Just an ordinary guy, Les Dooright is probably not very different than you and me. He tries to be kind, treat others fairly and if possible eventually leave this world a little bit better when he passes on to the next. But after dealing with the pandemic for over a year, Les was worn thin. So when he read a statement by Scientific American journal and over 400 of its global journalism partners, it was just about too much.
The declaration concerned emergencies - serious situations that require immediate action. A burning house is an emergency. COVID has been a global emergency; it’s serious and needs immediate action. The statement went on to say we now face another global emergency. Scientific evidence concerning the climate is undeniable, so these organizations from now on will refer to it as a climate emergency. It’s serious and we must act NOW.
“Oh my! If this is an emergency then we need to act like it is,” Les said to himself. “That means keeping as much carbon-based fossil fuel as possible in the ground. Then we gotta pull the excess CO2 out of the atmosphere and lock it into the soil where it will actually do some good. Wise farming practices will help with that. But golly, I don’t know if I can handle ANOTHER global emergency. Besides, what can I do? It’s just too much!”
That night Les fell into an uneasy sleep feeling both overwhelmed and a bit guilty for not doing his part about the climate emergency. As he tossed on his pillow his grandmother, Wanda Day, came to him in a dream. Taking his face in her soft hands Grandma Day asked, “Lester, why do you fret so? Remember what I taught you about seemingly overwhelming problems? Take one step a day, and you’re on your way.” Les sat bolt upright. “That’s it – One-a-Day. I can do that!”
The next day Les made a list of all the one-a-day ways he could reduce his use of fossil fuels and plastics (also petroleum-based.) “No one person can address this emergency alone. But each of us can be part of the rescue team and do at least one thing each day to build a better world. Because after all, this is the only home we’ll ever know. It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
The declaration concerned emergencies - serious situations that require immediate action. A burning house is an emergency. COVID has been a global emergency; it’s serious and needs immediate action. The statement went on to say we now face another global emergency. Scientific evidence concerning the climate is undeniable, so these organizations from now on will refer to it as a climate emergency. It’s serious and we must act NOW.
“Oh my! If this is an emergency then we need to act like it is,” Les said to himself. “That means keeping as much carbon-based fossil fuel as possible in the ground. Then we gotta pull the excess CO2 out of the atmosphere and lock it into the soil where it will actually do some good. Wise farming practices will help with that. But golly, I don’t know if I can handle ANOTHER global emergency. Besides, what can I do? It’s just too much!”
That night Les fell into an uneasy sleep feeling both overwhelmed and a bit guilty for not doing his part about the climate emergency. As he tossed on his pillow his grandmother, Wanda Day, came to him in a dream. Taking his face in her soft hands Grandma Day asked, “Lester, why do you fret so? Remember what I taught you about seemingly overwhelming problems? Take one step a day, and you’re on your way.” Les sat bolt upright. “That’s it – One-a-Day. I can do that!”
The next day Les made a list of all the one-a-day ways he could reduce his use of fossil fuels and plastics (also petroleum-based.) “No one person can address this emergency alone. But each of us can be part of the rescue team and do at least one thing each day to build a better world. Because after all, this is the only home we’ll ever know. It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
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