Sent on
October 12, 2021
by
Court Baker
Send Your Own Message

Dear Sophie, Stella, Rhett, Gilda and Ellie,

I tried.

I tried my very best to stop it.

I composted, recycled, gardened, organized litter pickups, devoted my career to conservation. I gave up monetary wealth, and our culture’s idea of success. I stayed informed and got into lots of arguments. I shopped with reusable containers and bags, I bought second hand, I sewed, glued, nailed and repaired EVERYTHING – no matter how sick I was of it. I rejected palm oil, tropical fruits and New Zealand lamb. I created pollinator gardens and a certified wildlife habitat where there was just grass. I drove as little as possible, and carpooled. I took you kids outside. I went to rallies, I protested Conservative governments and unfair trade deals, I ran from tear gas, I signed every petition I could. I attended webinars, I shared on social media, I tried to learn from Indigenous leaders.

I did it all. And I did it until I couldn’t read anymore without feeling the dread. I did it until I had nightmares and had to stop reading the news. I did it until I cried every night. Then, I prepared an emergency bag, a kit with water, food and first aid so I would be ready for floods and fires. I began trying to manage my eco-anxiety.

I hope it mattered.

Share on:
 
Send Your Own Message

More Messages to the Future

 

To my children,

I am working with 350.org on shutting down the coal and unconventional gas industries in our country because I cannot think of a more direct way to protect you, the food, water and biodiversity we all love and rely on.
 

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to switch from “light” to “deep” green.
 

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to educate myself and others about how we can protect and nourish our 1 PLANET
 

To My Future Children,

Most importantly, I hope you live in a world where science is taken seriously and fact is clearly distinguished from fiction.
 

My grandchildren,

I promise to do my very best to educate your parents as best I can.
 

To my Maria and her children,

I have to tell you something: it is so hard to keep our life “green” for now, but we still keep trying.
 

Dear Finley,

I wonder if in 2050 we will be looking at a future where fear from the changes at hand has caused people to hate rather than love and provide hope. Perhaps in that world we will we no longer comprehend the biblical texts in a meaningful way. Will climate change be the end of the epoch of God?
 

Dear future child whatever your name is,

Climate change right now is really bad, I’m writing this during the COP26 conference in Glasgow (which is an hour away) and I’m listening to politicians talking about promises for the future. “If we fail, future generations will never forgive us.” -Boris Johnson
 

My darling Cassidy,

I know I need to write this to you, and I don’t want to because it makes me so sad. I have been desperately avoiding my feelings about climate change, for many years, but especially and with greater intensity every year since you were born.
 

To the future generations,

I will stand on the streets, in the courts, and in the schools to encourage awareness and empathy for the earth.
 

To my precious children

I want clean air, clean energy and muddy feet for you. I want this for all children.
 

Dear June and Colin,

I’m sad and angry that collectively more has not been done to this date. And that still with such dire warnings, obvious impacts, those in power are acting far too slowly.
View All Messages

Send Your Own Message