Climate Justice Now! How? | Jill MacIntyre Witt | TEDxVail

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[Applause] I said yes 30 years ago and in the next

I said yes 30 years ago and in the next

I said yes 30 years ago and in the next nine minutes

nine minutes

nine minutes my hope is you’ll say yes to climate

my hope is you’ll say yes to climate

my hope is you’ll say yes to climate change is not just an environmental

change is not just an environmental

change is not just an environmental issue instead of letting the climate

issue instead of letting the climate

issue instead of letting the climate crisis freak you out

crisis freak you out

crisis freak you out grab a hold of this moment this is the

grab a hold of this moment this is the

grab a hold of this moment this is the most extraordinary time to be alive we

most extraordinary time to be alive we

most extraordinary time to be alive we are writing the history books about

are writing the history books about

are writing the history books about humanity’s survival children a hundred

humanity’s survival children a hundred

humanity’s survival children a hundred years from now we’ll be reading about

years from now we’ll be reading about

years from now we’ll be reading about those of us who stood up to the powers

those of us who stood up to the powers

those of us who stood up to the powers that be who turned over the pages of the

that be who turned over the pages of the

that be who turned over the pages of the Industrial Revolution and moved us to a

Industrial Revolution and moved us to a

Industrial Revolution and moved us to a clean energy shared economy overturning

clean energy shared economy overturning

clean energy shared economy overturning systems of patriarchy capitalism and

systems of patriarchy capitalism and

systems of patriarchy capitalism and racism yes these systems stall our

racism yes these systems stall our

racism yes these systems stall our progress and frankly large-scale change

progress and frankly large-scale change

progress and frankly large-scale change is what is needed and the call for

is what is needed and the call for

is what is needed and the call for climate justice now requires much bolder

climate justice now requires much bolder

climate justice now requires much bolder and swifter action my activism began

and swifter action my activism began

and swifter action my activism began thirty years ago as an exchange student

thirty years ago as an exchange student

thirty years ago as an exchange student in Australia when I learned about in

in Australia when I learned about in

in Australia when I learned about in Justices to the Aboriginal people I

Justices to the Aboriginal people I

Justices to the Aboriginal people I heard their call to love and protect

heard their call to love and protect

heard their call to love and protect this earth well I fell in love with the

this earth well I fell in love with the

this earth well I fell in love with the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef I made a collection of algae for my

