Eco Active Families |

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Why Families Must Embrace Eco Activism Immediately

Who do we love more than our kids? Who could lay claim to our hearts the way our beloved children do, even as they try our patience?

If your children’s lives were in danger, wouldn’t you leap tall buildings, run into a flaming house, brave drowning or being run over by a car to save them?

I imagine you would. Family is all about love. Love is about caring. And when we care, we take action to protect those we love. We step up and make a difference.

Young couple holding two young kids against a background ot trees and sky, with text underneath asking, "It’s their world. Let’s engage them in actively caring for it. Family Eco Activism!"

Right now, our world needs us to step up and make a difference. Each and every one of us, in whatever small and not-so-small ways we can imagine. As the news spotlight moves from issue to issue, from bullying to sexism to racism to human trafficking to—you name it, we’re confronted with enough issues to make our heads swim.

An individual wears a full-head gas mask against a fiery backdrop. The text says, “Climate Change plus Nuclear Waste Leaks, Let’s Avoid the Double Whammy.”

The Two Greatest Threats of Our Times, Other than War

Other than the threat of war, the two issues most threatening to our childrens’ lives (and our own) are Climate Change and the ongoing mismanagement of Nuclear Waste. These two mega-issues put us all in greater danger than mankind has ever known, threatening to obliterate most, if not all, life on Earth within a few generations—unless we take active steps to change that.

A tsunami evacuation sign partially obstructed by a concrete wall with a "NO" sign on it, and text that says, "You can't build a wall against climate change."

Climate Change News and Global Warming Facts

There are those who call global warming a hoax, among them some Southern Baptists and the most evangelical Protestant Christian sects. But the scientific evidence is clear. Others say the climate change news is real, a natural cycle, not the result of human activity, but again, the evidence makes a strong statement to the contrary.

Some conservative Christian groups claim environmentalism is the enemy of God. Still others come up with multitudes of explanations for climate change that absolve humanity of responsibility. Yet the scientific evidence against all of them is strong.

Time is short. In September of 2019, UN biodiversity experts issued a strong statement to the effect that nearly a million species risk extinction within decades, “while current efforts to conserve earth’s resources will likely fail without radical action.” Unless we step up and demand real solutions, all the other issues and challenges we face will soon be moot.

The point is not to panic, but rather to come together as a family and take constructive action.

A picture of a boiling pot with a frog and a human staring out over the top. The frog says, “Hmm, it’s getting mighty hot in here.” The human replies, “Nah, I hear global warming is a hoax.”

Your kids and mine, not to mention any offspring they may produce, will suffer immensely.

Is there still time to turn things around? The Paris Accord set 2030 as the date by which we must take the necessary steps to guarantee a maximum global temperature increase of 1.5-degree Centigrade. We’re already at one degree. The odds of keeping it to 1.5 degrees are short. Having been put on notice that “current efforts to conserve earth’s resources will likely fail without radical action,” we must increase the effort.

Nuclear Waste Mismanagement

Nuclear waste is grossly mismanaged all across the United States. Unlike most of the other countries of the world, we store nearly all our radioactive waste in cooling pools until it’s cool enough to be moved into stainless steel containers. Those containers are so thin they must be welded shut, thus they cannot be opened, inspected or repaired.

A picture of Einstein in upper left corner, with text that says, “The splitting of the atom has changed everything, and therefore we drift toward unparalleled catastrophe. The solution lies in the heart of mankind. If I had only known, I would have become a watchmaker.”

Where do we store those cans? From Maine’s Yankee Nuclear Power Plant to California’s San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, they’re all stored next to a lake, a river, or an ocean beach.

Why? Because the cooling pools (in which the waste was stored before it was transferred into the cans) require a constant source of cold water. And once the waste is transferred into the cans and the cans are welded shut, they can’t be opened for inspection—and, for safety reasons, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires inspection prior to transporting the cans away from their point of origin. So the cans remain there, close to the water.

