Do you have a dream that will make a positive difference?
What a week! (Aren't they always!) 🙃
On a global scale, we said goodbye to Dolly Parton but also celebrated all she achieved in her lifetime – a legacy of music, generosity and a belief in giving others a better chance. I’m sure her Imagination Library will continue to change children’s lives for generations to come. The Legend that was Tim Curry did the Timewarp to his final curtain call.
But most horrific of all was the brutal force of nature that came crashing down on Nepal and Tibet. The Himalayan flash floods that killed hundreds and left many more missing were not caused by an earthquake, despite initially recording a magnitude of 4.4. Instead, it resulted from a glacier collapse so violent that it generated its own seismic signal.
Today marks the anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s historic 'I Have a Dream' speech – a speech about life, liberty, equality and the pursuit of happiness. He dreamed that all men (and women, I would hope) would be equal. Freedom would ring from every hill and mountainside, not melting ice rivers.
Climate change has not been an equal experience. Many of the world's poorest nations have suffered its consequences despite contributing far less to the problem, often without the safety nets available to wealthier countries.
But as the divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ grows, climate inequality won't remain someone else's problem if those who can act don't. Nature doesn't check your bank balance before it responds. Remember, when the last tree is cut... you can’t eat money.
But I have a dream.
Despite the horrors of the world, many of which are human-made, there are so many people working hard to make a difference. And this brings hope! I’m lucky to be part of some wonderful, proactive communities where people aren't satisfied with talking about change – they're getting on with creating it.
So many heroes’ journeys begin with one simple question: What can I do? Dolly once said she just gave from her heart. She started with songs, books and small acts of generosity, and look where they grew. When something feels too big, perhaps that's the lesson. Don't ask, " Where do I begin? This job is too big for me."
Ask, "What can I do now?" Show others how to make a positive impact. Lead the way. Encourage someone else to follow. Don't spend a small fortune on carrier bags at the supermarket (I dream of the day they're banned). Write to your MP. Watch the People’s Emergency Briefing if you haven't already. Make the changes you can and help others to do what they can.
One action at a time. That's how dreams become movements. Now is the time for climate justice with a soul force.
I was reminded this week of one of the very few Portuguese words I can remember: força – strength, power and resilience, encompassing both physical and inner fortitude. So, my wish is that you go into the Bank Holiday weekend with a little more força.
Do you have a dream that will make a positive difference?
