How do we motivate people, especially young adults, to deal with climate-change issues when they are remote from its effects, leaving them unmoved, or conversely, when they are on the receiving end of a catastrophe, leaving them overwhelmed? The standard motivator for climate activism has been fear, but it cannot sustain our actions in the long-term. Furthermore, the scale and immediacy of the problem is so great that the fear generated can paralyze or isolate us. We see the need to ground climate adaptation, activism and education in contemplative practice. Mindfulness, compassion and nature-connection practices can awaken a sense of interconnectedness and belonging with nature. This in turn fosters creativity and sustainable motivation to act from love for the welfare of all beings. We will develop ways to support our youth and climate-change professionals, create community structures that integrate contemplative practices into climate action, and nurture Sacred Activism.
Organizers
Participants
Leila Cavallho, PhD
University of California Santa Barbara
Monique Myers, PhD
University of Santa Barbara
Stacy Pulice, PhD
Santa Barbara High School
Shawn VanValkenburgh
Sunrise Movement, University of California Santa Barbara
Joanna Macy
The Work that Reconnects, Experiential Deep Ecology
Jose Caballero
Santa Barbara High School
Linda Buzzell-Saltzman
Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara
Yemaya Renuka Duby
Your Beloved Health
Jessica Alvarez Parfrey
Indian Health Services
Ken Hiltner
University of California Santa Barbara
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
US Congress
Summer M. Gray, PhD
University of California Santa Barbara
Sarah Ray
Humboldt State University
Maithilee Kanthi
Sunrise Movement SB
Bill McKibben
350.org
David Pellow, PhD
University of California Santa Barbara
