Blog Action Day: Climate Change

Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. This year, the issue is Climate Change.

Climate Change is an issue that connects with our peace, and especially as women we feel things very deeply. For most of us, our environment creates our reality. When it is a gray, rainy day, we tend to be a bit more sullen than we are on a bright sunny day.

Groucho Marx once observed, "I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be…” As I have taught in my workshops and women’s circles, we cannot change the external events, whatever they may be. However, we do have the power to choose our attitude towards that event. The climate is definitely one thing we seem to have no control over, though we can change our behavior to alter future events. If we are doing the same destructive behavior, then we will get the same destructive results. These results we cannot change.

Here is the good news: we can shift into constructive behaviors in order to achieve more constructive results. We have altered our realities, thus altered how we show up to life.

Now, the Gospel According to Carolyn: I believe that when we can make the shift to more positive, creative, and life-sustaining behaviors, it will have a more favorable effect on our environment, thus creating healthier living. Enough said.

One of my favorite songs by Michael Jackson is “Man in the Mirror”:

“I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change…”

So, just for today, Blog Action Day ~ make a change to create a new reality.

And… for a bit of perspective…

…some of the realities of women’s rights and climate change from an article from Oxfam Canada:

* Women are more likely to die during natural disasters than men.
* Climate change is deepening the food crisis for women and their families.
* Climate change leads to increased illness and disease and women are the primary caregivers for the sick.
* Indigenous women bear a triple burden despite decades demanding international action on the environment.
* Climate change makes women’s long workday even longer.
* Global warming increases the likelihood of armed conflict, including violence against women.
* Women have the knowledge and skills to adapt to climate change and to find a sustainable path out of poverty.

Visit Oxfam Canada to read the rest of the article.

We can be the change we wish to see in this world!

Coach Carolyn