Monday, November 30, 2009

What Dear Abby and a five-year-old can teach us about climate action

From today's paper:
DEAR ABBY: I am a single mother of a 7-year-old girl. Before we moved to a rural area, my daughter attended a private school where she flourished. However, after three years in public school here, she is struggling academically and her self-esteem has been challenged.

Every day I agonize over whether we ought to move or stay. I have a great job, wonderful friends and the lifestyle is comfortable....

DEAR MUST CHOOSE: What’s more important to you — your job, friends and lifestyle, or your daughter’s future? Once you have answered that question, your choice will be easy.
(link)

(The analogy's inexact, since Mom can keep her job, friends and lifestyle, while stopping climate change from hitting her daughter - see Romm's Introduction to climate economics: Why even strong climate action has such a low total cost — one tenth of a penny on the dollar)


Related, Jim Hansen's "Never-Give-Up Fighting Spirit: Lessons From a Grandchild"(pdf)
5-year-old Connor... said, very brightly and bravely, “I don’t quit, because I have never-give-up fighting spirit.” It seems his karate lessons are paying off.

Some adults need Connor’s help. ...

This Christmas, give gift certificates for Karate school.

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