So, as you may have gathered from reading some of my earlier posts, I have been really frustrated over the feeling that our world leaders aren’t listening to us. They have the money and the power to ensure our survival, yet they are floundering around with a treaty whose terms will define our future.
I know that I am closed in a bubble here. It’s hard to see what I am doing and how I am influencing the leaders here, but I know that mass mobilizations happening around the world are most definitely having an impact. I am not giving up hope. When I’m here, and it’s just frustrating when my voice gets obviously muffled and I, personally, am not allowed to speak in US Department Briefings, to delegates, etc.
We cannot wait another year until the next negotiations! We must keep up the pressure and demand that our leaders sign onto a fair, ambitious, and binding deal this week!
I can tell by my interactions with some people that they think I am radical. This is a new experience for me, and it’s interesting. Being here & conversing with people from other countries that are being hit harder by climate change has made climate change so tangible. And being able to go into the building (well, not anymore) where decisions are being made deciding my future makes me stir-crazy and even more passionate about this issue. We must have strong demands of our leaders here. Why am I a radical for setting high goals and pushing our leaders to reach them? Why am I a radical for wanting to leave a better earth for future generations? The truth is that we don’t have time to talk about mediocre emissions reductions!
I am so frustrated at the thought of our leaders impeding progress towards solutions. I am already seeing the effects of climate change in my lifetime. MY LIFETIME! Is it already too late to change our direction?!? Why didn’t we address it earlier? It scares me that the worse effects would be seen by my child. So soon! I want more than anything to be able to experience raising a child. And it makes me really sad to think of bringing a child into this world.
