Member-only story
And what to do right after reading it
In December 2019, I had an operation and two parts of my heart were replaced. The operation went well but then some complications developed. I spent a whole day unconscious on a ventilator before the problem was fixed.
Nonetheless, here I am. I’m a lucky guy.
I was concerned — very concerned — about the climate and the future before that operation. But having my chest sliced open reminded me that my time is limited. Some of what I had done before made sense. Attending climate protests was a good thing. So is not owning a car and walking everywhere. I certainly didn’t do everything perfect. For example, I sometimes take trips on airplanes. And living in a house in the United States in the 21st century, I burn fossil fuels.
The question before me was: what will I do with my time left? It may be short, it may be long but I’m older and I have no way of knowing what fate holds for me. Like every other human being on the planet.
What can I do that would make a difference for the young people, for future generations and for the Earth? The answer is — I can’t do much. But WE, that is a large number of people properly motivated and directed — COULD. And this group could start small and grow as their visibility increases and…