I made a collection of algae for my

I made a collection of algae for my university’s herbarium should something

university’s herbarium should something

university’s herbarium should something ever happen to the reef little did I

ever happen to the reef little did I

ever happen to the reef little did I know that it would go from this to this

know that it would go from this to this

know that it would go from this to this in my lifetime one of my professors back

in my lifetime one of my professors back

in my lifetime one of my professors back then told us that the population would

then told us that the population would

then told us that the population would double to 6 billion people in 25 years

double to 6 billion people in 25 years

double to 6 billion people in 25 years and I thought to myself how does he know

and I thought to myself how does he know

and I thought to myself how does he know who will have babies and how many well

who will have babies and how many well

who will have babies and how many well he was right he left us with big

he was right he left us with big

he was right he left us with big questions like how are we going to feed

questions like how are we going to feed

questions like how are we going to feed everyone and what if everyone in the

everyone and what if everyone in the

everyone and what if everyone in the world wanted washers and dryers and when

world wanted washers and dryers and when

world wanted washers and dryers and when he told us that it took around 600

he told us that it took around 600

he told us that it took around 600 gallons of water to make a hamburger I

gallons of water to make a hamburger I

gallons of water to make a hamburger I had to stop eating beef right then right

had to stop eating beef right then right

had to stop eating beef right then right there

my life took another turn the day I saw

my life took another turn the day I saw the film and Inconvenient Truth who saw

the film and Inconvenient Truth who saw

the film and Inconvenient Truth who saw that film yeah well in the end you may

that film yeah well in the end you may

that film yeah well in the end you may remember the Al Gore said if future

remember the Al Gore said if future

remember the Al Gore said if future generations could talk to us they would

generations could talk to us they would

generations could talk to us they would be asking us what were you thinking and

be asking us what were you thinking and

be asking us what were you thinking and why didn’t you do anything when you had

why didn’t you do anything when you had

why didn’t you do anything when you had the chance I have never cried so hard in

the chance I have never cried so hard in

the chance I have never cried so hard in my life because I didn’t want my two

my life because I didn’t want my two

my life because I didn’t want my two daughters asking me those questions and

daughters asking me those questions and

daughters asking me those questions and I committed in that moment to do

I committed in that moment to do

I committed in that moment to do everything I could and to move others to

everything I could and to move others to

everything I could and to move others to act as well think of a time your life

act as well think of a time your life

act as well think of a time your life changed because of something you saw or

changed because of something you saw or

changed because of something you saw or learned when I learned entire countries

learned when I learned entire countries

learned when I learned entire countries were banning plastic bags I had to do

were banning plastic bags I had to do

were banning plastic bags I had to do the same in my community to connect

the same in my community to connect

the same in my community to connect people to their carbon footprint through

people to their carbon footprint through

people to their carbon footprint through their single-use plastic pollution and

their single-use plastic pollution and

their single-use plastic pollution and while yes

while yes

while yes the fossil fuel industry and how to

the fossil fuel industry and how to

the fossil fuel industry and how to stand up and demand greater change

stand up and demand greater change

stand up and demand greater change here’s an example my community stopped

here’s an example my community stopped

here’s an example my community stopped North America’s largest proposed coal

North America’s largest proposed coal

North America’s largest proposed coal export terminal in Northwest Washington

export terminal in Northwest Washington

export terminal in Northwest Washington yeah many grassroots efforts sprouted I

yeah many grassroots efforts sprouted I

yeah many grassroots efforts sprouted I started 350 Bellingham to connect the

started 350 Bellingham to connect the

started 350 Bellingham to connect the carbon footprint of shipping coal to

carbon footprint of shipping coal to

carbon footprint of shipping coal to Asia to burn because it was clearly a

Asia to burn because it was clearly a

Asia to burn because it was clearly a bad idea but it wasn’t until our local

bad idea but it wasn’t until our local

bad idea but it wasn’t until our local indigenous neighbors the Lummi Nation

indigenous neighbors the Lummi Nation

indigenous neighbors the Lummi Nation burned a symbolic check to show they

burned a symbolic check to show they

burned a symbolic check to show they wouldn’t be bought that we felt we stood

wouldn’t be bought that we felt we stood

wouldn’t be bought that we felt we stood a chance and it was featured on the

a chance and it was featured on the

a chance and it was featured on the front page of the New York Times the

front page of the New York Times the

front page of the New York Times the community spoke up the Lummi defended

community spoke up the Lummi defended

community spoke up the Lummi defended their fishing rights and together we won

their fishing rights and together we won

their fishing rights and together we won and we celebrated and after this

and we celebrated and after this

and we celebrated and after this five-year battle the bonds between our

five-year battle the bonds between our

five-year battle the bonds between our neighbors and the place we protected our

neighbors and the place we protected our

neighbors and the place we protected our strained beyond measure and globally

strained beyond measure and globally

strained beyond measure and globally people are rising up everywhere and the

people are rising up everywhere and the

people are rising up everywhere and the page in the history books that will

page in the history books that will

page in the history books that will stand out as our turning point was the

stand out as our turning point was the

stand out as our turning point was the moment in Paris when 195 countries

moment in Paris when 195 countries

moment in Paris when 195 countries agreed to take collective action on

agreed to take collective action on

agreed to take collective action on climate change yes you can