What’s wrong with this arrangement? Water is a powerful erosive agent. 

Everyone cries out for the waste to be moved away from the water, bemoaning the fact that so far, the federal government has not found a satisfactory location for a central nuclear waste dump. Yucca Mountain in Nevada was supposed to be it, but Nevada’s citizens don’t want it in their backyard.

Yet that is a moot point, since by law the uninspectable canisters cannot be moved to Yucca Mountain or any other such location.

The image title reads, “Great cage for a rabid dog! For nuclear waste? Not so good.” On the right is the image of a thin-walled nuclear waste canister with a grid over the opening. To the left, under the question “What’s wrong with this picture?” are seven bullet points, as follows: “#1, Each can equals one Chernobyl, waiting to happen. #2, Used at most US nuclear plants. #3, Cannot be inspected or repaired. #4, Can crack or leak in the short term. #5, Susceptible to water damage. #6, Stored next to large bodies of water. #7, Cannot be legally or safely moved away.” Across the bottom are the words, “Solution: Replace with thick-walled casks.”

There is a simple solution: Replace those cans with the thick-walled casks used my most other countries, where greed isn’t always the deciding factor.

It’s not a forever solution, but it will buy us time. Holtec International, the company that makes the dry-storage canisters used at nearly all US nuclear waste stations, also makes the much-thicker-walled casks. The only reason we don’t use them, says Charles Langley, Director of PublicWatchdogs.org, is that the utility companies are pleasing their shareholders by buying the cheaper, thin-walled cans.

Follow the money!

It’s Up to Us

If we want the powers that be (the utility companies and/or our federal government) to invest in thick-walled casks, we are going to have to turn up the fire under them.

And once the casks are purchased, it will be up to us to make sure the waste gets transferred into them!

President Trump isn’t going to force the issue for us, nor is he likely to take any positive steps on the climate change front. Just the opposite, in fact. He has rejected the Paris Accord, he’s encouraging fracking and coal mining at all costs, he’s doing everything he can to destroy the solar industry, he’s calling on the Bureau of Land Management to end the moratorium on leasing public lands out for coal mining, and more.

And since corporations are constrained by law(!) to favor their shareholders over the public good, we can’t expect help from them, either. 

In the absence of governmental or corporate leadership or even cooperation, and knowing that millions of Americans still consider climate change a hoax, what conclusion is a thinking person to draw?

Large red heart with Activist Family logo showing a tree, the ocean, and a family, with the words "Saving the planet, it's up to us."

Only one: that keeping Earth a safe habitat for living things is up to us, those who understand the threat and who care. It’s up to You and Me. And our kids, since they’re the ones who will be most affected.

Can we do it?

To quote Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

One thing we know for sure: If we fail to make the effort, our chances of success are Z-e-r–o. Throwing up our hands in despair and anticipation of defeat would be our worst possible choice. If you don’t know where to start, you’ll find lots of ideas here and here.

An eight-year-old girl sits on the shoulders of adult demonstrators in a protest march, holding a poster that says “We need to understand.” The image caption reads, “Family Activism can be a powerful agent of change.”

Why Families? Why Involve Our Kids?

Why turn to the family to make the difference? Because the family is the core of American society, the haven in which values are formed and nurtured.

The American lifestyle is putting our kids’ and our grandkids’ futures at risk. Unless we take visible and effective steps to change that, our kids will soon be blaming us for contributing to the death of their world. And they won’t be wrong.

What they may not want to consider, however, is that they too have enjoyed the fruits of this lifestyle.

To make lasting change, we must involve our children, make them aware that they share in the responsibility, prepare them to be action takers for life. Show them by example, yes, but also by getting them actively involved.

And they will want to be involved. Action is power! And kids love power. So why not raise them to be powerful contributors to a new, sustainable lifestyle? They’ve gotten a taste of it watching Greta Thunberg holding her own at the UN. What a role model for courage! 

