Causes to Celebrate: The Phoenix

Continuing with our climate causes today, I wanted to highlight a publication by Eric Holthaus.  A meteorologist and a climate journalist, Eric also published a book last year, The Future Earth: A Radical Vision for What's Possible in the Age of Warming.  He has been featured in many publications including Rolling Stone and the Wall Street Journal, and is the co-founder of Warm Regards, a climate podcast about people.

Photo Credit: Karen Edquist
Photo taken from this Rolling Stone article

I first encountered Eric during his stint at The Correspondent, and I was excited to see someone willing to talk about the human costs that climate change is having on our world.  Rather than simply seeking to convince people only with science, he sought to put a face and a name to the climate emergencies that continue to threaten the globe.  He also offered a view of what climate activism means and shared ways in which we can help center the discussion on the people affected by climate change so that we  can create meaningful solutions that preserve a future for humanity on Earth.

While he often talks about the effects of climate change and its toll on us humans, he also wants to help us imagine new ways of thinking about our future in which we meet the challenges of climate change and build forward with resilience and environmental kindness--both to our fellow humans, and the natural world around us in which we live.

These qualities are what drew me to his writing and kept me invested after his departure from The Correspondent.  So when I learned that he was launching a new site where he was going to share his thoughts, ideas, and reporting, I jumped right in with both feet and haven't looked back since.

Phoenix logo by Tara Slade

The Phoenix continues Eric's journey to share this human side of the climate emergency, and as he puts it: 

Here at The Phoenix, I’m focused most closely on humanizing this planetary emergency: being transparent about the challenges we’re facing and the complex emotions we’re all feeling, and being honest about what we need to do to radically transform our society.

I chose the name The Phoenix because the world is on fire, and we’ve got to create a new one from the ashes.

This is the place where I'll share with you stories from frontline communities and voices from the most affected people and places enduring the climate emergency.

This is the place where we’ll create space for each other to process the shared trauma and grief and joy and elation that comes along with doing this world-building work.

This is the place where we’ll help teach each other about what’s happening in this transformative moment, and how we can be a part of it.

I'm so excited to share this with you as I truly believe that it's important that climate change isn't seen as just an emergency, or an issue, or a political talking/sticking point.  There are real people experiencing real problems (as many Texans well know from just a few weeks ago.)  And we can't just pretend these things don't exist.  We can't keep putting off the hard work simply because we want things to go back to "normal."  It's time to have these conversations; it's time to look into the human faces of our changing climate and remember that we have a say in how our world moves forward.

And so, that is why I am so thankful that I get a chance to share The Phoenix with all of you as today's cause worth celebrating.

I realize that many of you may not know why I am highlighting causes this month--choosing to share them as a celebration of hope.  This is my birthday month, and while I am still going to focus on myself and my birthday (at least here at home,) I also wanted to share with others the causes that are inspiring me and helping me to feel alive and thriving in the world in the hope that they might reach someone who needs them right now.  Each of the organizations and publications I've been looking at this month are run by people who want to help others have better, more meaningful lives.  So rather than just celebrating myself this month, I am celebrating their voices and their contributions instead.

I hope that if you find something here that inspires you further, you'll reach out to these organizations or donate a little bit of your time or money to them.  But even if all you can do is learn about them, I hope maybe one day, if you're in need, you'll remember them and know that you're not alone; there are people who can help you.  All you have to do is reach out, and we'll be here for you.