Commentary: These are dark times, but they need not be lonely or hopeless.
Ed.: The essays, analyses and opinions presented as Community Voices express the perspectives of their authors on topics of interest and importance to the community, and are not intended to reflect perspectives on behalf of Salish Current.
“What’s the point of sitting in this meeting (or making my kid brush his teeth, or getting out of bed) when the world is on fire?”
If you’ve had thoughts like this in the past few weeks, you’re not alone.
Knowing the massive stakes of inaction is part of what can make taking action so hard. Those who’ve been working in the environmental and climate justice movements for years have plenty of experience grappling with big hairy problems. On top of climate and environmental crises, we’re now faced with another grave challenge — the Trump-Musk administration’s blitz to dismantle the federal government, bury science, muzzle dissent and persecute marginalized communities, notably immigrants and trans people.
This blitz has been staggering, and it’s important to acknowledge that even orders that will eventually be thrown out as unconstitutional are causing real harm and endanger people in the meantime. At the same time, we have to remember that we have collective power and the outcomes Trump asserts are far from set in stone.
As this administration scrubs climate change research and information from its websites, and targets subjects like climate change, environmental justice, intersectionality, gender ideology, and diversity, equity and inclusion, it tells on itself. It views these words and concepts as dangerous because a deep understanding of science and history undermines their narrative that the biggest threats facing our nation are trans people, immigrants, fair hiring practices and an imaginary domestic energy crisis. This narrative of fear, division and scarcity is essential cover for oligarchs and corporate interests hijacking the government to further enrich themselves and consolidate power.
Attacks as distraction
Right now, trans folks fear for their safety, their basic rights, and access to critical healthcare. These are our friends, colleagues and neighbors who just want to do their jobs, take care of their families, and help make their communities better. Attacks on trans folks are a cover for maintaining the patriarchal social order. We all deserve the right to be ourselves and make decisions about our own healthcare. Denying that freedom for trans folks will ultimately result in sacrificing healthcare, safety and privacy of all people.
We also know that immigrants in Northwest Washington are living with the fear of ICE raids at their homes, workplaces, schools, and places of worship that could result in families being torn apart. Many immigrants, particularly farmworkers, are already on the front lines of climate impacts like flooding, extreme heat or wildfire smoke. These are our neighbors and their communities make essential contributions to our region without the benefits of fair labor protections or access to government services. We must continue to work in solidarity to advance protections for workers and oppose this administration’s brazen attacks on immigrants.
Let’s be clear about why these attacks are happening. The richest 1% are scapegoating minority groups to distract from their actions.
Sustaining your activism
Here are some tips for regaining your footing and pushing forward in community:
- Set aside your grievances. Last year’s political landscape in the run-up to the election was fractured and toxic. Forgive what you can and let’s rebuild, coalesce and grow our movements.
- Log off more often. Social media platforms are no replacement for in-person connection or quiet contemplation. Seek spaces of worship and reflection. Get outside.
- Find in-person gatherings. Get out of the house and get face-to-face or arm-in-arm with your neighbors.
- Connect with people across ages and backgrounds. Each generation and community in this region has unique gifts and perspectives to offer. Be wary of sticking too close to your comfortable spaces in times like these.
- Reuse, restore and create. channel your energy into acts of restoration, reuse and recreation. Plant a tree, clean a beach, tend a garden, repurpose old materials into something new. Make art. These are generative, restorative acts, and they remind us of what we’re fighting to preserve in the first place.
- Protect the vulnerable. Be humble and curious about what others are experiencing around you as our rules, norms and laws come under attack.
- Stay grounded with sustained action. Know that it’s worthwhile to be a small part of a solution to a massive problem. Small actions have inherent value and they contribute something positive to this world.
- Seek collective over individual action. You are important and your actions matter, but you’re also part of something much bigger. We can and do accomplish so much together.
These are dark times, but we need not be lonely or hopeless. Let’s regain our footing and put our energy into actions that build power from the grassroots up. We have a lot to lose — but let’s consider all we stand to gain from advancing solutions that center people and planet over profit.
A longer version of this essay is available on the RE Sources website with links to organizations and additional resources.
— By Jay Kosa
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