Guest post: “Climate breakdown will affect us all.”

[MumsnetGuestPosts]

TLDR: The Mothers’ Climate March is on 12 May; Hyde Park corner to Parliament square. Come and join us.

I am not usually the sort of person who organises marches - I’ve never been an activist or a campaigner.

I really, really hate conflict. And asking people to do stuff.

But being a mother has changed me in some quite profound ways. If my kids are threatened, you can bet I’ll be there to protect them. If they need me to advocate for something, I’ll make myself do it; I’ll arrange meetings, write letters and have difficult conversations. In my time, I’ve thrown everything into getting them into good schools or trying to get my DS help for his SEN. And now I’m organising a march with a group of mums called Mothers Rise Up. This time it’s not just for my kids - it’s for everyone’s kids.

I’ve known our kids’ futures are threatened for some time now. For me, this knowledge has mostly manifested itself as an underlying sense of dread, humming in the background alongside a feeling of absolute powerlessness. A desire not to look. I’m talking about the C word.

Climate.

Climate breakdown, more specifically. You may not have heard of the IPCC report (it didn’t get loads of press)  -  it’s a collaborative report commissioned by the UN and worked on by hundreds of climate scientists. These scientists make predictions about how the climate will change and recommendations for what to do about it.

Historically they have always underestimated the speed and severity of climate change. Their most recent report is the first one I’ve read all of. I’d known about climate change - as much as we all know - and knew things were bad, but I hadn’t let myself realise quite how bad.

This report, I believe, is what has inspired the recent protests and documentaries such as the Youth Strike, Extinction Rebellion, and the recent David Attenborough documentary. The narration is in plain language, but it paints an alarming picture of what will happen to the world in our lifetimes if we do not all act quickly.

This is not about polar bears. Without rapid, systemic and far-reaching change there will be serious loss of human life. Climate breakdown will affect us all. Our food supplies, our homes and the other resources that we need to live are all under threat. Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, spreading deserts and natural disasters like forest fires, floods and typhoons will become more and more commonplace. This scenario is on track to happen in my old age, when my children are in their thirties and forties. Their kids, if they have them, will face threats and hardship unlike anything our generation has known.

This will not be solved by individuals diligently separating their recycling. Arresting climate change is possible, but it will require radical, systemic and rapid change.

Our children are already out there on the streets protesting, striking from school and demanding government action, but this mess is not theirs. We wholeheartedly support them, but they are too young to take this burden alone. It should be us who are out there demanding change and protecting them. This is something the current government needs to act on. It’s time for us to sort out this mess.

A group of us have come together to form Mothers Rise Up. On our own, we felt worried and powerless. As a collective, we are not powerless. We are organising. Our first step will be a march to demand government action: The Mothers’ Climate March is on International Mother’s Day, 12th May and will go from Hyde Park Corner to Parliament Square in London.

This guest post is your invitation to join in. To come to the march on Sunday 12th May, to email your MP, to make your change, to find a community that shares your concern over the future of our shared home. You can find us on Facebook or follow us on twitter @MothersRiseUp

Join us! Everyone is welcome. Like Mumsnet, we are powered by mums but we are not only for mums; anyone who cares about the future of our shared home will get a warm welcome. My DD is making cookies for the march so if you spot me and give me the Mumsnet wink I might persuade her to part with one.

This post is also your invitation to chat. I’ll be back in a few days to answer your questions. I also have a personal Mumsnet account @traynorbird where I generally lurk about giggling in AIBU and Classics. I’m happy to have a conversation there too.

First though, I have a question for you. Should there be a climate board on MN where we can form community around this issue? I think there should be.

Catherine will be returning to the guest post on 26/04/2019 to answer some of your questions

[Smotheroffive]

I've heard really bad stuff about quorn specifically too.

Isn't it all the highly processed 'substitutes' that contain synthesised additives, that humans need to be alive? Either that or have to buy them separately in a bottle?

