I commit to demanding that politicians that want my vote, my time, my substantial help and expertise are people who seek to address climate change seriously and talk about it boldly.

Sent on
October 13, 2015
by
Georgia Hollister Isman
Send Your Own Message

Dear ACS, LG, CM, MCD, AH, MS, AS, GL, and ERD,

I am writing this letter to you because a commitment to you feels more real than one to my own future children, who are, for the moment, imaginary. You are kids that matter to me right now. You all have excellent parents who are among my favorite people on the planet. I know they will do just about anything to keep you safe and give you’re a prosperous, fulfilling future. But I also know that climate change is so big and so scary that the love and sacrifice of your individual parents will not be enough. If you are going to live in a world as beautiful as the one I grew up in and at least no more precarious and unjust, all of us grown ups need to create a public solution.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about writing this letter. That is because it is hard. I am near tears every time I start. I cannot quite believe how much risk we are putting you in with our country’s inaction and how slow we are to change.

Thinking about this letter has changed my behavior already. I think about it whenever I am choosing to recycle a bottle that would be easier to throw away—really, that often. I thought about this letter when Erin and I made the choice to have one car instead of two. And I try to think of you whenever that choice is inconvenient and frustrating. I commit to keeping your future in my mind when I make those individual choices even after this letter is sent too.

But I commit to more. I know more is needed. I commit to taking action politically and urging others to do so. I commit to demanding that politicians that want my vote, my time, my substantial help and expertise are people who seek to address climate change seriously and talk about it boldly. I commit to standing up, literally with a sign or more figuratively, to demand that our government take action. You cannot yet tell our leaders what you need, although I suspect for some of you it will not be long, so I commit to standing with your parents for public policy that will address climate change for real.

If we do nothing or do too little or wait too long, you all will have life tougher than I did. And I want just the opposite for you–a world more just, a world renewed. So I commit to being in your corner in the fight to make climate change a public priority.

My love to you all,

Your Auntie/Buddy Georgia

Share on:
 
Send Your Own Message

More Messages to the Future

 

Aos meus sobrinhos queridos, Ana Laura, Luis Carlos e Helloísa,

Talvez eu não esteja viva para ver alguma mudança, mas espero que vocês vejam e tenham um mundo melhor em 2050. Plantei um ipê rosa e outro amarelo, que eles estejam florindo até 2050.
 

Queridas crianças do mundo inteiro,

Pedimos que vocês procurem fazer como nós e continuem essa luta de colaborar com nosso planeta: evitando o consumo exagerado, usando a tecnologia para o bem, plantando árvores, economizando água e poluindo menos.
 

Dear Grown up Alton and Dot,

The most important thing in my life is you, which means that as your mom – I am doing my very best to make sure that when you read this letter, Earth is a cleaner and safer place for you and your children.
 

Vitória,

Antes de realizar qualquer ação pense no meio ambiente para que suas atitudes sejam pautadas na sustentabilidade. Assim o seu pensar e agir localmente poderão resvalar na escala global.
 

Dear Tomorrow,

No plastic straws, no water bottles, shop local, no meat.
 

Dear X—, Dear A—,

As with our struggles to eliminate police brutality, as with hate crimes, so it is with climate change – there are actually a lot of people out there who care.
 

Dear Chay and Kate,

Don’t ever let anyone tell you your actions don’t matter. Every single thing you do matters. You matter.
 

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to eat less meat.
 

Dear Bella,

I promise that I shall continue to do all that is within my capabilities to leave you a world where there is fairness and justice.
 

Dear future generations,

I pledge to you now that I will work tirelessly and with all my willpower so you don’t have to live in a world where you have to worry about the next storm.

 

Dear Hannah, Harper and future baby of Ryan and Colleen Lane,

I will not stop fighting for a more sustainable future, your future.
 

Annalu minha filha amada,

Espero de coração que, no futuro, você possa olhar para trás e se orgulhar muito dos pais que teve.
View All Messages

Send Your Own Message