Climate Reality Leadership Corps: More on the Training and Presentations

The Chicago Area Climate Leadership Corps.
Photo taken August 1, 2013 by Franc Acevedo after the McCormick Place Training Event.

Earlier this month, I attended a training at McCormick Place. in Chicago, Illinois hosted by the Climate Reality Project. Along with 1300 people from 70 countries and all 50 states, I was trained to present the latest version of material that Al Gore has personally been presenting for the past 30+ years. We joined a group of 7000-strong volunteers who are presenting the material in variety of ways - presentations, letters to editors, blogs, articles, etc - all over the world.

I wrote of my Climate Reality Leadership Corps training earlier here (Myth Busting August 16, 2013) and will reiterate what I felt was the most important point again - Mr. Gore stressed that we only deliver the truth as we know it, in the spirit of Satyagraha, regarding what is happening with the climate. There are so many untruths being spread - the worst being that this is not a problem now, an idea largely promoted by those who are benefiting from this ignorance with profits from the fossil fuel industries and unfortunately there are far too many who still believe them.

This is a complex topic and there is no one person who can hold all the latest facts and figures in their heads. Even Mr. Gore gave his presentation with the assistance of two climate scientists who were adding deeper explanations of particular sections of material presented. Fortunately our goal is not to hold all the facts in our heads and spew them out at people. Our goal is to spread the word that this is happening, to tell the story of why this is important now, to point out who has been and who will be affected, and most importantly - to get people talking about this crisis and to stop ignoring it so We. Can. Address. This. Crisis. Ignoring it has cost us dearly and so much of what we love about our earth, the creatures who live here with us will pay for that silence with extinction. It is possible, if we act together now, future effects of climate change may be lessened.

I am speaking publicly at two events locally the last weekend in October. If you live in the Northern Illinois area, you are welcome to attend. There are a number of private events I will be speaking at and presenting this material. If you can't make the two public events and can't wait for the next public event I post here, invite me to speak to your group. I would prefer to present the material for 60 minutes and then follow with a question and answer period but that presentation time can be reduced to 30-45 minutes. The presentations contain climate change science facts as well as list possible solutions and actions individuals can take in their families and communities.

PLEASE NOTE: These presentations, given on a volunteer basis, are free of charge to the host organization. If there are traveling costs, the host may be asked to cover those expenses.

Friday, October 25, 7:00 p.m.Friday Focus: Climate Reality
Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva
2nd and James Streets, Geneva, Illinois 60134

Sunday, October 27, 1:00 p.m. Munch & Learn: Climate Reality 
(Please RSVP as lunch will be served)
Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva
2nd and James Streets, Geneva, Illinois 60134

If you would like to schedule a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps to speak to your group, you can find one here no matter where you live. Some of the volunteers provide discussion of the effect of climate change around a specific topic: healthcare, family, religion, business.

I started this blog in 2008 to discuss the Green Revolution I saw unfolding in front of me. I viewed it as one of the most creative and revolutionary things to happen to our civilization since the Industrial Revolution. I have restarted blogging here now as I see this revolution as a beacon of hope for our future. If you are interested in the larger ideas that may propel us forward into a new and better day, search this blog for 'Big Idea'. If you are looking for ideas on how you can change your lifestyle and revamp your spirit, search this blog for 'Things to Do'. As this blog grows, no doubt these will become their own sections - but for now a simple search should suffice.

Thank you most kindly for reading my words here. Never doubt though that you have a role to play in this great drama unfolding in front of us. You make a difference with each act you take, each choice you make - from the purchases you make at the store, to the car you drive (or choose not to drive), to the way you garden, to the way you spend your time.

The actions you choose send ripples out every day and 

those around you will benefit by your example... or not. 

You decide. 

One my favorite quotes from Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.

“People say, what is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time. A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions. Each one of our thoughts, words and deeds is like that. No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do.” 

Dorothy Day