Patches of snow dotting the grass around Sellick Bowl are evidence of the sudden rise in temperatures this February.Photo credit: Natalie Gu.
Jack Williams Staff Reporter | [email protected]
Students are exposed to explanations about the climate crisis every day. Scientists sound the alarm While newsfeeds are filled with fires and floods, about impending changes in weather patterns. Students are beginning to realize the seriousness of the situation as they bear the physical and financial burden of these disasters.
However, an unintended consequence of disaster messages is that people may become aware of climate change only during large-scale events. This risks overlooking how daily life is already being affected. Big changes are being seen not only in far-flung places on television, but also within our own communities.
Cultural sectors such as work and recreation are being forced to adapt to the new reality of unpredictable weather.
Hugh Weatherly, a first-year environmental studies major, told how his shift as a lifeguard in Illinois was canceled because the skies were dark and smoky. Canadian wildfires in summer 2023.
“When I looked up at the sky, I was looking almost straight at the sun, and all I could see was a red ball in the sky,” Weatherly said. “I thought, ‘Oh, this is the apocalypse.’ What’s going on?'”
Mr. Weatherly’s ability to work, and people’s ability to relax by the pool in the summer, was interrupted by fires in other countries. Disturbing scenes show the effects of seemingly distant ecological events. become increasingly common As time goes by. Events such as droughts and floods can disrupt globalized supply chains that are vulnerable to a single disruption. Both limited access to products once taken for granted and changing local weather patterns could change how communities understand work and play. There is a gender.
The standards for what a normal environment looks like have become blurred. Orange skies and acrid smoke are strange for now in Illinois, but they’re already an accepted part of life in fire-prone places like California. Humans have adapted to changing their expectations in response to changes in the world around them. This ability allows humans to thrive in a variety of situations, but it also means that they are less likely to notice changes in their environment.
Dr. Jesse Van Gerven, assistant professor of science, technology, and environmental studies, observed generational differences in his own youth and in his children.
“My children are growing up in a world where it snows twice in the winter,” Van Gerven said. “I didn’t grow up like that, but [but] They will never know any different. It will not be perceived as a loss to them. ”
Regions where frigid temperatures were once the norm lose more than just snowflakes as winters warm. Whether consciously or not, people rely on the seasons to keep track of time. Sixty-degree weather in February sounds great, but there’s a flicker of anxiety in the Midwest. Temporary anomalies are signs of large-scale and permanent environmental changes to come. There is something wrong with the world, even if people cannot point it out at the moment.
That anxiety is combined with a series of missed opportunities, from sledding to snowball fights. These experiences are part of a common cultural language. Parents use winter activities to share the joys of their childhood with their children in a way that words alone can never express.
The next generation is limited by the natural state of the world as they perceive it. They may be trying to restore the ecosystems they know, but these ecosystems have already changed dramatically. This is why it is important to inherit a memory of the environment. The knowledge that the world is different and that we can change it will drive efforts to imagine a more sustainable future.
Meanwhile, the goal of climate change activism is shifting from convincing people that climate change is real to encouraging them to act on that knowledge. People must be encouraged to invest personally in the fight against climate change, without ending up with: nihilism.
Hannah Howard, junior environmental studies major, president ecorepobserved how communities that were previously shielded from the effects of climate change are struggling to accept the trade-offs needed to combat climate change.
“In America, people don’t want to give up on things,” Howard said. “[But] Some people constantly have to make analytical decisions.I think we’ll see a more favorable situation. [communities] You have to make those choices. Unfortunately, people don’t notice things until the dominant social group does. ”
Marginalized communities are bearing the brunt. pollution and decades of natural disasters. Recognizing this fact is critical to ensuring that campaigns to combat climate change are fair and do not cause further suffering.Increased willingness to call out companies on emissions and greenwashing About celebrities using private jets reflects this perception.
The voice of the people, especially the voice of students, is the most powerful tool for creating positive impact. Van Gerven encourages students to find a place where they can make their voices heard.
“you [can] Convince your friends and family to shop and behave in a more sustainable way,” Van Gerven said. “That’s great. This is how we’re making incremental progress. But what we need now is [progress] With multiplication, the policy is how to [do that]”
Students can use their influence in universities, offices, and houses of worship to change local policy. These larger institutions can focus on state and national policy. By taking action from the bottom up, we can ensure that the communities most affected by climate change are not overlooked.
If students want to attend Butler University, they can. ecorep Or attend an event hosted by EcoReps.Activities to date include exchanging school uniforms and Under planningis reusing shopping bags to create knitted mats for people experiencing homelessness.
“It’s the little things you do that make a difference,” Howard said. “you can [share what you learn] With my friends at school. Advocate for broader change and don’t let big business get away with this issue. ”