We're designed to be ominvores, which means that the healthiest way to be, for us, as humans. Highly complex processes exist to support being omnivorous.

We have only just begun to touch the surface scientifically of our gut well-being. A lot of the enzymes and flora etc of our guts we can only get from meat?

For instance, some of the breast milk elements cannot be absorbed by the gut...they only exist to 'feed and grow' certain flora and fauna. I think this is relatively new science, and whilst we've recognised the dangers inherent in heavy consumption of red meat and processed foods, new science is revealing a hugely different perspective

[Smotheroffive]

The macD stopping the plastic straws is worringly pathetic.

It's taken them decades to get to grips with doing anything decent about food production.

They prove repeatedly its all about the greed of money, with flagrant disregard for animals or even their consumers. It's the worst of the worst of capitalist consumerism.

[ByGrabtharsHammarWhatASaving]

You're probably right on a lot of those points Smotheroffive . I've been a vegetarian for about 15 years and always been healthy, but have only recently moved over to a vegan diet. I've been thinking about it for a long time for animal welfare reasons but never made the jump. A lot of my family went vegan last year though for environmental reasons and that pushed me over the edge. In terms of figuring out the best diet within that though I'm still experimenting. The vegan society has a lot of good balanced info on how to meet your dietary needs, but it does recommend taking supplements.

[user1494621907]

Do you really think holding up hard working londoners in traffic is a nice idea though? or the protesters who left lots of rubbish and plastic bottles behind, because they are actually spoilt nitwits? I have NEVER left my rubbish anywhere.there are no bins what!! take it with you in your bag then, or just carry it until you find a bin, spoilt snowflakes, and emma thomson is the worst!!

[Cautionsharpblade]

you'd all being doing away with yourselves as an example to the rest and as the first step of the answer

Finally someone talking sense! If you’re that bothered about the environment, kill yourself and give your body back to the earth. If you’ve spawned any kids, kill them too.

It’s just a really hard sell

[user1494621907]

Been a veggie since I was 16, I am now 50, you cannot change the world overnight it takes a LONG time!! and do not shove it in people's faces, they will rebel.

[Smotheroffive]

Yes caution also thought this.

If the human race left the planet! I don't think it'll catch on though.

[Smotheroffive]

Yeah, sighs, if we had long...

[CupOhTea]

@smotheroffive

I think you’re right that the healthiest diet, or maybe the easiest diet to get all your nutrients, is a healthy omni diet. And yet, I would put money on the vast majority of obese and generally unhealthy eaters are omni.

I don’t think people tend to go vegan for the good of their own health. It’s usually to do with animal welfare and the environment.

I will say though, that the people in my acquaintance who seem to eat the most healthy whole foods and less junk, are the vegans. I know there are plenty of junk food vegans about these days, but there are plenty of junk food omnis too.

Choosing to eat a healthy diet is quite separate to choosing whether to be omni, veggie, pescatarian or vegan. You can be any of those things and eat a healthy diet or any of those things and eat a crap diet.

[Costacoffeeplease]

But I wonder why a mums march? I disagree with the fundamental idea here that mums-care more about this than others. Plenty of mums seem pretty locked in to consumerism-on behalf of their kids.

This

What a patronising post, all the super mummies sticking it to ‘the man’ and with cookies too!

[amandacarnet]

Smotheroffive, I suspect you are right that some limited consumption of men at is healthier. But this should be a very small part of our diet. I travelled and ate in China a few years ago, and the mythicalmn chicken that would feed a family for a week was actually true there. Most dishes were vegetable with a tiny bit of meat or fish.
There is also lots of research to show that even if you eat healthily, a very varied diet is better for you. This is one reason we'll off people's diet tends to be healthier as they tend to eat a much more varied diet than poorer people.

