Invest in Our Planet!: Earth Week 2023

Submitted by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Library on
Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism by Aja Barber
The Carbon Alamanc: It's Not Too Late
Climatenomics: Washington, Wall Street and the Economic Battle to Save Our Planet by Bob Keefe
Nomad Century: How Climate Migration Will Reshape Our World by Gaia Vince
Things You Can Do: How to Fight Climate Change and Reduce Waste by Eduardo Garcia, illustrated by Sara Boccaccini Meadows
Valuing Clean Air: The EPA and the Economics of Environmental Protection by Charles Halvorson
Ever Green: Saving Big Forests to Save the Planet by John W. Reid and Thomas E. Lovejoy
we are the middle of forever: indigenous voices from turtle island on the changing earth edited by dahr jamail and stan rushworth
The Green Amendment: The People's Fight for a Clean, Safe, and Healthy Environment by Maya K. Van Rossum
Creating Resilient Landscapes in an Era of Climate Change by Amin Rastandeh and Meghann Jarchow
The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild by Enric Sala, narrated by Will Damron
Angry Weather: Heat Waves, Floods, Storms, and the New Science of Climate Change by Friederike Otto, translated by Sarah Pybus
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ

Earth Day everyday poster with image of planet Earth as plant-- a tree sprouts from the top
Earth Day Poster by Travis Morgan

Celebrate locally! is on Sunday, April 23 from 12:00 to 5:00 PM at Durham Central Park. will be on Friday, April 21 from 5:00 to 10:00 PM at Dix Park. , including Earth Day Celebration Carrboro, taking place on Saturday, April 22 from 3:30 to 6:00 PM in the Carrboro Town Commons.

Climate change is a huge issue and can make a lot of folks feel helpless.

So--What can you do?

While there's no quick fix, you can always educate, advocate, and adapt (in addition to the traditional ).

Keep reading to find out more!

Educate [yourself and others]!

Learning about both global and local issues related to climate change can be a first step, but knowing is as important as doing (both matter, though!).

There are loads of resources available--books, websites, podcasts, documentaries, news sites. While you can and should "do your own research," starting from a basic understanding of can be helpful.

The (located upstairs near the open computer lab along the railing) has climate and ecology as one of its collection goals, but all the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ campus libraries and our (available through the Libby app) all have excellent resources through a variety of print books, ebooks, and audiobooks.

Seeing the scope of the climate challenges we face can be a little demoralizing, so bolster yourself with some climate good news, such as . I also like posts from Zahra Biabani (), who just published a book--Climate Optimism, and Appalachian climate scientist Alaina Wood () on Instagram.

Advocate!

If you're not sure how to start advocating for climate justice or systemic changes, you can do small things like .

Effective public advocacy goes beyond virtual petitions though. Finding your advocacy voice can involve a lot of trial and error. It can be helpful to try out climate advocacy groups to see if one fits your personality and system of beliefs best. You can always start by participating in an , a nonpartisan climate advocacy group.

There are lots of local groups in the Triangle, too, representing a variety of personal and political viewpoints:

  • and a list of from the Triangle Community Foundation

Adapt! While individual actions alone will not fix the climate crisis, there are individual actions that can make a difference as we adapt our lives to more planet-friendly behaviors.

If podcasts are your thing, (part of the ) works to balance information with community-building and action.

I'm personally trying to be and, where I can, am making permanent changes that will help me do my very small part. (The jury's still out on how I feel about compostable bags for my kitty litter, but that's part of , too. SIGH.) I did find it hopeful and helpful to see . I'm crossing my fingers that will somehow magically save us from ourselves.

At Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ, if you're interested in learning together, . Interested in setting up your own reading group around one of these books? Contact Meredith Lewis (lewisma @ durhamtech .edu) for more information.

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