Now, let’s inspire them not only to speak out and be heard, but to take action to be more climate-conscious in their own lives, to inspire others, and to make it impossible for corporations and governments to continue with business as usual.

4 Steps to eco-empower your family. #1, Learn by reading independent news sources. #2, Talk to your kids about climate change and nuclear waste. #3, Celebrate Teamwork. #4, Join with other activist families for greater impact.”

Vital Steps Parents Should Consider Taking

That’s why it’s vital that we include them in our activism. We have the opportunity to:

  • Get informed. Harken to the saying, “Follow the money.” Where there is evil, there is a payoff. We must seek out the real motives behind the messages we’re being fed. To do that, we can support and subscribe to non-advertising-funded news sources, where the news hasn’t been edited to suit the moneymen.
  • Invite our kids to discuss the scary issues with us. If we take a deep breath and ask them what they know, ask them how they feel about it, we may be amazed!. We can suggest topics for investigation. It won’t work to soft-pedal the issues; kids are good at recognizing blarney. They may know more than we do, so we should be prepared to learn from them, too.
  • Protect our kids against depression and resentment by empowering them with the only truly viable antidote, other than prayer: Action.
  • Strengthen our family bonds by working (and praying, if that’s your way) together to raise awareness and demand solutions. In many cases, the solutions are available—the only impediments to implementing them are habit and resistance to change.
  • Join with other families to have a bigger impact than one family could hope to have.
  • Give our children a working sense of the importance of teamwork and the results that can be achieved by working together.

The logo on a landscaping company trailer showing only half a tree, with words in large type asking, “Could your family have fun pointing out the ramifications of this obscene company logo? What a way to create a “bright view”!”

Family Activism Can Be Fun!

If we try to impose activism on our children, they will resent it and we will have defeated the goal of preparing them for a lifetime of responsible citizenship. Instead, we can choose projects that let us have fun with our kids! Like:

  • Making signs together and then carrying them in marches. Guaranteed, the little girl in this picture had a great time making her sign. And she enjoyed the march, too!
  • Writing activist songs and singing them together in viral videos on the Internet.
  • Writing Letters to the Editor together—Write individual letters and combine the best parts. Imagine your children’s pride when they see their letters in print!
  • Attending City Council meetings together and standing up for the issues we’ve agreed in advance are important. This is a wonderful way to teach kids about local civic responsibility. Imagine the wonderful discussions you can have on the way home!
  • Buying or building bird houses or bird feeders and installing them in your yard. This can be an exciting project, made even more delightful as the birds congregate and entertain you with their antics. Many birds are endangered, and providing them proper food can help to preserve threatened species. Brits have had wonderful successes with this.

A large barn owl box, a small bird feeder and a small screened box filled with dryer lint that birds can peck out to use in building their nests. The words say, “Family Project, Helping displaced birds find a home.”

Owl box (top), wire mesh box of dryer lint for nest building (lower left) and small birdhouse with liftable wall for easy cleaning, all made by Ray Collier of Vista, CA, 760-505-0281, email visnav@sbcglobal.net.

  • Creating online audio or video podcasts or a blog together to show people what they can do about rainforest destruction. Educational family projects like this can have a big impact on readers and viewers as they help save valuable rainforests.
  • Setting your kids to work on the Internet researching plant-based alternatives to plastic wrap and paper towels. Then buy and try. Many are excellent!

These are just of few of the many available options for getting your family involved in making a meaningful difference in the climate change crisis.

It is our duty as loving parents to make sure we don’t pass the illness that has led us into this deplorable situation on to our children! Join us in taking action today, as families who care about our children’s and grandchildren’s future.

To your success with family activism,
Chiwah Slater
Founder, ecoactive101.com
Founder, https://AWriteToKnow.com
Founder, https://PetWrites.com

Eco Active Families |

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Family Spotlight On Global Warming

Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

At What Age Should You Introduce Eco-Friendly Living?

