Air

Air.

We always took it for granted; we barely gave it a thought. We knew it would always be there.

Until suddenly it wasn’t. Air. The air we breathe.

Suddenly there’s an air quality alert on the day’s weather forecast. Stay inside, it says. Don’t go outdoors.

On these days, now all too frequent, the blue sky drains away and becomes a sickly white overhead. Sometimes you can smell smoke from the distant wildfires. Stay inside, they warn. Close the windows.

It’s like being in jail. I feel an oppression far worse than during the pandemic. Then we could escape into nature, we could find a park, a preserve, a trail, and breathe free. On these days, we huddle indoors. No hiking. No jogging. No dog-walking, no frisbee, no gardening, no sunbathing. There is no sun, only a pale ball glowing weirdly behind gray veils.

Beside this, everything else falls away. Suddenly, the culture wars don’t matter. Think woke pronouns are silly? Who should use which bathroom? It all pales into insignificance beside not being able to breathe.

But what can we do? you ask. I’ve changed my light bulbs to the new kind. I compost. I recycle. I’ve even considered solar and I’m going to do it one of these days. How can we bring the blue sky back? Who can fix the air?

There’s one thing we can do. Vote.

Every election, millions of Americans don’t vote. Even ones who love nature and are concerned for the environment. Because they “don’t do politics.”

I think that an organization called the Environmental Voter Project is on to something. Here’s how they describe their work: “With behavioral science-informed messaging, we call, canvass, mail, and send digital ads to millions of low-propensity environmental voters each year with just one goal: turning them into better voters.” In other words, they reach out to folks who love nature but haven’t yet made the connection between loving nature and voting to protect it.

You can donate to EVP, of course, or you can get more directly involved. They have an excellent phone-banking program that runs all year, not just in fall for the big election. You sign up for a certain date and time, and after a brief Zoom training you’re given a script and some phone numbers to call.

As someone who’s a bit telephone-phobic, this is a stretch for me, but it’s effective. You don’t have to get in a big long conversation, just say your piece, thank you, and hang up. You might be calling voters in Pennsylvania to remind them about the upcoming primaries, or giving voters in Nebraska information about a special election. Elections are getting more and more confusing and bewildering, the rules change all the time. Giving clear information can help smooth the path for a reluctant voter.

And EVP also has useful postcarding programs, sending notes to carefully targeted audiences who, if they vote at all, will vote to support environmental causes.

And if you’re not up for phone banking or donating right now, I think their general idea has a lot of merit: seeking out voters who are on the fence about voting and giving them a gentle reminder of the stakes coming up in November.

Do you know anyone who loves nature, but “doesn’t do politics”? Someone who cherishes the red gleam of a cardinal at the feeder? Someone who spends hours in the garden nurturing tulips or fussing over irises? Can you nudge them in the direction of their polling place?

We have to get out the vote. That’s all that matters. We have to move heaven and earth to get everyone who will vote for the environment to the polls in each and every election. Think, right now, what you can do to make that happen.

Or else get used to holding your breath.

Dear Friends,

Are you furious about the state of the world and wondering what to do about it? I hope you’ll continue to check out The Optimistic Activist.

Every now and then I post some ideas for doing something. How to get out the vote, spread the word, and support progressive candidates. Ideas for simple but effective activism. As easy, as practical, as do-able as I can make them.

Together, I think, we can really make a difference.

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.”

--Noam Chomsky

anitasanchez.com