Happy? New Year 2025

What a Beginning

2025 ignited with a bang and many of us are still reeling from it’s impact. Locally, fireworks did its damage in the islands. In addition to the pollution it caused, the threat to pets, those with PTSD and individuals with respiratory diseases, four people were killed as a direct result of fireworks. 

I was also in Los Angeles when severe windstorms triggered the destructive fires that like a wave surged through and flattened homes and businesses just like in Lahaina. These devastating wildfires are still raging on. I am so grateful for the firefighters and people who are coming together to help. Personally, it was terrifying to be there and even though we are safe right now, it is a reminder that the earth is screaming for help.

One of our greatest downfalls as human beings is our inability to prevent disasters from happening. As in the case of our healthcare system, we need to work on preventative measures not just prescriptive ones. How much lives and money would be saved if in both cases we addressed the root case of every problem instead of waiting until the problem is unfixable? 

You Are Being Called

All of us are being called at the moment to make a change. We cannot expect our government to change things for us. We must all do what we can on a local level, meet with like-minded individuals, reflect on what’s important to us. We need to stop doing what we’ve been doing because it’s safe and comfortable, because it’s what we have always done. We need to stop buying into what social media and big corporations are selling us. We don’t need more stuff. We don’t need to numb ourselves to the reality we’re heading towards. The one way through this is to go in eyes open and begin to make changes in our own lives now.

Every generation is challenged with an issue, an opportunity to come together, and this is our time to stand together.

I will continue to create posts here with actionable steps we can do to make a difference. 

Steps to Take Now

1. Share climate issues and solutions with others. Create your own group or find others who are coming together to make a difference in climate.
2. Volunteer and donate to organizations like Sierra Club Hawaii.
3. Support organizations that help the wildfire efforts like this one that helps people and pets affected by wildfires or this one that donates to the LAFD Wildfire Emergency fund
4. Take care of yourself. Be mindful of how much time you are spending online and specifically watching the news and social media. This time is a call for all of us to focus in on what matters and less on things that drain us. Britt Wray, PhD and activist has recently shared a new website called Unthinkable with resources to help all of us become more resilient in light of the impacts of climate change.