Shouldn’t a child learn how to live in tune with nature from birth? Why wouldn’t you take your babies outdoors often, lie together on the grass, take them to visit gardens, the ocean or a river or lake, lie out with them on summer evenings looking up at the stars? Babies can feel nature’s loving vibrations, and exposing them to her wonders sets an eco friendly tone for their lives.

A young married couple and their infant are pictured in the center of a colorful globe, with yellow and red flowers growing all around them. The text says, “Never too young to learn how to love nature!”

As your children grow, there are so many ways you can help them fall in love with nature and learn to take care of the life around us.

Of course, you can only teach them the things you know, and you want to be prepared for their questions to avoid giving out misinformation. In what follows, I am including numerous links to reader-friendly information you can access to prepare you for a variety of different eco conversations with your children.

Introducing Toddlers to Nature

Have you ever watched a toddler at a petting zoo? You have to supervise them closely, but oh, what a joy to watch them in their precious first experiences with goats and sheep!

If you have a pet at home, your wee ones can begin to take part in feeding and learn about the importance of keeping water available.

We see a young girl with peaceful eyes resting her chin and one arm on a picnic table while holding a live rabbit in the other arm. The text says, “Kids and pets fit together like—well, like kids and pets! There’s simply nothing comparable.”

As Your Children Grow

As your children grow, it’s important to spend time with them out of doors. As opportunities arise, you might begin to explain how nature works, one thing feeding another; for example, what is carbon dioxide? And the carbon-dioxide-oxygen cycle.

Start by making them aware of their own breathing; this gives them a reference point for talking about how plants and animals absorb different invisible elements from the air, how the plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen through their leaves, and how animals, including we humans, breathe in the oxygen made by the plants and breathe out carbon dioxide, in a continual dance of give and take with the plant kingdom.

A birdhouse or bird feeder is a wonderful generator of heartfelt connection with other species. You might buy one and put it up in your backyard, or if you and your kids are up to it, you could Google “how to build a birdhouse,” get birdhouse plans and build one together. In some areas, a squirrel proof bird feeder would be appropriate. Getting a bird feeder or a birdhouse is a great opportunity to discuss what kinds of food birds should eat. Emphasize the importance of feeding seeds, not bread, to keep the birds healthy.

A bright red cardinal perches on side of a bird feeder holding a seed in his mouth, with a sparrow sitting on either side of him. The text, set against a bright red background, reads, “You just never know who’ll show up next!”

As time passes and different birds pass through and visit your feeder, talk to your youngsters about bird species and why they migrate.

Point out the different birds, and engage your kids in looking for new species to arrive. You might plan with them ways to make your backyard more bird friendly, to attract more lovely songsters.

Together you can set up a garden design project, giving each child small tasks they can perform to help move the process along.

Another approach involves taking your children to the beach or to a nearby river, stream or lake and look for water life together. Point out different species as you spot them, and sit together and watch them as they go about their daily activities. You might gently brush on the topic of the most endangered species, but instead of dwelling on the negative (so painful for young children), turn the conversation to something positive, such as the importance of keeping the waterways clear of toxic dog poop and plastics.

Young children can enjoy taking part in casual and organized waterside cleanups with their family. These are natural lead-ins to the subject of recycling.

Let your kids help set up your home recycling center, or Google “recycling center near me” and take them with you. Talk to them about eco friendly cleaning products and replacing plastics with plant-based alternatives.

A 9-year-old girl waters the flowers in her lovely backyard on a summer’s day. The text reads, “There are lots of things children can do to learn responsibility and lighten their eco-footprint.”

