“If you find yourself feeling feelings of eco-anxiety where you freak out about buying something disposable or whatever, you’re going to need friends who can say to you: ‘This doesn’t belong to you. Shake it off. Don’t get stuck there. We were meant for better and bigger.’”
Ever since the COVID lockdowns and perhaps a bit before, I have felt our society's emphasis on individualism has destroyed the sense of community and care of community. Many are loathe to give up their "rights" in order to protect others from harm and that includes the environment. And unfortunately that has included many within the Christian community. Just within my state of Kentucky, we have had two devastating wind storms within four months and torrential amounts of rain. An article in our local paper warned that parts of Kentucky will experience once-in-100-year flooding every decade and maybe more. Just in my lifetime I can see the changes. Yet there are those who still deny these changes and have control of policy changes.
Yet I feel a strand of hope when I talk with and see the activism among young people. I do see a movement within this younger generation concerning the environment, justice and other issues. And I know that their activism is beginning to take hold. How do I know this? There are politicians who want to take the vote away from them citing that "they don't know what they are talking about." I see people on social media citing how society is going to hell because of these young activists (and because they don't know how to use a rotary dial phone. Really?). I always try to reply to those posts with how proud I am that this generation cares not only about themselves but for a more just society for all, including the environment.
Ever since the COVID lockdowns and perhaps a bit before, I have felt our society's emphasis on individualism has destroyed the sense of community and care of community. Many are loathe to give up their "rights" in order to protect others from harm and that includes the environment. And unfortunately that has included many within the Christian community. Just within my state of Kentucky, we have had two devastating wind storms within four months and torrential amounts of rain. An article in our local paper warned that parts of Kentucky will experience once-in-100-year flooding every decade and maybe more. Just in my lifetime I can see the changes. Yet there are those who still deny these changes and have control of policy changes.
Yet I feel a strand of hope when I talk with and see the activism among young people. I do see a movement within this younger generation concerning the environment, justice and other issues. And I know that their activism is beginning to take hold. How do I know this? There are politicians who want to take the vote away from them citing that "they don't know what they are talking about." I see people on social media citing how society is going to hell because of these young activists (and because they don't know how to use a rotary dial phone. Really?). I always try to reply to those posts with how proud I am that this generation cares not only about themselves but for a more just society for all, including the environment.