I read an interview recently, in Anand Giridharadas’ newsletter, The Ink, with two women, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson, who’ve authored a book called All We Can Save, “an anthology of writings by 60 women at the forefront of the climate movement who are harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward.” Women and girls are becoming vital voices and agents of change for this planet. This makes sense because they are often the most effected by climate change, weather disasters, wars and economic upheavals and their authentic leadership in these areas can make a big difference. This book gives some of them voice.
The authors note that the environmental movement has been too focused on personal choices as the fossil fuel industry ramps up the guilt and shame to get you focused on your light bulbs and veggie burgers rather than protesting in the streets or running for office as a climate champion focused on systemic change and accountability for those behind the causes of the climate crisis. “It creates a sense of guilt and shame that keeps people out of the movement” says Dr. Wilkinson, “too much of the focus has been on the individual, as opposed to how individuals can be part of a collective, contributing meaningfully to the system-level changes we need.” The recently released IPCC Report is calling for a code red gives us impetus to get moving on this, but it…