Since my two daughters emerged into this world, all of my tomorrows have become more dear.

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Ken Knapp
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To my wide-eyed warrioresses,

Cradling your daughter in your arms for the first time changes you—and your future—forever. Since my two daughters emerged into this world, all of my tomorrows have become more dear.

A climate-changed world is anything but a proud legacy, my dear daughters. But you have given me gifts more powerful than despair: wonder and curiosity, as well as the passion of my eldest and the resolve of my youngest. A father relearns about the world through the eyes of his daughters, which is to say that legacy can flow both backward and forward.

Whether it’s a vortex of 400,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats rising in the twilight above Carlsbad Caverns, a Marmota Olympus standing vigil outside its burrow on Hurricane Ridge or a moonrise above the canyons of Mukuntuweap National Monument, our planet is a place of profound beauty and complexity. Its emergence out the cosmos has been a fantastic journey, and this world will not go quietly into the night.

You are both authors of its coming chapters. Humanity has lurched along, inflicting both harm and help, not always in equal measure. Perhaps it’s time for “womanity” to take the lead. Teach me the things I must do, both big and small, then reteach me as new knowledge emerges.

But first, let’s hike somewhere together. The journey to a forever planet starts with a single step.

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For those who come after us,

This is for the countless children I already see suffering the impact of climate change around the world, and the generations to follow.

 

To My Dear Grandchildren,

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Dear X—, Dear A—,

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Dear Tomorrow,

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Loved One,

That we all have a role to play no matter how small, we all can make a difference.

 

Dear sons,

I’ve been so busy since 2012 working towards getting a price on carbon.

 

Dear Future Me: Only open after March 4th, 2050

I don’t regret my past ventures, nor do I believe I will regret my future ventures, but I’ve learned that I’ve needed to manifest these experiences into actions of sustainable development and conservation and protection of our environment.

 

Al mio piccolo, grandissimo bambino,

Hai compiuto da poco 1 anno e giusto ieri hanno annunciato la scoperta di 7 pianeti che potrebbero racchiudere in essi la possibilità di sviluppare, o aver già sviluppato, vita a livello organico.

 

To my daughter and son,

Surrounded by scientists who shared my fears and visions, I often had a hard time to accept that outside our small community climate change received marginal attention.

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