Esquire quoted Dr. Jim Driscoll in a great piece on the emotional impact of climate change, especially on climate scientists: http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a36228/ballad-of-the-sad-climatologists-0815/)
Climate Peer Support: Our model
Climate Peer Support recognizes the immediate and extreme threat to our species from human-caused global warming and the psychological stress this threat creates. We also recognize that different individuals and organizations propose alternative tactics to end this threat—legislation, demonstrations, life-style changes, etc. We support everyone working non-violently to end this threat. Using the tools of peer support, we have four objectives:
OUTREACH. First, we seek to increase dramatically the number of us doing this work by doing One-On-One outreach at the local level—with our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and co-worshipers, lists provided by sympathetic organizations, etc.
PEER SUPPORT. Second, provide psychological support to everyone working on this issue through Listening Turns and Support Groups so that we can all stay active and increasingly effective over time.
LOCAL WORK. Third, create a thick and connected network of decentralized Action Teams at the local level by holding open local discussions across organizational boundaries, setting up Teams as needed and coordinating these Teams through Intergoup/Spokescouncil Meetings.
ELIMINATE RACISM. Fourth, eliminate the white racism and other biases that so often limit our effectiveness by doing at least part of our climate work in a diversity of communities and also working personally on our biases using peer support.
Whatever else you do about global warming, we invite you to help us support this crucial movement.
Just email us at JimDriscoll@NIPSPeerSupport.org and we will get you started. We offer weekend workshops, one-on-one Listening Turns, Topic Discussions, Action and Support Groups in person, on the phone or over the Internet. Descriptions of these activities can be found on this page under “NIPS Model.”
I’ve been a climate activist since 1979. I have fought coal-burning power plants in Florida, written six years’ worth of columns on environmental (most climate) issues in the Tallahassee Democrat, lobbied my reps in Congress, etc., etc., etc. I am exhausted and scared. I hate to admit it, but I am feeling defeated. I hope this is a temporary low, because I don’t want to drag the rest of you down. I want to support your efforts.
Ellie
A prescient article that could be citing our peer support networks:
“An example of this is the national project that brings people together in facilitated small groups to discuss their responses to climate change and make reductions in their carbon footprints. Conversations about loss, grief, anxiety, ambivalence and identity weave their way around practical considerations of how to reduce one’s impact on the world. The combination of truthfulness, support and challenge are key.”
http://aeon.co/magazine/psychology/rosemary-randall-climate-change-psychoanalysis/
Great idea! Thanks for creating and sustaining it
This is so essential. I didn’t even know I needed it until I participated and now look forward to the next meeting (of course with some anticipation and dread, but that’s the benefit). Thank you for starting this. I’m sharing this idea with the marchers and other activists.
Great Marchers for Climate Action are grateful for your continuing support!
I read the Esquire article July 2015 in which Jim Driscoll was mentioned. This article captivated me and I am presently doing a small personal search to identify and become familiar with the mentioned scientist/climatologist/glaciologist.
Great idea. Hard to live with this and keep going and stay balanced! Always feel like not doing enough, not doing it right. No way to get to scale with the issues or sometimes even pick THE issue to best deal with. Focus is needed. Our Elgin Green Groups supports each other while we share what other groups we are involved with are doing. that has worked the best so far!
Now we are trying to fight Enbridge. Wow. Nothing small there! Love the Octopus tar sands model used in the marches–says it all! Sandy K