climate change yes you can

climate change yes you can yeah this is huge this is huge yet the

yeah this is huge this is huge yet the

yeah this is huge this is huge yet the government’s commitments aren’t strong

government’s commitments aren’t strong

government’s commitments aren’t strong enough and I recently went back to

enough and I recently went back to

enough and I recently went back to school to figure out how can we move

school to figure out how can we move

school to figure out how can we move even more people to act and build the

even more people to act and build the

even more people to act and build the climate justice movement to urge our

climate justice movement to urge our

climate justice movement to urge our governments to take bolder action

governments to take bolder action

governments to take bolder action I found out in an extensive study of

I found out in an extensive study of

I found out in an extensive study of over 300 social movements that it only

over 300 social movements that it only

over 300 social movements that it only takes three and a half percent of the

takes three and a half percent of the

takes three and a half percent of the population actively involved for a

population actively involved for a

population actively involved for a social movement to be successful so in a

social movement to be successful so in a

social movement to be successful so in a community of 10,000 do the math that’s

community of 10,000 do the math that’s

community of 10,000 do the math that’s only 350 people this three and a half

only 350 people this three and a half

only 350 people this three and a half percent

percent

percent creates a momentous force that shifts

creates a momentous force that shifts

creates a momentous force that shifts people’s thinking

people’s thinking

people’s thinking climate justice the term first appeared

climate justice the term first appeared

climate justice the term first appeared in a 1999 court watch report defining

in a 1999 court watch report defining

in a 1999 court watch report defining climate change as a human rights issue

climate change as a human rights issue

climate change as a human rights issue and ten years ago citizens called for

and ten years ago citizens called for

and ten years ago citizens called for system change not climate change shaping

system change not climate change shaping

system change not climate change shaping the narrative that systemic change is

the narrative that systemic change is

the narrative that systemic change is necessary climate justice frames the

necessary climate justice frames the

necessary climate justice frames the climate crisis as a moral call to act by

climate crisis as a moral call to act by

climate crisis as a moral call to act by addressing issues of equality human

addressing issues of equality human

addressing issues of equality human rights collective rights and historical

rights collective rights and historical

rights collective rights and historical responsibilities for change while our

responsibilities for change while our

responsibilities for change while our government is the only one that is

government is the only one that is

government is the only one that is withdrawn from the Paris agreement this

withdrawn from the Paris agreement this

withdrawn from the Paris agreement this is why we must join the call for global

is why we must join the call for global

is why we must join the call for global climate justice now and push for local

climate justice now and push for local

climate justice now and push for local and state level action and yes many

and state level action and yes many

and state level action and yes many cities are committing to 100 percent

cities are committing to 100 percent

cities are committing to 100 percent renewable or fossil free even as I speak

renewable or fossil free even as I speak

renewable or fossil free even as I speak we must also transition together while

we must also transition together while

we must also transition together while listening to and working with the

listening to and working with the

listening to and working with the leadership of people of color and

leadership of people of color and

leadership of people of color and indigenous and marginalized communities

indigenous and marginalized communities

indigenous and marginalized communities Yakima tribal chair Jody Gowdy says it

Yakima tribal chair Jody Gowdy says it

Yakima tribal chair Jody Gowdy says it best we have the mind the heart and the

best we have the mind the heart and the

best we have the mind the heart and the spirit at this point in time to change

spirit at this point in time to change

spirit at this point in time to change the future so that indeed our future

the future so that indeed our future

the future so that indeed our future generations will be able to experience

generations will be able to experience

generations will be able to experience what you and I and our ancestors have

what you and I and our ancestors have

what you and I and our ancestors have right now 21 young people are assuming

right now 21 young people are assuming

right now 21 young people are assuming our federal government for inadequate

our federal government for inadequate

our federal government for inadequate protection of their future and their

protection of their future and their

protection of their future and their cases

cases

cases successfully moving through the courts

successfully moving through the courts

successfully moving through the courts if these kids are doing what they can do

if these kids are doing what they can do

if these kids are doing what they can do what can we do there are countless ways

what can we do there are countless ways

what can we do there are countless ways to engage in the climate justice

to engage in the climate justice

to engage in the climate justice movement in my region we mobilized in

movement in my region we mobilized in

movement in my region we mobilized in kayaks and help stop shale oil from

kayaks and help stop shale oil from

kayaks and help stop shale oil from drilling in the Arctic and we want ya my

drilling in the Arctic and we want ya my

drilling in the Arctic and we want ya my friend here was moved to act because of

friend here was moved to act because of

friend here was moved to act because of his love to protect the ocean but who’s

his love to protect the ocean but who’s

his love to protect the ocean but who’s protecting who in this picture the

protecting who in this picture the

protecting who in this picture the police need to protect the citizens not

police need to protect the citizens not

police need to protect the citizens not corporations and as we saw in Standing

corporations and as we saw in Standing

corporations and as we saw in Standing Rock peaceful water protectors helped

Rock peaceful water protectors helped

Rock peaceful water protectors helped everyone around the world learn that

