Climate change is the most important issue of our time, no matter what generation we are in! As a boomer, I feel guilty for what my generation is bequeathing . . . but my youngest son, with Bill McKibben and others, helped found 350.org, a climate change organization, so at least indirectly I have helped. My son and I also got arrested protesting a pipeline: a great bonding experience!
It's also important to be aware that the fossil fuel industry has created a narrative intended to shift blame for the crisis on individuals (I believe it was BP who invented the term carbon footprint). So .... while cutting down on meat, driving an electric car, composting etc is helpful ... there are systemic actions equally important to take, including powering the global movement to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its denialism, greenwashing, and outright lies that have us swimming in this mess! Find orgs you think are doing good work, take action with them, fund them ... particularly organizations led by frontline communities and geared towards advancing climate justice. Thanks Eleanor for this!!! Love from across the pond .... Melissa
they don't mind second-hand because all their favourite platforms are jumping on 're-sale' trend, which is good, without a doubt - but credit here has to go to previous generations who 'pioneered it' .)
It does us all good to be properly educated about environmental effect of the clothes we wear, but I would also add that we need to focus on natural fibres - buying wool, as opposed to cashmere, is becoming trickier, while synthetics are more & more widely available.
And I couldn't agree more with you that young need to experiment with life and fashion and beauty, like we did. I just think that while we support them, we also need to pass our life experience and knowledge, rather than generations being pinned against each other. It seems that older generations are increasingly blamed for all the shortcomings, while not being given enough credit for wisdom they do indeed process and pass on. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your reply Tiffanie
Well said Eleanor and some great actions here, about switching suppliers and pensions etc. Ultimately we all need to move through the world in a less impactful way. Walk and cycle, buy only what we need, dial back the consumerism. Weirdly, in my tiny 4month experiment Im finding the whole experience so much more enjoyable. Bye bye consumer age, your time is done. Looking forward to wednesday immensely!
In some ways I find it unjust that all the blame for environmental damage has been laid at the door of the older generations - our grandmothers and mothers had to be thrifty with clothes, making them from magazine patters and 'pioneering' secondhand/vintage stores. There is loyalty to products and brands, when younger generations, fuelled by social media, hardly have loyalty and move with a speed of light from one skincare marvel to another, relying on marketing pitches rather than substantiated claims. Yes, we are responsible for overproduction and damage to nature, but younger generations have plenty of their own shortcomings in that respect too
The Queenager: what do we owe future generations? Earth Day special
Climate change is the most important issue of our time, no matter what generation we are in! As a boomer, I feel guilty for what my generation is bequeathing . . . but my youngest son, with Bill McKibben and others, helped found 350.org, a climate change organization, so at least indirectly I have helped. My son and I also got arrested protesting a pipeline: a great bonding experience!
It's also important to be aware that the fossil fuel industry has created a narrative intended to shift blame for the crisis on individuals (I believe it was BP who invented the term carbon footprint). So .... while cutting down on meat, driving an electric car, composting etc is helpful ... there are systemic actions equally important to take, including powering the global movement to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its denialism, greenwashing, and outright lies that have us swimming in this mess! Find orgs you think are doing good work, take action with them, fund them ... particularly organizations led by frontline communities and geared towards advancing climate justice. Thanks Eleanor for this!!! Love from across the pond .... Melissa
they don't mind second-hand because all their favourite platforms are jumping on 're-sale' trend, which is good, without a doubt - but credit here has to go to previous generations who 'pioneered it' .)
It does us all good to be properly educated about environmental effect of the clothes we wear, but I would also add that we need to focus on natural fibres - buying wool, as opposed to cashmere, is becoming trickier, while synthetics are more & more widely available.
And I couldn't agree more with you that young need to experiment with life and fashion and beauty, like we did. I just think that while we support them, we also need to pass our life experience and knowledge, rather than generations being pinned against each other. It seems that older generations are increasingly blamed for all the shortcomings, while not being given enough credit for wisdom they do indeed process and pass on. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your reply Tiffanie
Well said Eleanor and some great actions here, about switching suppliers and pensions etc. Ultimately we all need to move through the world in a less impactful way. Walk and cycle, buy only what we need, dial back the consumerism. Weirdly, in my tiny 4month experiment Im finding the whole experience so much more enjoyable. Bye bye consumer age, your time is done. Looking forward to wednesday immensely!
In some ways I find it unjust that all the blame for environmental damage has been laid at the door of the older generations - our grandmothers and mothers had to be thrifty with clothes, making them from magazine patters and 'pioneering' secondhand/vintage stores. There is loyalty to products and brands, when younger generations, fuelled by social media, hardly have loyalty and move with a speed of light from one skincare marvel to another, relying on marketing pitches rather than substantiated claims. Yes, we are responsible for overproduction and damage to nature, but younger generations have plenty of their own shortcomings in that respect too