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Words from the Heart:
Hello my fans, it's Gary. I wanted to talk about something very important & implore you to indulge. I was born & raised in Salem, Oregon, where my family still lives. I have always had a passion for nature & regularly hike in the Cascade Mountains. /1
Hello my fans, it's Gary. I wanted to talk about something very important & implore you to indulge. I was born & raised in Salem, Oregon, where my family still lives. I have always had a passion for nature & regularly hike in the Cascade Mountains. /1
Since Tuesday, Oregon has experienced the worst wildfires in history & entire towns are destroyed. My family hasn’t been able to go outside for days because the air isn’t breathable & ash rains from the sky. My heart breaks for Oregon, but it isn’t just my home that is burning /2
My heart breaks for Oregon, but it isn’t just my home that is burning; Australia, Siberia, the Amazon, Congo & the planet itself faces an unprecedented climate crisis. The devastation caused by a changing environment is not in the future (though worse comes), it’s here, now /3
Thinking about the state of nature has made me unbearably depressed. Yet, I choose to live every day with hope & joy. It's still possible for us to offset the worst devastation & leave behind a world still suitable for the next generation but it will require united action /4
Oceans absorb the most CO2 & are the hardest hit by climate change, notably in the form of coral acidification. Coral reefs are home to most aquatic life, yet 50% of all coral reefs have died in the past 30 years, & 90% will die by 2050. Caring for our oceans is paramount. /5
This is why I donated $1,000 to @OurOcean. Let me be very clear: this donation hurts. I am living off of the podcast income, which is less than that per month. I have had to dip into my savings to do this. I’m not trying to brag or bring any glory to myself /6
I'm telling you this because I think we all need to make an effort to effect positive change. We cannot expect politicians to do it for us, since they will never ask us to sacrifice any wealth because that is unpopular. It is upon us to be stewards of the Earth. /7
I chose to live simply, donate whatever wealth I can spare & dedicate one hour every week to caring for our environment. I believe in hope; I cannot live without it. I hope my generation rejects materialism & petty wealth gain & puts the health of themselves & our planet first /8
Let every crisis be a call to action & let us find hope & purpose in it. Do not give in to despair. The troubles ahead are unprecedented but so is our capacity to deal with them. Below are links explaining how you can help combat climate change & leave behind a better world /9
Moreover, if you do have the wealth to donate to @OurOcean, the @SierraClub or the @WWF, please do; it will be the best money you’ve ever spent. /10
With hope and love,
Gary Girod
With hope and love,
Gary Girod