Young children may ask about global warming or climate change, now that the topic has assumed its rightful place in the news and adult conversation. Go easy here; tell the truth, but find a way to turn the conversation to ways they can help. Share some global warming facts, talk a little about what causes global warming and suggest simple actions they can take, such as:

  1. Reuse and recycle bottles, cans, paper products.
  2. Turn off the lights when no one is in a room.
  3. Turn off the water while brushing their teeth.
  4. Take shorter showers.
  5. Unplug electrical appliances when not in use (if old enough to do so safely).
  6. Clean up natural waterways (as a family activity).
  7. Plant trees or care for a vegetable or flower garden (as a family activity).
  8. Pick out eco-friendly products when shopping with adults.
  9. Ask for eco-friendly toys instead of plastic toys.
  10. Make signs and take part in marches with family.

This is not a complete list of great family actions; there are lots more.

Your children will need to know just how each action helps the climate change situation, so it’s best to be ready to explain or go online with them to find the answers. 

Talking to Teens About Climate Change

By the time they’re teenagers, most kids are somewhat informed about climate change. They may even know about the 21 Oregon youth activists who sued the US government in 2015 for undertaking policies that contribute to climate change and deny young people the Constitutional right to a safe climate, a public resource.

If your kids haven’t heard about Juliana v. United States, you can tell them about it and have them check it out online. (The links in these two paragraphs lead to various websites reporting on the case.)

As one of the 21 participating in the suit (Nathan, from Alaska, now an adult) put it, “If climate change wipes us all out tomorrow, how do we want to be remembered? As the generation that did nothing in the face of adversity and chose profits over people? Or as the generation that despite all odds came together to give this problem our best shot?” (https://www.oprahmag.com/life/a26632833/what-is-climate-change-save-the-planet/)

Organize Your Family as an Eco Action Team

If your teens consider what these young people are doing to be pretty cool, ask them if they’ve given any thought to actions they might take on climate change.

If they look at you with wide eyes, amazed that you would raise such a question, tell them you’ve been thinking about it and about things you might do together as a family. Ask them what particular issues interest them most, and take notes.

That’s a start. The next step might be for each of you to commit to researching what causes global warming and what we can do about it. Set a date by which you’ll do that, and schedule a meeting to share and discuss your research.

Don’t let your meetings drag on, especially if they include younger children. As soon as you sense their energy beginning to fade, wind it up and schedule the next meeting. Once a week is probably good. The main goal here is to support them in deciding where they want to put their energy, what issue they want to work on and what activities that might entail.

Three pre-school boys sit on the floor listening to someone, holding signs they’ve painted for an eco-event. One large sign shows drawings of trees and flowers and the words, “I have a dream, and it is green. What about you?” Another sign says, “Start today, safe tomorrow.” Large text to the right of the picture says, “Kids know what color dreams should be!”

Let’s Go to a March!

For kids of all ages, protest marches are perfect. Find one in your area, and help your kids make signs to carry. Ask them what’s most important to them and help them make a sign about it. Then take him to the march with your own signs of course and participate. You can find the great example of this on the Internet.

You may find that your kids know a lot more about hot items of climate change news than you do. That could mean you need to do some fact-finding, or it could mean it’s time to listen to your kids. Let them be the teachers. They’ll love that. Help them learn more, and let them help you learn more. Become an informed family group. And then talk to other families, other parents and kids, and encourage them to do the same

The left side of the image has a green background and shows a solar panel, a wind turbine, and a hydroelectric plant. The right side has a red background and shows an oil well and a mining car loaded with coal. In yellow we see the words, “Life or Extinction? We vote with our dollars.”

Put Your Money In Green Investments

If you own stocks or a retirement account, it’s likely that publicly traded fossil fuel companies figure into your portfolio. You would help the environment by withdrawing your funds and investing it into green energy funds like the Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX) and New Alternatives Fund (NALFX). Why not ask your kids to help you find green investments online?

Empower Your Kids By Leading Them Into Right Action

Let your kids inspire you and keep you going as you guide them by becoming their role model for eco action. Kids who grow up in eco-activist families can be powerful agents of change.

To your success with family activism,
Chiwah Slater
Founder, ecoactive101.com
Founder, https://AWriteToKnow.com
Founder, https://PetWrites.com