Tatum Eames

Crisis Crash Course

Tatum Eames Uncategorized May 1, 2020May 5, 2020climate change, COVID-19, crisis, disaster, emergency

The third blog in a series of 13 sharing art, articles, and abstract ideas that spark a contagious conversation.

A time of intense difficulty, heightened danger, or prolonged trouble- these are just a few indicators of a crisis. Right now, we are enduring not one, but two generation defining crises. Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic will transform society as we know it. But what exactly is a crisis? How is it different from a disaster, an emergency, or a dark period?

The term crisis comes from the Latinized form of the Greek word krisis, meaning “turning point in a disease.” At such a moment, the person with the disease could get better or worse: it’s a critical moment. It is the fork in the road, a decisive point or situation; a turning point. Both climate change and COVID-19 were made worse by early inaction. They became crises because leaders ignored that warning signs, refused proactive measures, and denied expert guidance. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explained how the result of early inaction in regards to COVID-19 likely parallels the results of our climate crisis inaction.

A crisis is any event that is going to lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, community, or whole society. Clearly, both of these sicknesses fit this criteria. Both of these sicknesses bring with them prolonged periods of uncertainty, they demand a complete transformation of norms, and they require quick dramatic action. It is because of these factors that COVID-19 and climate change are not simply emergencies or disasters. Let me know in the comments if you agree. Tell me how you define crisis, and if these sicknesses count.

For more information on what qualifies as a crisis, listen to Disasterology (DISASTERS) with Dr. Samantha Montano on the Ologies podcast at https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disasterology?rq=disasterology Check back on the blog next week for more COVID-19 and climate change updates.

Written by Tatum Eames, Western Washington University senior and Climate Justice Now intern.

To Protect One, We Must Protect the Other

Tatum Eames Uncategorized April 27, 2020May 5, 2020Earth Day

The second blog in a series of 13 sharing art, articles, and abstract ideas that spark a contagious conversation.

Cartoon by Dave Granlund. Featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer 4/23/2020.

As the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated digitally around the globe, millions connected for over 12 hours of online content reaffirming their love for this great blue marble we all call home. Without a doubt, Earth Day 2020 demonstrated that the call for environmental action provides unity, even in a time of uncertainty.

Earth Day 2020 and the Future Coalition featured a three day live streamed event: Day 1- Earth Day and climate justice, Day 2 – Stop the money pipeline and Day 3 – Get out the Vote for climate justice.

Perhaps the biggest successes of Wednesdays event came from former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who sent an urgent call for an end to the burning of fossil fuels. Pope Francis addressed his congregation by saying “Because of our selfishness, we have failed in our responsibility to be guardians and stewards of the Earth,” and many pledged to adopt plant based diets in the name of environmental protection. The tone of the day was hopeful, urgent, and unifying. It was certainly a day to be remembered.

Among all of the celebration, one thing remained clear: the coronavirus is still public enemy #1, and the reason for the altered Earth Day event. The tie between those two truths never loosened. And, according to a Harvard study released ealier this month, the tie could be more important than it seems.

New Dehli Capitol. Image on the left was taken on November 3rd, 2019. The image on the right was taken on March 30th, 2020. NICK UT/AP, GARY A. VASQUEZ/USA TODAY/REUTERS

Harvard biologists Xiao Wu and Rachel C. Nethery state that, “COVID-19 may kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans. The majority of the pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of death for COVID-19 are the same diseases that are affected by long-term exposure to air
pollution.” Their study found that an increase even a small increased exposure to air pollution is associated with a 15% increase in the COVID-19 death rate. In other words, small increase in long-term exposure to pollution leads to a large increase in COVID-19 death rate. This study and its results underscore the importance of continuing to enforce existing air pollution regulations to protect human health both during, and after, the COVID-19 crisis.

In order to protect each other from this virus, we must also protect the environment we live in.

Full link to Harvard Study can be found at: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/covidpm/files/pm_and_covid_mortality.pdf. A full recording of the live stream can be found at https://www.earthdaylive2020.org/#the-three-days and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceO4pCY_b4N76IpDSmP_2g.

For more information on COVID-19 and Climate Change, check back on the blog next week.

Written by Tatum Eames, Western Washington University Senior and Climate Justice Now Intern.

Earth Day Isn’t Cancelled

Tatum Eames COVID-19, Uncategorized April 21, 2020May 5, 2020Earth Day

The first blog in a series of 13 sharing art, articles, and abstract ideas that spark a contagious conversation.

Students at Nipher Junior High School on 4/22/1970 protesting against smog caused by automobiles. The demonstration was in connection with the observance of the first Earth Day. Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

Each year on the 22nd of April, people of all backgrounds, places, and spaces come together to celebrate the one thing that unifies us: Earth. The first Earth Day led 20 million people to flood streets and participate in teach-ins as the birth of the modern environmental movement took place. Fifty years later, Earth Day looks a little different. It’s relevancy, however, is sustained by a call to address the most crucial threat of our time – climate change. In 1970, this call was answered by a massive march, a new holiday, and sign making. Today, it is answered in digital action and creative problem solving.

Earth Day was born during the ’60s. Think civil rights, the Vietnam War and women’s liberation igniting pandemonium in the country, contrasting the submissive tone of the decade before. Born from a time of chaos and now being celebrated in another one, the last 50 years of Earth Days have seen it all. Now, the fight for a clean environment continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more and more apparent every day. On the celebration of the first ever Earth Day, activists wore face masks to protest the unhealthy air quality and pollution. Now, with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommending we all wear face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is hard not to draw parallels. The fights against the coronavirus and the climate crisis go hand-in-hand and as we work to flatten the curve of this pandemic, we must also strive toward the longer term goal of building a society rooted in sustainability and justice.

Children protest in New York City for the first Earth Day celebration in 1970. Image by Santi Visalli/Getty Images

Environmental activists were radical. They were loud, creative, gutsy-demanding action and gaining momentum quickly. Their methods paid off, and Earth Day helped set the agenda for some of the first national environmental legislation, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. The social and cultural environments we saw in 1970 are rising up again today — a fresh and frustrated generation of young people are refusing to settle for staleness and organizing by the millions. Digital platforms and social media are bringing these conversations, protests, strikes and mobilizations to a global audience, especially now, uniting a concerned citizenry as never before and energizing generations to join together to take on the greatest challenge that modern humankind has faced.

Cartoon by Paresh Nath. Nath is the chief cartoonist for India’s *National Herald*, and his cartoons are syndicated in the United States by Cagle Cartoons.

For many, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day serves as both a reminder of accomplishments since the 1970’s and what is left to be done. This year’s celebration may seem odd, irrelevant, or even lack luster, but now more than ever we must remember the origins of Earth Day. We must stand unified in the fight for a better future, and get creative in solving our biggest problems.

You can celebrate this year by participating in a three day Earth Day Live celebration. For a schedule of events, hosts, and activities visit https://www.earthdaylive2020.org/. For more history of Earth Day and a 24 hour 50th Anniversary Livestream Event, visit https://www.earthday.org/.

Written by Tatum Eames, Western Washington University Senior and Climate Justice Now Intern.