by Kristin Heinemeier
Davis resident and Holmes Junior High School student Peter Holderbein and his mom Kristin Heinemeier have only two heads, but on September 21, they were wearing many hats, as they participated in the People’s Climate March in New York City.
They carried the flag for CoolDavis at the march, “boots on the ground”, as it were, for Davis’ community-based non-profit with a strong commitment to moving the ball forward on climate change locally. They were also representing their church, Lutheran Church of the Incarnation (LCI), and its Green Faith Action Team, as well as the Lutheran Office of Public Policy—California, an advocacy arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, created to take positions on social and moral issues, and share Lutherans’ concerns with policy makers. And just to round things out, they were also representing the Davis Women Energy Associates: an informal networking group of professional women who work for energy efficiency and renewables, founded by Kristin, who is an engineer at the UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center.
“We could have also represented any of a number of perspectives: scientists and engineers, students, Minecraft and Halo aficionados, single moms against gun violence… not to mention lefties—both in handedness and politics—people with curly hair, and cat lovers against the bomb!“ added Kristin.
As the march was organized with different “contingents” of marchers—such as labor, indigenous peoples, scientists, LGBTQ, students—they had to choose. So while carrying four different banners alternately, they marched along with the interfaith community, which was well represented with its own staging area, and about 10,000 marchers joining early for an interfaith prayer service, music, and speeches. According to Kristin, “as a Christian, I feel that nature is God’s gift to us and it’s beautiful! We cannot continue to treat it like our own personal ashtray.” In fact, LCI has a Green Mission Statement which says “Sharing Christ’s Light daily, we love and care for God’s creation. Through prayer, reflection, action and advocacy, we strive to honor our interdependence with all of nature and grow our compassion for the Earth and all that dwell within it.”
“We had trouble figuring out how to wear so many different hats at the same time, and visibly convey their different messages. But I suppose each of us represents our own unique collection of perspectives, and at least for me, the message from all of these perspectives is the same: ‘We are done waiting. Deal with climate change now!’” Kristin wanted to be part of the People’s Climate March because she is “growing more and more alarmed at the likely impacts of climate change, and the inability of our society to pull up its socks and do something about it. At some point everyone needs to put their feet where their mouth is and say ‘No More!’”
Kristin was glad that there was a massive turnout, and hopes that the sheer volume and energy of the march will communicate to the UN Climate Summit delegates the humanity and the power of this movement. For her, the key message of the march comes from the great philosopher and environmentalist Dr. Seuss, from Horton Hears a Who: “We are here, We Are Here, WE ARE HERE!” “I hope that the UN Delegates will finally hear us, and will be too embarrassed to take lukewarm action with the whole world watching, and will be inspired to stick their necks out. I hope that President Obama feels that we have his back in taking a strong position and making a difference in the future of the planet.”
The importance of including youth in the movement should not be underestimated, and early experiences with advocacy can have a lasting effect. Kristin started on her own path of activism by walking the precinct with her mother in Detroit, to canvass for George McGovern’s campaign for president. “I remember that vividly and I got the message that it’s not enough to simply think good thoughts, or even do good acts. Sometimes you have to get on your feet and make some noise. Since then, having lived in Berkeley (where people protest at the drop of a hat!), I’ve been involved in quite a few protests from Reproductive Rights, to No Nukes, to No War. But none of them have given me the same sense of urgency as this march, so I think I shouted even louder at this one.”
Peter feels that “as a teenager, young people have a lot more voice than we think, and we should be more involved in decision-making.” He added that if president Obama and the world leaders assembled for the climate summit had experienced the march from the streets, like he did, there’s no way they could turn their backs on this crisis. While Kristin wanted to explain to him that unfortunately, it’s usually way more complicated than that, she decided that…maybe he’s right! “If it would move just one key decision-maker, it could make a big difference!” Continuing to advocate for the planet through activities such as volunteering at the CoolDavis Festival in October, spearheading GreenFaith activities at LCI, and participating in the planning of the Climate Conference sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice and hosted by LCI next spring, both Kristin and Peter have no intention of keeping quiet now.
Kudos to our Cool Davis team for putting their money, time and hearts into what they believe in !
With special appreciation for our mother-son team for passing on and accepting the responsibility of taking action to shape the future.
I keep hearing “Climate Change” and other catastrophic things, but no one is articulating what exactly the World is to do to change it. Flying across the country at a waste of jet fuel impacts a lot more than “Act Locally, Think Globally”. They went there to hold a sign?
In the 70’s I lived near coal plants and the snow was dirty. NOW the air is very clean and the snow is white in winter. In China all these plants are polluting the world, and no one wants to help them, and many of their plants have been manufactured after the EPA set standards.
Why not help the other nations until they get to the standards we have here, then go to the next level?
Because we have zealots here that think by leading by example is the way. Unfortunately it’s the way we’re going to ruin our economy for a net no improvement in the world situation.
Change can be effected in many different ways and will have push back from those who oppose change either on principle or because they believe that it will affect their lifestyle.
1. Those who oppose change locally will often deride those who want the change as “telling them how to live”.
2. Those who oppose a change nationally will charge interference in local affairs as many Southerners did in the segregation protests when mostly young people from around the country bused in to protest the treatment of blacks.
3. Many who have no difficulty at all with the environmental effects, or cost in taxes and lives, of sending our troops along with all their gear to other countries to enforce our political and/or financial will on them, criticize those who travel to participate in major environmental events.
4. There may be some who have no difficulty wanting us to lead the world “by example” when it comes to projects such as the World Food Center, but believe that it is futile for us to lead by example in conservation and reduction of toxic emissions.
5. It is Miwok’s last statement that has me puzzled however. Do we have any evidence that China is requesting help in managing their problems with pollution ? Do we have any evidence that they would accept any help if offered ? Do we know that assistance has not been offered ? Why would one define this as an either/or scenario ? Even if they were openly seeking help, why would we halt our improvement efforts here while concurrently offering them assistance ?
Tia wrote:
> 1. Those who oppose change locally will often deride
> those who want the change as “telling them how to live”.
Only if they actually “tell them how to live” on a regular basis. I have no problem with people that worship “mother earth” or “born again Christians” I just have a problem with them telling me what kind of bags I need to use or where I need to go on Sunday Mornings.
> 3. Many who have no difficulty at all with the environmental
> effects, or cost in taxes and lives, of sending our troops along
> with all their gear to other countries to enforce our political and/or
>financial will on them,
Sure there are “some” prople that think this way (just like there are some vegan NRA members that go duck hunting). Most of the people that are against making every business in America stop using plastic are also against paying millions to blow up the weapons we just gave to ISIS (when they were against Asad in Syria)…
> 5. It is Miwok’s last statement that has me puzzled however.
> Do we have any evidence that China is requesting help in
> managing their problems with pollution ?
Are you joking? or are this some kind of anti-Chinese racist statement that hints that the Chinese like breathing brown air feeling like crap and not being able to see more than a block.
“Kristin wanted to be part of the People’s Climate March because she is “growing more and more alarmed at the likely impacts of climate change, and the inability of our society to pull up its socks and do something about it. At some point everyone needs to put their feet where their mouth is and say ‘No More!’” ”
I’m not sure exactly what it is that the climate change protestors are advocating. I would like to see some specific things that they want rather than just expressing outrage.