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Unless we solve the Climate Crisis, nothing else will matter.

It’s imperative that we compassionately help those dependent on the Fossil Fuel economy, and other outmoded industries; to overcome their fears and awaken them to the Green possibilities that await them.

Summer 2021:

We have a Problem here: The world is moving forward with a Green Energy paradigm shift. The benefits of the growing Green Energy Economy far outweigh the waning benefits of the dying Fossil Fuel Industry and all outmoded Old Paradigm Energies, including fracking and plastics, mega dams, and nuclear power, is fighting tooth and nail, clinging to old ways that are killing the planet. All those who profit from these outmoded industries are exacerbating The Climate Crisis and leading us down a path to total annihilation.
Fear of change, fear of loss, and fear of the unknown, are known to shut down the creative processes, so those who have fears have trouble imagining how the Green Energy Economy might benefit them.
Therein lies the fear: the unknown.
Our task (saving our planet) is to help the fearful rise above their fears by demonstrating that our aim is to see that no one is left behind, and how we can all benefit from and thrive in The Green Energy Economy.

In order to mitigate their fears, we’ll need to make it real for them; transform the unknown to the known. They’ll need concrete examples of people just like them who have successfully transitioned and are now enjoying the benefits of going Green. If “they” can do it, we all can do it, right?
Unfortunately, although supporters of the Green Energy movement enthusiastically tell us that Green Energy will open up millions of new jobs, but people need to hear more than just “wonderful employment opportunities”. The promise of millions of jobs, sometime in the far-off future, does nothing to allay the fear of today’s disastrous job losses. People need to see pragmatic real-life solutions.  They need to see a realistic roadmap for how to get from here to there! This would set their minds at ease, and their hearts on fire!
Without a plan, it’s just a dream…or a fear!

We have been surprised and disappointed at the lack of specifics, and we recently felt compelled to fill the void.

If we get on board with Green opportunities “before” companies are shutdown and jobs disappear, we can replace people’s fears with enthusiasm – they will be empowered to design their own lives and create their own destinies.
To that end, we need to urge all of our Elected Officials, especially President Biden, and our Special Presidential Envoy for Climate: John Kerry, as well as Community Leaders, especially those at all levels of the Fossil Fuel Industries, and ourselves, as individuals, to please consider these random thoughts as the Seed of a Plan for how to transition from here to there; from Fossil Fuels to a sustainable Green Energy Economy:

[I ask that you pay close attention to the following, which are outlined in the document I have referred to:

– Form Climate Agencies
– Create “Think Tanks,
– Conduct Town Halls
– Create Comprehensive Local Plans

– The Climate Hero Hotline and Awards/TV Show
– Offer Career Counseling
– Create a Climate Clearinghouse
– Transform the Military Industrial Complex into a Vehicle for Peace and Healing
– Inspire everyone to imagine Innovative Technologies and practices for solving the Climate Crisis through Creativity and collaboration
– Find alternatives to mining the materials utilized in computer chips, solar panels, batteries, etc.
– Create Green solutions to our supply chain
– End the conflict of interest in Election Campaigns
– Create a fair equitable system of campaign financing
– We Need to Include Everyone, that we need to ensure that all new developments are made in consultation with the Indigenous / Peoples in the affected area.]

1. Create Peace. The Climate Crisis is the common threat that will sooner or later bring us all together. Sooner is better. As one organization says about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth Assessment Report: “We’ve Already Warmed the Planet to Catastrophic Effect, but the Level of That Catastrophe Is Up to Us – There’s no going back, but there is a way forward: Act now and go big.”

2. The Transition is already happening. We’re moving into a new Paradigm. It must happen, or no species will survive!

3. Acknowledge that we’re all in this together and strive to develop compassionate, win-win solutions for all – including members of the Fossil Fuel, and other outmoded industries. We all will need to make sacrifices. They have the added fear of sacrificing their livelihoods in order to make the transition away from the Fossil Fuel Economy.

4. The Transition to Green Energy is a process that will prevent job losses, if done in advance of the shutdowns and closings. The steps of the Transition need to be put in place ASAP, before the companies are closed and any jobs are lost.

