It would be interesting to have a unique hashtag to identify posts in solidarity with your new venture/s.
#CrucialYears and #ThirdAct come to mind, but I never finished my advertising course. Maybe something more obviously directed toward our movement but still unique . . .
Bill, thank you for The Crucial Years and The Third Act. Many of us Americans 60 and older played a big role in putting lots of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. It's our responsibility to join young people to work together for positive political and corporate action on climate change. Let's make it happen!
Bill, I'm so grateful for your tireless work. It is indeed haunting to look back on wasted years and missed opportunities. But we are absolutely in a better place than we would have been without your writing, strategizing, speaking, galvanizing. I'm so heartened to see folks over 60 mobilizing for climate. Thank you for all you've done, and all you're doing.
Bill, I have happily become a $180/year Founding Member for The Crucial Years.
I would have also done the $1800/year Lifetime Member for the Crucial Years ... but that option was missing!
In seeking support and funding it's always better to "Ask Up (more) vs Ask Down (less)".
I know this money will go as a pass through to the "Third Act" and hopefully doing some Real Good Trouble.
As a 72 year old Climate Sinner seeking salvation, I am also prepared to donate more money, non monetary in kind contributions of goods and services, and volunteer at least 1,000 hours/year in areas you think I can help.
Perhaps in fundraising and development on a global scale.
Thanks Bill for this communication forum as well as Third Act; for many years I have wrung my hands at the hypocrisy of the near-retirement class’s timid “environmentalism” coupled with business as usual to maximize their wealth. The power is in the younger generations, but we have a profound obligation to support them.
Wonderful initiative, Bill, and well timed, if long overdue. I am retired farmer and landscaper and 84, facts that don’t begin to highlight my own 30-year crusade warning of environmental dangers of a warming world. For me the threshold decade in a changing farming environment was 2000-2010 in so. California.
Thanks so much for this! As a 57 year-old, I am currently starting a blog to target 45-65 year-old women for the same reason as you, but maybe it should focus a little older, too. Many in this group have time AND resources that others don't. Now is their time to help! The youth have done more than their share. There IS no more time to waste.
Go Bill Go. We need to launch a USA version of a Gandhian movement / Extinction Rebellion ASAP. Gandhi filled up the jails in short order. In USA we have remarkably few empty cells (and a pandemic clogged judicial calendar) compared to committed ThirdActors. Time to shut down it down... with love, respect, and a clearly non-violent movement to build a new world community.
I am surprised so many Canadians, Australians and Brits don’t seem to mind becoming the future slaves of Corporate American’s big tech, Pharmaceutical’s and the World Economic Forum the later freely tells you what they want you just have to listen
Q: What Color do you get when you mix Gray and Green?
But there are indications that an increasing number of older people are getting exercised about what is happening to the planet. During protests in London over the past two weeks, there have been quite a few gray heads in the crowd — the “gray greens,” as one BBC presenter called them.
Perhaps older Americans, as disproportionate contributors to and victims of climate change, could play an additional role, as active participants in the global campaign to mitigate the damage.
A decade ago, Dr. Karl Pillemer, a gerontologist at Cornell University, began exploring environmental volunteerism among older adults. He found that most environmental organizations had not recruited older members or adapted to support their participation, leaving a major resource untapped. He established a program called RISE, for Retirees in Service to the Environment, to prepare older volunteers for leadership roles in environmental stewardship.
There’s a common notion that older adults care less about climate change than young adults. But that holds true only for Republicans, a Pew Research Center survey found last year, and may be less a product of age than political affiliation.
Millennial and Gen X Republicans were more likely than boomers to say they saw the effects of climate change and that the federal government was doing too little to reduce it. But among Democrats, who were far more concerned about climate change and energy policy than Republicans were, the pollsters found only modest differences by age.
Older volunteers would benefit by working to halt climate change, Dr. Pillemer said: “Participants gain fulfillment from activities that have results they will not be here to enjoy.”
Later-in-life, or “generative,” volunteerism has been shown to increase health and psychological well-being.
“If the boomers could be motivated to take this on as their defining generational legacy, they could have incredible impact,” Dr. Pillemer said. “With their huge numbers, they could potentially do something about it.”
My husband and I heard you speak at Purdue University about 4 years ago and this theme really resonated with us. In our red state it has sometimes felt like all our efforts have come up far too short, so we are ready to join in at the broader level to put our brains and our hearts into making change. Thanks so much for this call to action Bill!
