 15 point manifesto that is a call for a Canada based on caring for each other and the planet, moving swiftly to a post-carbon future, upholding Indigenous rights, and pursuing economic justice for all.
Home Grown National Park Movement has a mission to REGENERATE BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION because every human being on this planet needs diverse highly productive ecosystems to survive. Includes TALLAMY'S HUB focused on the books guiding the movement to restore our ecosystems the native plantings.
Rainforest Alliance offers valuable insight into sustainable businesses and why people should choose wisely, and thinking about the environmental impact of our purchases.