5. The Transition needs to be addressed from two perspectives:

A From Top Down: Based on Global coordination, the US Government Climate-related Agencies can designate and orchestrate the nature and timing of the changes and closures to be made.

B. From Bottom Up: A Climate Hero Hotline (with anonymous option) can be created for citizens and companies to report Climate Policy breaches as well as request personal or community-wide help for the transition. (Thousands of people will have to be trained and employed to facilitate this process).

Create Climate Heroes Awards:

Let’s celebrate those who are on the Front lines, as individuals, organizations, and companies, making sacrifices, for all of us to get through this Climate Change Catastrophe Emergency together! My vision is that these Heroes would be celebrated for their accomplishments, including manufacturing innovative products and Climate-Friendly policies, etc.; and given the opportunity to share their important messages about what inspired them, and what they want to see for the future survival of our country, and the sustainability of our planet.
Climate Heroes Awards – Rationale:
Rewarding those who are going above and beyond the call of duty in doing the right thing, will hopefully set the bar high for those who might not otherwise think of doing so, and will put public pressure on, to encourage others who might actually be working counter to the goals of good Climate Change policies.

We could award some form of certificate, or even a plaque for people to display, and maybe some form of a seal that can be displayed on people’s websites and/or social media, and in the window of a business. More importantly, it would be good to create an online directory so that those who receive this recognition, will be listed before they receive their awards at a ceremony. This would include their provided contact information, website, and their social media connections, etc., so that people can immediately contribute to their endeavors, as soon as they see any news coverage of the award (So many times while watching a news program, I would want to share a specific story from the news on my Social media, and I can’t find it in the news outlet’s website or on their social media Pages).

Out of Fairness to everyone, I think that we could come up with some form of nomination process, and we could encourage people to post a link to the Nomination Application, on their websites, blogs, and Social Media, and we might want to enlist a Board of Environmental Volunteers to help with the decision making process. Furthermore, it would also be important to stress that while these are the people who are getting public recognition, that there are countless other people in our Communities who also deserve our thanks and gratitude. Also when we get through this pandemic, it would be great to have a Broadcast / Social Media Awards Ceremony / Party where everyone, especially in the wake of these somber times, would be able to finally meet each other in person, and come together as a Community of Heroes!

6. Encourage people to envision the world that we need to create if we’re going to survive on this planet. We all need food, clothing, shelter, and an environment that can sustain us: viable soil, clean air, pure water, and harmony among all sentient beings.

7. Rely on legitimate and scientific facts and information.
8. Expose the Truth about the Climate Conspiracy Theories and discredit the Climate Deniers.
9. Hold Social and News media to the truth. They must set straight the conspiracy theories, Climate denials, and false claims. Focus on the real urgency of the Climate Crisis.
10. Demonstrate and publicize the benefits of serving the greater good as well as the necessity and inevitability of The New Paradigm. Reveal the pitfalls of greed and other self-serving motivations. Encourage compassion, altruism, and win/win solutions.

I hope that this seed of a plan serves as a tool to help you to dispel the fears and get others on board to save the planet.
Thank you for your concern about these issues. If you have questions, comments, or additions, I look forward to hearing from you in the comment section below.

11.Determine who’s benefiting from the Fossil Fuel Industry: Stockholders, Companies, their Subsidiaries and supply chains, Corporate Executives, Company Employees, Customers, and Consumers. They’re all profiting from and dependent upon the Fossil Fuel Economy. They fear what they think they might lose: wealth, income, power, security, a job, a defined position in the social structure, etc., so they stay in their comfort zones and grasp to wring the last dollar out of the dying Fossil Fuel Economy.
12. Find out specifically what they are afraid of losing if they give up their Fossil Fuel dependence?
13.”It is fear that stops us from living our inner dream…fear is the seed of regret.” Bob Mayer

14. By definition, the opposite of fear is Faith, Love, Peace, and Curiosity.
15. It’s imperative that we compassionately help those dependent on the Fossil Fuel economy and other outmoded industries, to overcome their fears and awaken them to the Green possibilities that await them. Time is short!
16.Finally, those who are resisting the changes will see a pathway forward. They’ll look at the future with enthusiasm instead of fear.

