National Catholic Reporter features Elders Climate Action

National Catholic Reporter: EarthBeat

Elders fight for children’s, grandchildren’s future climate

By Lucy Grindon Oct 27, 2020

Excerpt from the Article.

Lynne Iser’s daughter was 16 years old when she told her mother she wished she’d grown up in the 1950s and 60s, as her mother had, free from existential dread about climate change.

That conversation, a decade ago, changed Iser’s life.

Hearing her daughter’s pessimism and fear for the future of the planet hit Iser “in the gut” and propelled her to action, she said.

“What [my daughter] was concerned about was what I knew to be true, but I wasn’t taking it in the same way that she was,” Iser told EarthBeat. “It sunk into me — I really need to stand with my kid.”

Today, as president of the national nonprofit Elders Action Network, Iser leads a growing movement of older adults who are addressing social and environmental crises through education efforts, advocacy and activism.
Because of the prominence of Greta Thunberg and other young activists, climate activism is often portrayed as a young people’s movement. But Iser, 70, and others like her believe that elders have a critical role to play in protecting the planet, and an obligation to do so for the sake of younger generations.
“As future ancestors, what do we want our legacy to be?” Iser says elders must ask themselves. “How do we want to be remembered?”

Among Elders Action Network’s largest projects is Elders Climate Action, whose members, organized in 12 official chapters throughout the United States, advocate for environmental protection and encourage other elders to join in climate action.

David and Gloria Mog, 77 and 78, have been active members of the Washington, D.C.-area chapter since 2015, taking part in demonstrations like “Fire Drill Fridays,” which gained national attention last year because of actor Jane Fonda’s weekly participation.

David first learned about human-caused climate change in 1984, in a conversation with Roger Revelle, one of the first scientists to study the growing impact of human actions on global temperatures. David, a chemist who was working then with the National Academy of Sciences, recognized the enormous significance of what Revelle told him.

Read the full article here

Jen Chandler

Director of Operations at ECA

Observations of an Elder in Training….

A year and a half ago, I joined Elders Climate Action as the first staff position to help move the organization forward and achieve its critical mission. My choice to join the volunteers at ECA has without a doubt proven to be one of the most fulfilling decisions of my life. Although I am not yet an elder, I consider myself an elder in training; someone with a personal responsibility to learn from previous generations, bridge with younger generations, and bring change for future generations and all life.

Since returning from Elders Climate Action Day in Washington, D.C. I have spent time reflecting on the experience. Beyond the obvious highlights including brilliant and inspiring speakers, a discovered love of the diverse city, and taking to the streets with over 250,000 people at the Climate March. I was deeply moved and inspired by the passion, commitment, caring, and deep questioning that came from the elders in attendance. For me, one of the most powerful moments of ECAD was the visit from Our Children’s Trust and FrostPaw, and subsequent impromptu apology from ECA member, Margo Frank. (see Youtube Video below)

What I experienced most in D.C., was multiple generations standing up and taking action for the climate. It was a vibrant illumination of a common value, a common acceptance of responsibility for the damage that has happened, and a common commitment to take action for the future. Take Climate Action Now, Take Climate Action Often. Protect the Future.

Julie Hantman

VOICE OF A FUTURE ELDER

Julie Hantman, National Outreach Manager, Mom’s Clean Air Force

The climate movement is picking up steam and its increasing diversity is a big reason why. No longer can any headline say e.g. ‘environmentalists decry roadblocks to climate action.’ That’s because it isn’t just environmentalists speaking up anymore. We’ve got a big and bigger tent. There are scientists of course, there are experts on national security, food security and you-name-it security. There is the faith community, labor, and more.

And generationally there is the youth movement, there are moms and dads – and now elders.

The climate movement needs the unique voices of elders. Parents of school-age children have the exquisite focus of day to day parenting to bring to bear in our advocacy. Elders – grandparents or not – have the long view. As I meet more ECA members I see plenty of internal diversity but the common denominator perhaps is the passion that comes from experience and dynamic reflection. A different flavor! We need you and it’s a pleasure to think and take action together.