everyone around the world learn that

everyone around the world learn that water is life and must be protected this

water is life and must be protected this

water is life and must be protected this is it each and every one of us

is it each and every one of us

is it each and every one of us personally contributes to this crisis

personally contributes to this crisis

personally contributes to this crisis which is why each and every one of us

which is why each and every one of us

which is why each and every one of us must personally respond so what will you

must personally respond so what will you

must personally respond so what will you say yes to get engaged in any of the

say yes to get engaged in any of the

say yes to get engaged in any of the justice issues because climate justice

justice issues because climate justice

justice issues because climate justice is the intersectionality of social

is the intersectionality of social

is the intersectionality of social racial economic and environmental

racial economic and environmental

racial economic and environmental struggles yes they intersect and our

struggles yes they intersect and our

struggles yes they intersect and our collective actions tilt the balance of

collective actions tilt the balance of

collective actions tilt the balance of power exercise your privilege

power exercise your privilege

power exercise your privilege be willing to stand in solidarity with

be willing to stand in solidarity with

be willing to stand in solidarity with nonviolent direct action even if this

nonviolent direct action even if this

nonviolent direct action even if this means risking arrest yes the protected

means risking arrest yes the protected

means risking arrest yes the protected must start protecting as we saw when the

must start protecting as we saw when the

must start protecting as we saw when the veterans showed up to protect the

veterans showed up to protect the

veterans showed up to protect the indigenous at Standing Rock it is

indigenous at Standing Rock it is

indigenous at Standing Rock it is critical that we show up and be counted

critical that we show up and be counted

critical that we show up and be counted and stand up and speak out all the

and stand up and speak out all the

and stand up and speak out all the marches sit-ins standing up to climate

marches sit-ins standing up to climate

marches sit-ins standing up to climate denial and for what is right is in our

denial and for what is right is in our

denial and for what is right is in our hands

hands

hands share your passion with others who is

share your passion with others who is

share your passion with others who is the first person you can think of that

the first person you can think of that

the first person you can think of that you want to join you because we’re

you want to join you because we’re

you want to join you because we’re building a movement right who’s yeah to

building a movement right who’s yeah to

building a movement right who’s yeah to help you in your efforts

help you in your efforts

help you in your efforts I made a climate justice field manual

I made a climate justice field manual

I made a climate justice field manual it’s full of tips and resources it’s a

it’s full of tips and resources it’s a

it’s full of tips and resources it’s a free download too

free download too

free download too we build a movement how each and every

we build a movement how each and every

we build a movement how each and every one of us can be a part before I finish

one of us can be a part before I finish

one of us can be a part before I finish I want to leave you with four actions

I want to leave you with four actions

I want to leave you with four actions that you can say yes to now first divest

that you can say yes to now first divest

that you can say yes to now first divest from fossil fuels and urge institutions

from fossil fuels and urge institutions

from fossil fuels and urge institutions to do the same yes because if it’s wrong

to do the same yes because if it’s wrong

to do the same yes because if it’s wrong direct the planet then it’s simply wrong

direct the planet then it’s simply wrong

direct the planet then it’s simply wrong to profit from the wreckage right to be

to profit from the wreckage right to be

to profit from the wreckage right to be a conscientious consumer donate to your

a conscientious consumer donate to your

a conscientious consumer donate to your favorite causes and of course vote for

favorite causes and of course vote for

favorite causes and of course vote for the climate 3d eat a plant-based diet

the climate 3d eat a plant-based diet

the climate 3d eat a plant-based diet support your local farmers and lower

support your local farmers and lower

support your local farmers and lower your carbon footprint and lastly pick

your carbon footprint and lastly pick

your carbon footprint and lastly pick your cause or causes and get involved in

your cause or causes and get involved in

your cause or causes and get involved in your community right away know in your

your community right away know in your

your community right away know in your heart what moves you to act because this

heart what moves you to act because this

heart what moves you to act because this is for life the climate justice field

is for life the climate justice field

is for life the climate justice field manual will give you many ideas on how

manual will give you many ideas on how

manual will give you many ideas on how to engage in move others to act too now

to engage in move others to act too now

to engage in move others to act too now it’s time to say yes and use your skills

it’s time to say yes and use your skills

it’s time to say yes and use your skills resources influence and your passion

resources influence and your passion

resources influence and your passion because we have a shared responsibility

because we have a shared responsibility

because we have a shared responsibility to act and protect with justice as our

to act and protect with justice as our

to act and protect with justice as our moral compass now if you’re willing and

moral compass now if you’re willing and

moral compass now if you’re willing and able please stand up and be counted and

able please stand up and be counted and

able please stand up and be counted and let’s say yes together because we need

let’s say yes together because we need

let’s say yes together because we need everyone everywhere

everyone everywhere

everyone everywhere and technology we need everyone

and technology we need everyone

and technology we need everyone everywhere in the technology doing

everywhere in the technology doing

everywhere in the technology doing everything all the time as quickly as

everything all the time as quickly as

everything all the time as quickly as possible can I get a yes thank you

possible can I get a yes thank you

possible can I get a yes thank you [Applause]

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