As a fellow Vermonter it can at times feel we are preaching to the choir up here but I know that the choir could sing louder and I have not raised my voice loud enough. As I encourage my friends to get involved I struggle sometimes in recommending organizations to support. Any thoughts? (outside of your own of course) On a personal note, my daughter is a first year law student at Berkeley and did her undergraduate work there as well. Her thesis was on climate grieving and it is shocking to think of the impact climate change is having on the mental health of our children. The kids are not allright. She struggles with depression caused in part by the climate situation and for many young adults suicide is not off the table. It frightens me to think that for too long I have relied on others like yourself to do the heavy lifting. Thank you for your work. Peter Fenn
We're all going to do what we can--and we've got plenty to do in Vermont that will resonate nationally and internationally. (For instance, the banks that fund the fossil fuel empire have outposts here).
And the note about depression is very right: we can lift our own and others' spirits at least a tad by engaging, though!
As a 76 year old ignorant contributor to the problem, I started many years ago planting native trees on some land I was going to subdivide for my old age. It is now a wilderness sanctuary of 40 hectares where my family and volunteers are now planting 2,000 trees per year we are aiming for 10,000 trees in 8 years (1,000 at year one) 2 years ago. We have an electric car, and live in Aotearoa, New Zealand. I am sorry I have no funds to contribute to your effort but am gaining worthwhile support and knowledge from reading your newsletter. Keep up the good work. Peter
Joining from Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada. With so many problems exaggerated by climate change, we are trying to get people to return to church, a responsive church. Talking about climate change is forbidden in two of the three denominations here. Fortunately I can give reflections in the United Churches in the area. I anticipate that being a member of "The Crucial Years" will help me in my speaking.
Thank you Bill. I'm so glad to see your new move.
It would be interesting to have a unique hashtag to identify posts in solidarity with your new venture/s.
#CrucialYears and #ThirdAct come to mind, but I never finished my advertising course. Maybe something more obviously directed toward our movement but still unique . . .
<3
on it!
Bill, thank you for The Crucial Years and The Third Act. Many of us Americans 60 and older played a big role in putting lots of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. It's our responsibility to join young people to work together for positive political and corporate action on climate change. Let's make it happen!
Let's do!
Bill, I'm so grateful for your tireless work. It is indeed haunting to look back on wasted years and missed opportunities. But we are absolutely in a better place than we would have been without your writing, strategizing, speaking, galvanizing. I'm so heartened to see folks over 60 mobilizing for climate. Thank you for all you've done, and all you're doing.
back at you! it's good to have a big broad movement
Bill, I have happily become a $180/year Founding Member for The Crucial Years.
I would have also done the $1800/year Lifetime Member for the Crucial Years ... but that option was missing!
In seeking support and funding it's always better to "Ask Up (more) vs Ask Down (less)".
I know this money will go as a pass through to the "Third Act" and hopefully doing some Real Good Trouble.
As a 72 year old Climate Sinner seeking salvation, I am also prepared to donate more money, non monetary in kind contributions of goods and services, and volunteer at least 1,000 hours/year in areas you think I can help.
Perhaps in fundraising and development on a global scale.
You can definitely help! Write vanessa@thirdact.org and tell her I sent you. She's the brains of the operation
Thanks Bill for this communication forum as well as Third Act; for many years I have wrung my hands at the hypocrisy of the near-retirement class’s timid “environmentalism” coupled with business as usual to maximize their wealth. The power is in the younger generations, but we have a profound obligation to support them.
No time to waste!
Wonderful initiative, Bill, and well timed, if long overdue. I am retired farmer and landscaper and 84, facts that don’t begin to highlight my own 30-year crusade warning of environmental dangers of a warming world. For me the threshold decade in a changing farming environment was 2000-2010 in so. California.
Keep on fighting the gaslighting cretins!
thanks for being a part of it!
Thanks so much for this! As a 57 year-old, I am currently starting a blog to target 45-65 year-old women for the same reason as you, but maybe it should focus a little older, too. Many in this group have time AND resources that others don't. Now is their time to help! The youth have done more than their share. There IS no more time to waste.
many thanks! and good luck!
Go Bill Go. We need to launch a USA version of a Gandhian movement / Extinction Rebellion ASAP. Gandhi filled up the jails in short order. In USA we have remarkably few empty cells (and a pandemic clogged judicial calendar) compared to committed ThirdActors. Time to shut down it down... with love, respect, and a clearly non-violent movement to build a new world community.