Environmentally though, tinkering round the edges is no longer enough. Even in my lifetime I see people's routine lifestyles being much more wasteful and consumerist. Things that are seen as a big deal now such as only eating locally grown in season fruit and veg, is how most people only forty years ago lived as a matter of routine. It would take a massive effort just to get people back to a lev,el of consumption common forty years ago.

[amandacarnet]

Bloody auto correct. Meat NOT men.

[Traynorbird]

Hi @amandacarnet , OP here. I'm going to do a live chat on Friday, but I just wanted to address your concern about the march being specifically named a mothers march now.

I agree with you - mums are certainly not the only people who care about the future of our planet and of future generations. The reason the march is named a mothers march is that it started with a small group of mums under a banner at an XR march (pic attached). We wanted to represent our specific fears for the future of our children and to support the youth strikes in a way that is accessible to mums (many of whom can not be arrested for all sorts of reasons, not least childcare responsibilities!). We also think that this is a very easy simple narrative for politicians and media to understand; If a mothers children are threatened she will do anything to protect them.

Our movement is powered by mums, but we are very clear that it is not just for mums, we welcome anyone who is moved by the love of a child to protest and anyone who has had a kid knows that the raising of them is much easier as a group effort! I hope there will be lots of dads, aunties, uncles, child minders, teachers, friends and grandparents at the march!
Your further point about many mothers being a part of the consumer culture: Yes, most mums are a part of the society we live in. We don't blame them for that. Even if we are trying very hard to cut down, reduce, reuse and recycle it can be extremely difficult (though we do try!).

We are about collective action to change the system, not about individual blame.

I hope this answers your questions and hope to see you at the march x

[amandacarnet]

I hope it goes well. I am very involved in the environmental movement, so I support anything that would help change things.
But I do think the idea of mums caring for the environment because of their kids is a fundamentally ill conceived one and will come back to bite you. Because it is so clearly not true.
But I wish you well and hope I am wrong.

[Jasmine1994]

Could someone tell me why I can’t post a thread it keeps logging me out and telling me to sign back in and activate my account but I’ve already done that, sorry

[CupOhTea]

But I do think the idea of mums caring for the environment because of their kids is a fundamentally ill conceived one and will come back to bite you. Because it is so clearly not true.

how would you know? Nice to see you can read the minds of every mother on the planet and conclude that they do not care about the environment because of their children.

Or do you mean, it is not true that ALL mothers care about the environment because of their children? Because of course they flipping don’t. This is probably aimed at the mothers who do. I really don’t get what’s so difficult to understand.

If it was a LGBT community march against climate change, or an Irish(wo)man’s march against climate change,
would you have such a bee in your bonnet? There’s already been a children’s march. What about that? Did you get pissed off about it and say “it’s simply not true that you children care about the environment. I’ve seen you all, drinking water out of single use plastic bottles” or whatever .

The march is open to all, according to op, but aimed at mothers or people who are inspired by the love of a child to march against climate change. And that’s inspired this^^ massive assumption about mothers?

A mother’s place truly is in the wrong isn’t it? How depressing.

I think people can get very prickly about mothers / parents and children. It’s a real “what makes you think you’re so special?” stinky attitude. Nobody said they are special for breeding. To quote a slightly cynical friend of mine “even single celled amoebas can do it”. It’s not a thing to brag about.

But, I really don’t see how any sensible person could take offence at this march. It’s just a group of people who care about climate change who have something in common; they are mothers or care a lot about a child in their lives and want to take action to protect the future of that child and others in that generation.

But then, people will nit pick and take offence over anything. Weird.

[amandacarnet]

No it is different,because an LGBT climate change March would be unlikely to say they care about the environment because they are LGBT.
This is not at all anti mother as you are claiming. If it was a mothers march that said simply we are marching because we care about our kids future, then fine. It is saying that because we are mothers of course we care about our kids future and the environment. It is a subtle but important difference. And pr wise I do not think the second message is a wise one.
People are free to ignore potential or problems-of course.
OP I would advise some of you to attend a Sheila mckenzie foundation course about campaigning. You may find it really useful.

