How to Organize, Organize, Organize: Step 1 – Fall in Love

by | Nov 13, 2020 | Mitigadaptation

The more we learn about trees, the more we understand that they communicate and share resources through their roots, recognizing one another’s needs and working toward shared goals. This might be a relevant metaphor. 

It’s November 2020, and we know that humanity has just this one decade to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. We can achieve this, but the sheer scale of the problem means it’s all hands on deck.

I think people want to do something about it, but most don’t know where to begin — beyond reducing our own consumption and our “carbon footprint” (here’s 35 ways, for instance, to do that). Some people already personally impacted don’t have the luxury of not knowing where to begin. Others are already integrated into an activist community, or are veteran environmentalists, or have an blue-ocean idea that inspires them. Some have have a relevant Ph.D., some have an audience of millions they can influence. But what about the rest of us who know we want to roll up our sleeves but not how?

These days on Zoom, one answer you hear a lot is “organize, organize, organize.” But for the non-organized among us, what does THAT mean? It means simply to hook up with an existing organization, cause, or group that really speaks to us.

Unless you have massive resources to spread around, it’s a good idea to choose just one org that makes you swoon. Treat it like dating — do your research and be discerning, because there are a lot of fish in this sea. A lot of good fish, too. If you choose one and find it doesn’t inspire you, drop it. Find another, or in the end… you won’t end up engaged.

Aim for butterflies. It should be more than just writing an occasional check. Your match should excite you, should inspire you — to volunteer; to join or lead a committee; to help raise money; to collect water samples or monitor king tides; to take photographs, write poems, or use your social network to spread the word… to give whatever you have to give. You’ll meet like-minded people, and you’ll move forward into this decade together.

You already have a busy life — to be motivated to give more and do more, you need to be inspired by the cause you choose. One thing those of us who run nonprofits inevitably learn is that no matter how magnificent an answer we have to one of life’s persistent problems, it won’t appeal to everyone. Whether it’s emergency response, or feeding orphans, or curing terrible diseases, or rescuing puppies and kittens, some people will always be more interested in something else. Likewise in the climate space, some people will be more interested in windmills or solar for remote villages … or planting trees … or clean air and water … or protecting undeveloped spaces … or reducing consumption of plastics … or electric cars … or sequestering carbon … or replacing wood fires with cleaner fuel … or being or amplifying youth voices fighting for climate mitigation, climate resilience, and climate justice … or reclaiming copper for use in windmills … or… or… There’s something for everyone!

Global warming, as the name implies, is a global problem, and different solutions and amazing ideas are cropping up everywhere in the world. Pour yourself a cup of something, and ask your friends or neighbors if there are local efforts to join. Or, try jumping into any of these “dating” sites to get started:

Get carried away by the search, keep trying, don’t be afraid to fail and start over, and finally, let yourself get carried away. Because if you don’t, you might someday wonder how you let the years go by without it.

And then one day, this decade and its promise will be gone.

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