I hear you
Great to have your wisdom here.
I will do my best!
Hey Bill, excited about this! Just became a charter member, China
many thanks friend!!
I am surprised so many Canadians, Australians and Brits don’t seem to mind becoming the future slaves of Corporate American’s big tech, Pharmaceutical’s and the World Economic Forum the later freely tells you what they want you just have to listen
Q: What Color do you get when you mix Gray and Green?
But there are indications that an increasing number of older people are getting exercised about what is happening to the planet. During protests in London over the past two weeks, there have been quite a few gray heads in the crowd — the “gray greens,” as one BBC presenter called them.
A: A bold McKibben
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/climate-protests-london-arrests/2021/09/04/8e6cf6be-0bf1-11ec-a7c8-61bb7b3bf628_story.html
Many thanks!
I think this scholarly research, summarized in a 2019 NYT story, is important for ThirdAct Volunteers to review. See the part about enhancing both mental and physical well being! https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/24/health/climate-change-elderly.html
Perhaps older Americans, as disproportionate contributors to and victims of climate change, could play an additional role, as active participants in the global campaign to mitigate the damage.
A decade ago, Dr. Karl Pillemer, a gerontologist at Cornell University, began exploring environmental volunteerism among older adults. He found that most environmental organizations had not recruited older members or adapted to support their participation, leaving a major resource untapped. He established a program called RISE, for Retirees in Service to the Environment, to prepare older volunteers for leadership roles in environmental stewardship.
There’s a common notion that older adults care less about climate change than young adults. But that holds true only for Republicans, a Pew Research Center survey found last year, and may be less a product of age than political affiliation.
Millennial and Gen X Republicans were more likely than boomers to say they saw the effects of climate change and that the federal government was doing too little to reduce it. But among Democrats, who were far more concerned about climate change and energy policy than Republicans were, the pollsters found only modest differences by age.
Older volunteers would benefit by working to halt climate change, Dr. Pillemer said: “Participants gain fulfillment from activities that have results they will not be here to enjoy.”
Later-in-life, or “generative,” volunteerism has been shown to increase health and psychological well-being.
“If the boomers could be motivated to take this on as their defining generational legacy, they could have incredible impact,” Dr. Pillemer said. “With their huge numbers, they could potentially do something about it.”
This is extraordinarily useful!
My husband and I heard you speak at Purdue University about 4 years ago and this theme really resonated with us. In our red state it has sometimes felt like all our efforts have come up far too short, so we are ready to join in at the broader level to put our brains and our hearts into making change. Thanks so much for this call to action Bill!
As a fellow Vermonter it can at times feel we are preaching to the choir up here but I know that the choir could sing louder and I have not raised my voice loud enough. As I encourage my friends to get involved I struggle sometimes in recommending organizations to support. Any thoughts? (outside of your own of course) On a personal note, my daughter is a first year law student at Berkeley and did her undergraduate work there as well. Her thesis was on climate grieving and it is shocking to think of the impact climate change is having on the mental health of our children. The kids are not allright. She struggles with depression caused in part by the climate situation and for many young adults suicide is not off the table. It frightens me to think that for too long I have relied on others like yourself to do the heavy lifting. Thank you for your work. Peter Fenn
We're all going to do what we can--and we've got plenty to do in Vermont that will resonate nationally and internationally. (For instance, the banks that fund the fossil fuel empire have outposts here).
And the note about depression is very right: we can lift our own and others' spirits at least a tad by engaging, though!
As a 76 year old ignorant contributor to the problem, I started many years ago planting native trees on some land I was going to subdivide for my old age. It is now a wilderness sanctuary of 40 hectares where my family and volunteers are now planting 2,000 trees per year we are aiming for 10,000 trees in 8 years (1,000 at year one) 2 years ago. We have an electric car, and live in Aotearoa, New Zealand. I am sorry I have no funds to contribute to your effort but am gaining worthwhile support and knowledge from reading your newsletter. Keep up the good work. Peter
That effort is far more important than any funds. Thank you for your leadetship!
Rest assured all those trees you planted will soon be turned into “renewable energy” aka biofuel.
Joining from Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada. With so many problems exaggerated by climate change, we are trying to get people to return to church, a responsive church. Talking about climate change is forbidden in two of the three denominations here. Fortunately I can give reflections in the United Churches in the area. I anticipate that being a member of "The Crucial Years" will help me in my speaking.
I hope so. You'll enjoy the book that starts tomorrow I think!