The Gray Greens

 I am a “Gray Green”. Or more accurately, I might refer to myself as a “Bald Green”. There is a growing movement among us “oldsters” to amp up our game in the fight to save the planet. It has started in earnest in London as the Grays, as they refer to themselves, are organizing and marching. Some have even been arrested in non-violent protests.

Their goal is to bring attention to the climate crisis and the lack of action by the British Government.

It is encouraging to see the grays still have some teeth. Or, at least, menacing dentures. The struggle to save the climate has been lead, in large part, by the young such as Greta Thunberg. Now, older concerned citizens are stepping up.

At a London Climate Rally organized by the Extinction Rebellion, Arnold Pease, a retired schoolteacher now 93 years old, joined the march occasionally taking a minute to rest on a folding chair carried by a fellow supporter.

The sign worn around the neck of another gray-haired man   said, “Arrested for caring about our world, our future, our children, and all creatures who still share our planet”.

Sometimes we think protests are for the young.  But the younger generation often have little or no money saved, are trying to build a nest egg for future children, and have careers to build and protect.

One elderly retired woman eloquently explained why she was there. She said by being retired and receiving a small pension she had both the time and security to show up. With less risk than the young, she felt it was her duty, so she joined the peaceful protest and was arrested.

Even though most Americans support aggressive climate action a majority in a democracy like ours is not enough to move meaningful legislation forward. Money wins elections and politicians bend to the will of those willing to fund those elections. Those with the deepest pockets, whose economic interests are threatened by transitioning to clean energy, are the fossil fuel companies. They spend millions to swing elections.

A great example is the Democratic Senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin, who promises to derail the current climate plan. Keith McCoy, a paid Exxon lobbyist, is on tape bragging about his connections with Senator Manchin and Exxon’s plan to derail climate legislation.

While voting for legislators who are not science ignorant and who have the moral backbone to pass economic incentives focused on modernizing our energy sources is essential, it will take more pressure by citizens to move government forward. Worldwide, climate organizations are ramping up their efforts.

In England, the Extinction Rebellion is the organization most of the older generations are gravitating to.

In the United States, Bill McKibben* the relentless climate warrior who founded 350.org in 2007, has spearheaded another effort to head off the climate emergency called, “Third Act” which is an effort to mobilize those of us graying and thinning.

I have played sports my whole life. Many of the teams I joined won. Some teams lost more contests than were won. I have never felt losing to be a personal defeat. In my mind, the only way to be personally defeated was to fail to lace up the skates, the boots, or the spikes. In other words, failing to show.

Bill McKibben is Author, Educator, Environmentalist and founder of http://350.org and http://ThirdAct.org. http://billmckibben.substack.com

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