17.Energy systems that are causing the Climate Crisis and destroying our health must be phased out and eliminated ASAP. Energies that restore the Earth and renew our health must be instituted immediately…passive solar, sustainable wind, love and compassion, and things that we have yet to imagine, to name a few.

18.Show tangible examples of real companies, communities, and individuals who have already made the Transition.

19.Form Climate Agencies on various levels to identify the industries and companies that are doing the greatest damage to the climate in order to ramp up Green replacement technologies, practices, and jobs in order to fuel the Green Economy.

20.Create “Think Tanks” in which transitioning companies, stakeholders, and interested Community Members, will brainstorm, envision, and design the kind of sustainable products, businesses, and employment opportunities that they would all like to see in their communities…energy-producing or otherwise.

21.Conduct Town Hall Meetings that will incorporate the results of the Think Tanks to address the Transition community-wide and create a plan that will encompass the entire community.

22.We can look at incorporating elements of the Transition Towns model, into our Town Hall Meetings:
“Transition is a movement of communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world.” – from their website “What is Transition? | Circular Model & Reconomy”:
https://transitionnetwork.org/about-the-movement/what-is-transition/
(While we refer to “Transition” in this Energy Paradigm Shift writing, this is not to be confused with the Transition Towns movement)
We can then, assess the benefits and drawbacks of the community’s resources. What are the finest attributes and the biggest deficits? What does it lack? What can be repurposed? Why would people want to live there? Be creative!

23.Network with other communities: Regionally, Nationally, and Globally.

24.Create Comprehensive Local Plans that align with the global Climate Change philosophy, and the Laws of Nature.

25.How do these Local Plans best utilize people’s gifts, benefit the larger community, and serve the greater good?

26.Offer Career Counseling: Consider all of the individuals affected by this Transition. Include everyone from Fossil Fuel Executives to the Unhoused and Jobless. What are their greatest gifts? Would they like to train for a different kind of job or career? Move to a different part of the country? Now’s the time to “follow your dreams” and improve your life for the sake of all of our lives. Anything is possible!
27.Include in the Career Counseling: trauma, grief, and loss counseling, etc., for those impacted.
28.Create a policy in which people and companies would be paid for retraining, redesigning, and retooling during the Transition, and/or provide a Universal Basic Income.

29.Create a Climate Clearinghouse devoted to urgent innovative and robust Research and Development of Sustainable Energy Resources and products, to connect great ideas with the inventors and companies who can develop and manifest those ideas. We need to examine the products already available on the market, prototypes of products and concepts, and communities using innovative solutions, etc.. We need to gather the ideas and bring them together with the people who could bring them to life!

30.Pinpoint and notify the actual mines, factories, businesses, subsidiaries, and jobholders that will eventually have to be phased out.

31.Transform the Military Industrial Complex into a vehicle for Peace and Healing.
32.Inspire everyone to imagine innovative technologies and practices for solving the Climate Crisis through Creativity. Collaborate! Work thru art, music, movement, and prayer to inspire imagination. Listen especially to the children, youth, indigenous people, and visionaries.

33.Reexamine the way that we use Earth’s resources.
34.Reduce Human consumption.
35.Rethink everything about plastics! Replacement now!

36.Eliminate Nuclear Power plants. Nuclear fission? Nuclear fusion? According to those who have researched the Nuclear industry diligently, neither are sustainable.

37.As the Fossil Fuel Industry shuts down in the US, don’t default to buying Fossil Fuels from overseas.

38.Invest in aggressive and robust Research and Development of alternative energy resources.

39.The manufacturing process of Green products must also be Green.

40.The manufacturing plan should anticipate that Green products will eventually wear out and/or outlive their usefulness. Plan for how they will ultimately be re-used or recycled.
41.Find alternatives to mining the materials utilized in computer chips, solar panels and solar batteries, etc.. I have heard, but haven’t completely confirmed, that wind turbine blades can’t be recycled, and end up taking up huge space in landfills, so we need to find ways that wind turbine blades can be recycled, and/or develop, perhaps smaller neighborhood scale, new wind power technologies.

42.The disastrous Global Supply Chain problems are demanding Green solutions to our outmoded Supply Chain and we can’t afford to go back to the status quo – we must seize the opportunity to innovate a sustainable Green Supply Chain!

