On a completely related note: The antidote to apathy

Dave Meslin: The antidote to apathy | Video on TED.com

10,000 youth proved last weekend in D.C. that we are not apathetic. But we still have a lot of work to do.

Every Generation needs a New Revolution

I recently had a very brief conversation with a state representative at a fundraising event for my internship. During the course of the conversation, said representative began telling me what's going to get the youth out to vote in this coming election.

Now, with all due respect, I admire the work said representative does in the legislature and admire the fact that she's willing to stand up against knucklehead, anti-science conservatives. However, said representative is 70 years old and I can't imagine she spends much time getting into the head of modern-day youth - who is she to tell me what the youth are concerned about?

While this may seem like a petty comment to get worked up over, it did get me thinking. How can we be content letting individuals 40+ years older than us fight for our future? I'm increasingly more aware that NOW IS OUR TIME. If we truly want to see change, we need to be clear on what exactly that entails and we need to start fighting for it. Many in the legislature think we will be content with seeing only 25% of our energy come from renewables in the coming decade. They think we'll be content in board rooms, discuss financing. They assume we'll be content donning suits and schmoozing all night in hopes of raising a few dollars to spend more time yelling upon deaf ears in hearing rooms at the Capitol. 

I refuse to be an idle environmentalist any longer. I refuse to be an environmentalist. I know, and we all know, that our health, the health of our community, the health of our economy, and the health of the Earth that we love, are all interconnected. If wish to see any of them prosper in the coming days, weeks, and years,
we need to stand up in revolutionary ways.

No more petitions. No more lobbying. No more conferences.

We have incredible power and now is our time.

more Pooh wisdom

"In order to take control of our lives and accomplish something of lasting value, sooner or later we need to learn to Believe. We don't need to shift our responsibilities onto the shoulders of some deified Spiritual Superman, or sit around and wait for Fate to knocking at the door. We simply need to believe in the power that's within us, and use it. When we do that, and stop imitating others and competing against them, things begin to work for us."

The Tao of Pooh

I don't want to appear ungrateful, because I don't believe I am.
But right now my state of being is largely shaped not by what I have, but what I find lacking.
I've recently been inspired to take action and drop the plague of apathy; I want to drop all unimportant matters and really start to fight for what I believe in - the earth, humanity, social and environmental justice.
As I open my mind and heart, turning back towards internal reflection, I want to develop a more-complete independent self.
I want to control my own time, without the responsibilities I now view as burdens. I want to take on new responsibilities. I want to truly be a part of a movement to stop the atrocities against the earth and all it's life forms. I want to properly articulate my thoughts and feelings. I want to sing loud. I want to run until my lungs and feet ache. I want to shake this lonesome feeling. I want to absorb all the words, thoughts, feelings, and ideas from all the books on my shelf that I've been neglecting. I want to better manage my time, focusing more on fulfilling matters of the mind rather than wastes of time. I want to always carry with me the perspective of being incredibly small, but having the power to create change. I want to feel strong hands through my dark hair.

"there's more to fight for than ever"

Tim DeChristopher at Powershift2011

The wisdom of Pooh

From the Tao of Pooh:

"Everything has it's own place and function. That applies to people, although many don't seem to realize it, stuck as they are in the wrong job, the wrong marriage, or the wrong house. When you know and respect your own Inner Nature, you know where you belong. You also know where you don't belong. One man's food is often another man's poison, and what is glamorous and exciting to some cane be a dangerous trap to others."

Admittedly, I've been neglecting internal reflection far too often.

[my]heart

 

For [the Bleeding] Heart, there is no serious insect or disease problems. Organic matter in the soil will supply all the protection the roots need.