This put up is a comply with as much as the put up I shared a number of months in the past about a number of the adjustments I’ve been making so as to reduce my carbon footprint, you possibly can learn it right here. I need to present that, sure, a digital nomad generally is a local weather activist, an no, we’re not all hypocrites.
Additionally, this put up goes to be a bit tough across the edges as I’m penning this the night of the sixth October 2019, earlier than heading right down to London within the morning (by practice 😉 to affix the International Rebellion by the worldwide local weather justice motion, Extinction Rise up. And I nonetheless have to pack → see traditional nomad issues. ?♀️
This morning I awakened tremendous excited, tremendous nervous and in addition just a little scared, I’m not gonna lie.
Am I a hypocrite?
See, for the previous 6 years (practically to the day) I’ve been travelling all over the world with my boyfriend, first as backpackers, then as working-holiday-ers and for the previous 4+ years as digital nomads. So I’m not going to beat across the bush: my carbon footprint has been large. These planes burn a number of fossil fuels. ✈️
And don’t get me unsuitable, since waking as much as this actuality, I’ve felt each responsible and like a hypocrite. As a result of I’ve at all times seen myself as a little bit of an environmentalist, not solely as a result of I used to volunteer for Greenpeace.
However you don’t have to fret, this put up isn’t about guilt-tripping any of my fellow digital nomads into altering your methods, stopping to fly or giving up this way of life. In no way. We’ve all labored arduous to create a life we love and we must be pleased with that. ?
However I do need to discuss concerning the duty I’ve personally been feeling to take a more in-depth have a look at my way of life, the way it has developed over the previous 6 years and whether or not it’ll be sustainable (each environmentally, bodily and mentally) to stick with it this manner. And what thrilling methods there are to regulate it (that is for a future weblog put up).
You see, I like travelling. I nonetheless do and I most likely at all times will. It’s one of many best pleasures and privileges of my life to have the ability to journey and see this superb planet. ?
And that’s additionally why I really feel so strongly that I have to play a job in making an attempt to put it aside. There’s merely an excessive amount of in danger to not step up now.
We solely have round 8.5 years of carbon funds to burn as a society, after that we’re heading straight for at least a 2°C warming (and that’s a conservative estimate) at which level suggestions loops and tipping factors will kick off resulting in runaway local weather change which we received’t be capable to cease anymore.
Gulp. ?♀️
Now, my pure digital nomad method to an issue of this scale would normally be to e book a airplane ticket for as far-off as potential. I’m not kidding. It will be a lot simpler and rather more enjoyable to easily run away and attempt to ignore this.
However when you see the size of the disaster, it’s not possible to unsee. So right here I’m.
In Wiltshire, UK. At my in-laws dwelling packing as much as spend the subsequent week in London, becoming a member of the Worldwide Rise up by non-violent direct motion.
The perks of being a nomad
And after the rollercoaster of feelings had worn off just a little bit, I realised how grateful I’m that I created a enterprise and way of life that permits me to spend every week away from my laptop computer (virtually a complete week, we’ll be working a dwell occasion from the Rise up along with my sensible buddy Sophia Cheng, read her Titanic-themed blog post about becoming an activist here) and be a part of this motion.
And it’s my digital nomad way of life that allowed me to do that. So sure, a digital nomad generally is a local weather activist. ??✊
So if any fellow digital nomads are studying this who questioned if you happen to can participate in any of the actions, marches, and protests taking place all over the world or whether or not you’re hypocrites, I need to let you understand that we’re no extra hypocrites than everybody else dwelling on this damaged system. Sure, particular person motion issues, a LOT. However with out the systemic change wanted, it received’t be sufficient. So let’s begin there as time is working out. (watch my friend Sophia’s Stand Up for the Planet comedy routine, she touches upon this subject in a hilarious method ?).
Because the saying goes, we don’t want 1 local weather activist doing all the things completely, we’d like thousands and thousands of local weather activists doing issues imperfectly.
So wherever you’re on the planet, become involved. Give a chat at a coworking area. Be part of a protest. Volunteer to admin a neighborhood Fb Group for XR or some other motion. I consider there’s a job for every of us and sure, a digital nomad generally is a local weather activist.
There are such a lot of issues we will do collectively imperfectly. Now’s the time.
I’ll write once more after my time in London to maintain you posted about what’s happening.
Love and rage,
Jenny
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