43.End the Conflict of interest in election campaigns. Many Elected Officials take millions of dollars from the fossil fuel industry, in the form of Campaign Contributions, in at least millions of dollars, as well as other forms of unlisted “perks” and “gifts”. In addition to greed, and loss of their personal investment income, they fear losing their fossil fuel contributions, their comfortable positions and status in society. They will thus need alternative campaign financing streams.
44. Create a fair and equitable system of campaign financing through election reform and eliminating Citizens United.
45. When Elected Officials are free to vote their conscience, and the people have a voice in the pace and direction of the Transition, their fears will be transformed.
46. Elect Climate Heroes at all levels who are dedicated to eradicating the Climate Catastrophe Emergency and shepherding in the Green Economy.

47. We need to include Everyone:  Let’s pray to uplift all who hate. May they heal from their grievances. Let’s stop the divisiveness of partisan Politics, so that all World Religions, Tribes, Indigenous Peoples, and Spiritual Faiths, can come together with Unity in CommUnity so that we all can have a true Peace on Earth!! I thus emphasize that all need to be included in these plans, especially those who are disenfranchised, and/or are in Minority, and Indigenous Communities who are at the heart of the Environmental Justice Movements. 

48. Create a Social Media Campaign including a National Broadcast and YouTube Channel to cover and promote the work of this Green Energy Economy, to help encourage more buy-in for our sustainable future.

49.Again, champion the innovators and celebrate their achievements in ways that will motivate the masses to join the movement to save the planet.

49. Let’s celebrate our climate achievements with awe-inspiring alternatives to fireworks for celebrating special events. Fireworks not only poison the planet, they terrify dogs, babies, and, really, all sentient beings. They trigger Veterans and all who have PTSD. Fireworks are not essential. Celebrations are!

So to recap, how to prevent fear or loss due to the Green Energy Economy? Create Peace. Think ahead and create the future. Consider everyone. Overcome the fears. Start “yesterday” to plan for tomorrow. Share the love. Celebrate the Transition!

In the meantime, please pass this post along to anyone who might be able to use these thoughts to support the Green Energy Economy, the Biden Administration and other world leaders’ Climate efforts – at all levels! With gratitude for your wonderful work and heartfelt prayers for your continued good health, devotion to Green Energy, and perseverance…
In Peace and Love,

Heidi J Vierthaler

But There’s more! I am building a list of resource people and organizations to Shepherd this process into reality. If you want to get involved, please let me know.

P.S./FYI: This writing was inspired by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland’s nomination hearing, and how she got hammered on for her stance on Green Energy, and Fossil Fuels. Here’s a handy guide to how much money every Republican senator who served on that committee takes from the fossil fuel industry. Via “Accountable Senate War Room”.
https://www.accountable.us/news/new-research-highlights-the-nearly-8-8m-in-oil-contributions-fueling-gop-smears-of-climate-champion-haaland/

I leave you with the lyrics to my song  X-on Oil Spills with thoughts of the devastation of all of the oil spills (It was written before the Seattle One Month Anniversary Memorial of the Exxon Valdez tragedy (the spill occurred March 24, 1989), where I learned that oil is toxic to the touch), and other spills, especially what I call the Man-made BPee Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Volcano and carcinogenic Corexit dispersants used to cover up the so-called spill which has made friends sick and killed many along the Gulf of Mexico (please see my related post about my Hurricane Katrina Questionnaire here:
https://www.facebook.com/690312604/posts/10157102751622605/ )
and now the new Huntington Beach oil spill in California.

X-on Oil Spills:
Let’s put an X-on the oil spoils
Let’s look
For something without a dollar luring hook
Let’s put an X on the oil spoils
Oil creates
Great
Environmental foils
Oil boils
All life’s toils
And pulls the rug out from the royal
So they go downward from the money coil
And outward walk the painfilled loyal
Who know their consciousness they have soiled
And their minds they have broiled –
Let’s put an X-on the oil spoils.

