Like Just Say It?

The past summer in the US has been well… controversial! People have been plagued by horrendous weather that has been reported as ‘once in a lifetime’ yet repeated year after year for the last few years or has already occurred more than once this year. So when are we going to just call it what it is? Climate change! Why doesn’t the media want to report on extreme weather truthfully? Let’s get into it!

👀 What’s Happening?

This month's deadly heat waves and flash floods in the United States are far from natural; they're exacerbated by unprecedented levels of heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere, primarily from fossil fuels. These emissions not only raise temperatures but also intensify the Earth's water cycle, leading to more extreme precipitation events. Shockingly, most breaking news stories fail to mention the climate crisis behind these record-breaking weather events, treating them as if they were acts of nature rather than the consequences of human activity.​ 

Mainstream media often avoids directly linking extreme weather events to climate change due to several reasons: fear of political controversy, pressure from advertisers or stakeholders with interests in fossil fuels, concerns about audience sensitivity or scepticism towards climate science, and editorial decisions prioritising immediate news coverage over complex, long-term issues like climate change. These factors contribute to a reluctance to explicitly connect the dots between climate change and specific weather events in their reporting.

However, is this ethical? If we want to properly report the news to people shouldn’t we be equipping them with the true facts and science? This is the damage the fossil fuel industry has done since they politicised climate.

😬 Numbers for a Dinner Party

100 million: The number of people across the United States who were under heat warnings on Sunday. (Reuters) 

3 million: The number of people affected by ongoing flooding across South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. (The Guardian)

1,400: The number of temperature records broken across the world last week. (Washington Post)

26: The number of extra super-hot days that climate change added to the calendar in the past year. (The New York Times)

52: The percentage by which extreme precipitation is expected to increase in the Northeastern United States by 2099. (Dartmouth) 

Sustainable Living Tips

Caring about the planet is crucial for our future. However, the constant fight and headlines can get exhausting! It’s important to protect yourself and your energy, so this week let’s get into a few ways you can look after yourself while being an environmentalist:

💆🏽‍♀️ Practice Self-Care: Make self-care a priority by setting boundaries, taking breaks when needed, and engaging in activities that help you relax and recharge. This could include mindfulness practices, leaning on community, hobbies, exercise, or spending time in nature.

👭 Seek Support: Build a strong support network of fellow activists, friends, or mental health professionals who understand your concerns and can offer empathy, advice, or simply a listening ear during challenging times.

🧚🏼‍♂️ Focus on Positive Action: Instead of becoming overwhelmed by the enormity of environmental issues, focus on tangible actions you can take and celebrate small victories. Channel your energy into advocacy, community organising, or education efforts that align with your values and bring about positive change.

👏🏼 Youth climate activists won a climate case in Hawaii

🎊 Climate Change is now a required consideration for new fossil fuel projects in the UK

🙌🏽 Amazon has committed to reducing its plastic packaging by getting rid of its delivery packaging pillows. Avoiding 15 billion plastic pillows from being sent out annually.