Note: Julie adds new meaning to being a partner by spending a day with ECA elders to participate in our next Elders Climate Action event in 2017

Delaney Reynolds

A Young Woman We Can All Be Inspired By

Delaney Reynolds is an amazing young woman who lives in Miami, Florida. At the age 16 of Delaney became very much aware of the danger climate change poses for her, her community and the wider world, and she is not sitting back and waiting for others to take action. Not Delaney.

She is the founder of the Miami Sea Rise, has created an awesome website miamisearise.com, and has published three books for elementary and middle school students on climate change and sea level rise. At age 16, those are stupendous accomplishments. But on the issue of climate change, Delaney is unstoppable.

She has created PowerPoint presentations for young people and delivers them to students in schools, not only in her home state but via video conferencing to students in places like India and Vietnam.

Delaney’s work is being noticed. She recently gave a TED Talk and is also featured in a video alongside scientists, politicians, and authors, Ahead of the Tide, and she was selected as a Youth Leadership Council Member at EarthEcho International, a nonprofit environmental and conservation organization founded by siblings Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau.

This young woman has written a letter on behalf of the world’s children asking each of us to do whatever we can to protect them from the threats of global warming and sea level rise. Please read what she has to say and ask yourself: if she can do this, what can I do to help turn back the rising tide of global warming? Visit The Sink or Swim Project,

ECA Equity Advisory Committee – we’re looking for members

ECA is following through on its commitment to anti-racism, by examining all of its work to assure that it is free of racist and exclusionary practices and indifference

We have pledged to defend Black lives, to protect the oppressed and those whose voices are not heard. We will continue to demand love, truth, a habitable planet, and fundamental human rights for all. We will not stop until change fully comes.

If your commitment to climate justice is solidly grounded in anti-racism, we need you to help us honor our pledge: JOIN THE NEW ECA EQUITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

ECA is proud to announce the formation of a new ECA Equity Advisory Committee. We are seeking committed members to join and lead this committee.

This committee will ensure ECA’s commitment to climate and environmental justice through the lens of anti-racism by creating a framework for guiding and evaluating all our organizational efforts.

Committee members will work closely with all ECA committees and initiatives and help identify other like minded organizations for possible future collaborative endeavors. The work of this committee, and all ECA work, is based on the Jemez Principleswhich reflect our commitment to being an inclusive, respectful and grass-roots organization. Committee members should expect to commit about 10 hours each month for various committee meetings and follow up work.

The Equity Advisory Committee is open to ECA members and those from other collaborating organizations.

If you are interested in joining this committee, please complete the online questionnaire. Applications will be screened and approved by the ECA Coordinating Council.

If you’re interested in joining this committee please complete the ECA Equity Advisory Committee Questionnaire

(Click the link above to see the full Equity Advisory Committee Description at the top of the Questionnaire form)

Definitions:

Climate justice is a term used to frame global warming as an ethical and political issue, rather than one that is purely environmental or physical in nature.

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Anti-racism can be defined as some form of focused and sustained action, with the intent to change a system or an institutional policy, practice, procedure, behavior, or idea which has racist effects.

Sue Blythe, Elders Climate Action member and creator of the FutureFlash!

FutureFlash! Project Sowing a Culture of Peace with the Elders Climate Network

In this holiday season, when people sing of Peace On Earth, I’m inviting my own family — and yours — to tell what this statement means to them. “Recognize that peace is the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part.” – The Earth Charter

I want my six grandchildren to know why I care so passionately about the condition our planet is in. I need for them to know that I believe that we can change climate change. I’m telling them about significant moments in my own journey. And I want them to consider their own part in the unfolding saga of how the human family learned to live together in a culture of peace. Together, we are Sowing a Culture of Peace, with the Earth Charter as a guide.