© 1989 Heidi Johanna Vierthaler

The work is Copyrighted in the us Library of Congress; but if you contact me, I am willing to teach you how to sing it!
Thank you for reading this, I hope that you will get involved and find ways that you can work within your own Communities, or in whatever capacity that you can, to implement some of ideas, and help to make the transition to a Green Energy Economy as effective and joy-filled a process as possible for all for the sake of the survival of our planet.
Thank you,

Heidi

###

This is a modified version of my October 10, 2021 Facebook Post:

On the eve of the most crucial Rally in our Global History: “The People Vs. Fossil Fuels: Biden’s Test” October 11-15, 2021, and Indigenous People’s Day, I felt compelled to share my writing: “The Energy Paradigm Shift: Transforming Fear into a Green Energy Economy” devoted to the transition to our new Peaceful Clean Green Energy Economy. The writing might not be perfect, but people need to see it so that some of these concepts and concerns are addressed not only at this week’s “People Vs. Fossil Fuels” action, but carried all the way to “the Glasgow UN climate summit in November, …the “last, best chance” for our [Global] government[s] to change course and ensure a just, renewable energy future for all of us.”

Please get involved with this most important endeavor:
https://peoplevsfossilfuels.org/action-info/
[P.S. October 22, 2021: Since this historic week-long People vs Fossil Fuels week of Action was held where over 650 people went to jail to save our planet, I have learned that Biden’s Build Back Better Infrastructure Bill does not go far enough to protect the natural resources of our Earth’s ecosystem, and includes a lot of concessions for the Fossil Fuel Industry, to allow it to continue to operate “status quo”. We must do better than that, We need a total paradigm shift in order for us all to survive, we need to strengthen Biden’s Build Back Better Bill to include the demands of the organizers of the “People vs Fossil Fuels” Actions, please see them here:

https://peoplevsfossilfuels.org/demands/
We also need to include the provisions within my following writing “The Energy Paradigm Shift: Transforming Fear into a Green Economy” so that those who are opposing Biden’s Build Back Better Bill, will see that they will be embraced in the Build Back Better Plan. This will then position our great country the United States of America, as a bright beacon for the world to follow as we go into the COP in Glasgow.]
and heed their invitation here:
https://peoplevsfossilfuels.org/invitation/
[A personal note from my Facebook Post:]
I am so honored to be Friends with at least two of the Creators of this Action:
– Casey Camp-Horinek, Environmental Ambassador, Ponca Nation of Oklahoma:
I was blessed to have met her at the Cowboy and Indian Alliance’s Reject and Protect Rally against the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline in Washington DC in April of 2014
– Joye Braun, National Pipelines Organizer with Indigenous Environmental Network:
I am so grateful that she was the first person to join LaDonna Brave Bull Allard’s call to create the Sacred Stone camp to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would grow to become the historic Standing Rock movement.

I am full of gratitude for their friendship here.
– I also continue to support the efforts of Sharon Lavigne, Founder, RISE St. James, against Formosa chemicals, etc. in “Cancer Alley” now “Death Alley” along the Mississippi River, and the movement to stop the Line 3 Tar Sands Pipeline),

and more importantly for all of their endeavors to save our only beloved home Planet Earth.

I wish that I could be there, with you all, but I am currently working on a project that is focused on achieving my goals of making the world a better place, and one of the most important goals is to stop the Climate Change Catastrophe Emergency, including Getting Out The Vote for a Yes on Referendum question #1 in Maine to stop the CMP NECEC Transmission Line Corridor (please see my Facebook Profile Photograph Caption, and my introductory post for more information about this: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157195142947605&id=690312604 ), so I might not be able to follow the events of this crucial Action as I would normally be doing, please follow their Facebook Event Page, and follow the organizers Facebook Pages and turn on notifications for their Facebook Live Streams. Also if you are there, or know someone who is, please let us know so that we can follow your coverage:
https://facebook.com/events/s/people-vs-fossil-fuels-bidens-/604256263905218/
We
I would also be remiss if I didn’t let you know about our Maine in Wabanaki Territory, observation of this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, … VIRTUAL rally in support of Wabanaki Rights! Happening today, October 11, from 10AM-Noon. These are not just rural Maine issues. These are national issues of equity and justice:
https://facebook.com/events/s/rally-for-wabanaki-rights-a-vi/720127496050141/
I am tagging my Climate Hero Friends so that you might be able to help to further amplify these important messages, and because I value our Friendship. Thank you.
I will be there in Spirit, so please take my love with you.

Heidi