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A review by readwithmeemz
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg
5.0
I absolutely zipped through Greta Thunberg’s collection of speeches “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference”. A powerful & concise read, by a powerful person - this book (& Greta) STIRRED ME.
Although each of her speeches is essentially saying the same thing - that repetition is necessary to get her point (the point of scientists around the world) across. That call to panic, to take action, because OUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE makes this a compelling call to action.
As I was reading this, I was reminded of when I first understood the impact and implications of climate change and thought “Why isn’t everybody talking about this?” When I was shaken to my core, and then - when no one *else* (the media, the government, the adults in my life) seemed similarly shaken - I thought “maybe it will be okay?” ... this book was a powerful reminder that IT WON’T. Not until we take DRASTIC, society-changing, way of life shifting action... and even then... will it be enough?
***
I think it’s easy to feel disillusioned, and defeated. The apathy comes subtly - but from so many sources, that one day you wake up, and you don’t even realize you’ve given up? Or maybe that’s just me. It’s like I blinked, and all of a sudden, I was working in e-commerce, driving capitalism, and planning my next island vacation - changing my plans as the environmental consequences of our unsustainable lifestyles take beautiful island after beautiful island out of my travel options. How complacent I have become?!
****
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been learning more and more about environmental racism - and how the consumption of the richest (& usually whitest) countries is causing devastating and irreparable destruction and death in poorer (& mostly browner) countries in The Global South. How, even within our own - incredibly privileged - countries, Indigenous & Black communitiss don’t have access to clean drinking water - or how poor (& usually immigrant-dense) communities are the first to feel the impacts of corporate greed and pollution.
We need to take action.
***
We live in a world where celebrities will take their private planes to nearby destinations, but I have to stop drinking from plastic straws?
Greta is right. Science is right.
This is more than a call to action, this is a plea - from this beautiful planet, from the children who have made the smallest contributions to climate change, but have to live with the impact the longest.
It’s more than a call to action, it’s a call to arms.
A call to demand not just LOWERING carbon emissions, but stopping them completely. Demanding your politicians, your celebrities, the corporations you interact with to TAKE A STAND.
Truly, the last few months it’s been hard not to feel defeated, and downtrodden about climate change - but this book was great at re-kindling that fire.
****
I’m hoping I can stay motivated, and continue taking small actions, but also challenge myself to take big society-shifting, world-changing actions.
What steps are you taking towards lowering (& stopping) your carbon footprints, and protecting the environment? How do you take action? How are you making a stand?
Sound off in the comments below!
Although each of her speeches is essentially saying the same thing - that repetition is necessary to get her point (the point of scientists around the world) across. That call to panic, to take action, because OUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE makes this a compelling call to action.
As I was reading this, I was reminded of when I first understood the impact and implications of climate change and thought “Why isn’t everybody talking about this?” When I was shaken to my core, and then - when no one *else* (the media, the government, the adults in my life) seemed similarly shaken - I thought “maybe it will be okay?” ... this book was a powerful reminder that IT WON’T. Not until we take DRASTIC, society-changing, way of life shifting action... and even then... will it be enough?
***
I think it’s easy to feel disillusioned, and defeated. The apathy comes subtly - but from so many sources, that one day you wake up, and you don’t even realize you’ve given up? Or maybe that’s just me. It’s like I blinked, and all of a sudden, I was working in e-commerce, driving capitalism, and planning my next island vacation - changing my plans as the environmental consequences of our unsustainable lifestyles take beautiful island after beautiful island out of my travel options. How complacent I have become?!
****
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been learning more and more about environmental racism - and how the consumption of the richest (& usually whitest) countries is causing devastating and irreparable destruction and death in poorer (& mostly browner) countries in The Global South. How, even within our own - incredibly privileged - countries, Indigenous & Black communitiss don’t have access to clean drinking water - or how poor (& usually immigrant-dense) communities are the first to feel the impacts of corporate greed and pollution.
We need to take action.
***
We live in a world where celebrities will take their private planes to nearby destinations, but I have to stop drinking from plastic straws?
Greta is right. Science is right.
This is more than a call to action, this is a plea - from this beautiful planet, from the children who have made the smallest contributions to climate change, but have to live with the impact the longest.
It’s more than a call to action, it’s a call to arms.
A call to demand not just LOWERING carbon emissions, but stopping them completely. Demanding your politicians, your celebrities, the corporations you interact with to TAKE A STAND.
Truly, the last few months it’s been hard not to feel defeated, and downtrodden about climate change - but this book was great at re-kindling that fire.
****
I’m hoping I can stay motivated, and continue taking small actions, but also challenge myself to take big society-shifting, world-changing actions.
What steps are you taking towards lowering (& stopping) your carbon footprints, and protecting the environment? How do you take action? How are you making a stand?
Sound off in the comments below!