Because I Love this World: Another Letter to the Prime Minister about Mitigating Climate Change

I wrote this tongue- in- cheek (but also truly heart- in- hand) letter last week. I find it tiring to think of a possible federal election with so much at stake and all during a pandemic/climate emergency. The book which I reference has much goodness in it and I do plan to do an extended response to it/critique of it in the days/weeks to come. It truly is a worthy and thought provoking read.

To Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister Wilkinson, and Minister O'Regan, August 4th, 2021

I just finished a newly released book I think you really might enjoy and benefit from reading. It's called The Web of Meaning by author Jeremy Lent and it is the most comprehensive book I've read to date examining the roots of the climate, economic and social upheaval we are experiencing. It also does a magnificent job of exploring potential pathways to a more ecological civilization for all. You can borrow it if you'd like to!

But I will need it back when you are done with it because I want my three children to each read it after you are through with it. They are feeling pretty uncertain about the world these days and this is more about their futures and their prospective children's futures than about my own or yours for that matter.

And I should warn you that it is a tough read in places. Though not much in it was news to me, I still found the soul- crushing talk on mass extinctions and potential tipping points in it hard to stomach. I guess I am too much a fool for life and its abundant beauty to not be bothered by the states of human-caused depredation we find ourselves so immersed in.

Sigh.

Nevertheless, I welcome you to be courageous enough to read it anyway because it is such a beautifully important book to hold in your hands and ponder as well as because Mr. Lent was courageous enough to write something so life honouring and so counter to widely held societal norms. I urge you to be that person willing to continue to explore ideas outside of those (much more common) texts which serve to uphold the status quo. I ask you to be braver than you knew you could be. Brave like we ask so many global citizens fleeing from climate disasters to be and brave like we are asking all future citizens of Earth to be in facing an increasingly terrifying future.

You just might be so moved that you come to understand in a new way the urgent necessity of bold climate action. And then from this understanding you might take bold actions on the level of those implemented in past war times. Actions like we all undertook/are undertaking to mitigate the worst of the current pandemic. Actions we can take to avert the worst of sea level risings and to mitigate harm done by increased degrees of warming. Actions on a scale you suddenly realized are not only possible but urgently necessary.

While I can understand the protection and sense of ease that relative positions of wealth and/or privilege can afford one (I've lived it myself) I still want to believe that it might be impossible to not feel morally implicated in the multiple crises we are living after thoughtful examination of Mr. Lent's book The Web of Meaning.

Call me an idealist but I honestly do believe that a better world is possible for all beings if we make urgent changes to our consumptive lifestyles. I welcome you to consider that urgent climate action is one of the most crucial steps we can take to making a better tomorrow for generations to come.

There is far too much at stake to take half measures on climate, poverty and inequality.

While I appreciate the time you took to read this letter, I would far more appreciate the time you might take to read Mr. Jeremy Lent's book The Web of Meaning. And remember, you can borrow my copy if you want to. Sharing is part of the caring our beautiful world needs desperately. I share in hopes that you will care.

I wish you great spirit in this. I also wish you wellness as you go about your days. Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Jill MacCormack

C1B1J2

Endnote: I am sharing this letter in response to the news out of the UN IPCC reporting Code Red for humanity. https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097362

I just love this beautiful world too much not to want us all to wake up and to make things better.

In peace, love and hopefulness,

Jill