theClimateers

I’ve been watching and reading about everything happening in Pittsburgh all week, and it’s been a little disconcerting to hear what various people have been saying about it around here in DC.  I’ve got a few friends there protesting for climate action and have been hearing firsthand reports of the police crackdowns.

I’ve heard a lot of offhand remarks about the protesters from various people this week, about how the protesters are totally missing the point of the G20, how it’s stupid and useless to be out there, how the protesters don’t even know what’s going on, and so on.  It makes me glad I know people there—smart people who care about issues—so that I can (hopefully) change their minds about the types of people who are down there.

This kind of mentality worries me: where’s the optimistic spirit and desire to effect change? Protests have been on the vanguard of so many important historic social movements, and as long as there are still issues to fight for, protests are still relevant.

I read a wonderful interview with Jim Hansen (the first scientist to back the 350 ppm target), and felt re-inspired.  He talked about civil resistance as an integral part of the democratic process when voting and traditional means of influencing politics fail.  Check out the article.  Jim Hansen embodies the kind of involvement and leadership that the climate movement needs: someone who understands the scientific facts, but is not afraid to do advocacy work, and has no qualms with working both within and outside of the political machine.