[amandacarnet]

Also cup of tea, I know many mothers do not care about environmental issues because they embrace consumerism on behalf of their kids. It is why kids are a major capitalist consumer market.

[CupOhTea]

It is saying that because we are mothers of course we care about our kids future and the environment.

I didn’t read it that way at all.

In all marches, where the group have something in common, like being mothers or like being children, people will often mention the thing that they have in common and relate it to the cause. So, in the children’s march, a lot of children held up banners saying “don’t burn my future” etc. The message was “this is our future. We are the ones who are going to have to clean up the mess, so we want to take action now”. That’s not to say that adults don’t care just as much about climate change. It was just the children’s take on it.

I will say op that maybe the “momma bear” type “I’m going to protect my baby” message was maybe a bit off putting.

But I don’t really get the nit picking over such a small thing when the op is trying to do something proactive.

[CupOhTea]

Also cup of tea, I know many mothers do not care about environmental issues because they embrace consumerism on behalf of their kids. It is why kids are a major capitalist consumer market.

Yes, of course many mothers are huge consumers. So are most people in this country. We all consume many times more than your average person in some parts of Africa. Even single childless people here consume far more than their fair share. That’s not to say that none of us cares about the environment.

And this is aimed at mothers who DO care about the environment. Maybe it will inspire change in those that don’t. Isn’t that a good thing?

[Cautionsharpblade]

I agree with cupoftea, I read your original post as ‘I didn’t used to care about the environment but now I’ve had children /contributed to the overpopulation problem I’ve gone all momma bear about it’.

Maybe, as you say, it’s a simple narrative that will go down well with the press, but I find it off-putting and exclusionary.

[ByGrabtharsHammarWhatASaving]

Plenty of mums seem pretty locked in to consumerism-on behalf of their kids.

That's the point though, isn't it? It's not that mothers are more engaged in eco activism, but that mothers should be more engaged in eco activism, because they're such a massive commercial target. So much consumer power is in the hands of parents - everything from cloth vs disposible nappies, new vs second hand clothes, plastic vs eco friendly toys, and even breast vs bottle feeding. And that's not even touching on the other choices with environmental consequences made by parents, such as choosing a school you can walk rather than drive to, educating your children about environment issues, and taking local vs foreign family holidays. All parents, male or female, need to engage more with the environmental impact of family life, but practically speaking, the majority of these decisions are left in the hands of mothers. That's why we've got the eco feminism thread going on atm - within our current social modal we need to engage mothers more regarding this as they have the most purchase power in terms of daily provisional purchases. But we also need to engage fathers in this to prevent the increased mental load of making sustainable lifestyle choices falling entirely on the already overburdened shoulders of women. The "momma bear" angle won't resonate with everyone but it does resonate with a lot of mothers, and could also (if phrased a bit better) resonate with a lot of fathers, which would help on both counts. So I guess I'm agreeing with the OP that a "mothers march" is a needed and worthwhile thing, but that a "parents march" would be more welcome from a feminist point of view, and have a bigger impact in a long term sense by getting more men to share the load.

I'd also like to see some kind of women's march where we collectively push back against the beauty and fast fashion industry and, by extension, the patriarchal beauty standards driving the choices of this consumer group. As long as women are expected to look and dress a certain way, the demand for these industries will continue to rise.

[GhostsToMonsoon]

or the protesters who left lots of rubbish and plastic bottles behind, because they are actually spoilt nitwits?

That's untrue.

[CupOhTea]

@ByGrabtharsHammarWhatASaving

YY, well said and I agree on the parents march maybe being a better idea.

[ChardonnaysPrettySister]

Plenty of mums seem pretty locked in to consumerism-on behalf of their kids.

True.

There is a thread going on in Gardening about plastic grass and every single one who has it done says it's so the children can play safely in the garden.

Short sighted to the max.