In 2023 records have been shattered all over the globe – heat, fire, rain, drought and more. We are in climate acceleration now (it started early 2022), and for many, this realization is landing with a thud.

Because of the radical acceleration we’re seeing all over the world, many people are sinking into despair (which is a huge risk for all of us right now, the huge number of people experiencing this), but it’s impossible not to go there, as so many are really starting to understand what is really going on in our beautiful world. It’s a brutal reality to face.

All I can say, as someone who has been through what you’re going through, is feel these deep feelings, sink into them, let them wash over you, but as soon as you can, come out of it, because it’s time to get into action. Action is the only path out of despair.

I have six actions we can all commit to

1. Learn about it! Yes, it’s overwhelming, but that’s why I publish the Weekend Reads every Saturday, and an annual blog is constantly updated with everything I’m reading/watching/listening to – check it out at andreatedwards.com, because it’s time to pay attention to the information that matters.
2. Clean up your own life – top to bottom, go through your home, change your diet, how you clean, the chemicals you use, what you buy, get rid of your car if you can, consciously reduce the waste leaving your home, plant a garden, compost, get a Bokashi bin, holiday locally, check your investments, is your house safe, what about your pension – is it safe AND good for earth, etc… Cleaning up your life is not an overnight job, it takes time and even better if you do it together as a family. We need to shrink our lives and the impact we have on our beautiful earth. We need to do this everywhere all at once.
3. Share on social media – share the changes you’re making, show people what you’re doing and talk about why. In-person, especially with families, talk about it and normalize the conversation. It needs to be front and centre now, especially adaptation plans. It really is time to get prepared.
4. Get involved – join a climate action group aligned to your values, or get involved in beach clean ups, or any community action that appeals to you. Whatever you enjoy, do it and find like-minded people too. It’s a wonderful way to make new and meaningful friendships, as well as contributing to humanity. Protest.
5. Be a community leader – bring your community together and brainstorm how to create shared value, and what you can do together to get ready for the challenges ahead. E.g: collectively invest in solar as grid independence is smart. Why not share cars, tools, and big-ticket items we never use enough to justify owning? Plant a community garden, take care of the elderly and disabled, etc… A great project you can do together is rewild your environment – look back 50 years and plant what has been lost, reintroduce species that have disappeared! If we do it everywhere, what a difference it would make.
6. Vote wisely – We need the right sort of leaders to take us through this era, and many of the world’s leaders are not fit-for-purpose. So, we must vote wisely and for people who speak to the real challenges versus the ridiculous divisive rhetoric happening today, or the pandering to big business! Our leaders must bring us together so we can prepare to face our future – together. We must support these leaders too. They cannot succeed if they are under constant attack/abuse. It’s time to build a new world, and the right leaders are critical. Are you a leader the world needs right now?

I am relentless in my message and will continue to be, because do you know what the sceptics and cynics think? They think we – humanity – are not capable of making the shifts we need to make to secure a future.

Maybe they are right, but I’m not giving up and I’m determined to keep getting the message out that we should try with all our might to overcome. Even if we fail while trying, it’s better than the dystopian path too many leaders in the world are pushing us down. We do not want to go there. No strong man can save us, only all of us working together will give us any chance.

We must reject this type of leadership, which is a growing risk globally, and we must speak up about it. These voices are dominating social media and mainstream media, and we cannot let that continue – we need to use our voices! We must realise that coming together and working relentlessly to heal our world, is the only path open to us now.

Essentially, if we can get this message and lead the charge, the politicians, media, institutions, and businesses will follow, because if we can mobilize one billion people, they will have no choice.

Can you help me mobilize #OneBillion?

Here’s all the visuals I’ve been creating on Canva, covering multiple topics around the polycrisis. Feel free to download, change, and use as your own!

Cheers

Andrea

Want to get in touch?

All of my contact information is here on Linktree.

Environment education

Four environment resources to help you navigate this challenging territory.

1. Knowledge, constantly updating
2. Individual action and awareness, so we do our part
3. Resources for those struggling with eco-anxiety. Please share with your community.
4. Finally, more than 100 mini-videos on many topics regarding the multiple crisis’ we face. Feel free to download and use as your own. No credit necessary.

Uncommon Courage: an invitation

Uncommon Courage is an invitation to be your courageous best self every day. It’s also an antidote to the overwhelm, fear, and rage rolling around the world. But it’s more than a book; it’s an invitation to join an inclusive community that wants to better understand humanities challenges – both global and personal – in order to take courageous action and create a better world for everyone. If Covid19 has given us the time and space to reflect, Uncommon Courage gives us the nudge we need to create lasting change.

You can buy it on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Booktopia, Smashwords, Kobo, Gardners, Odilo, Indie Bound, BookShop by BookTrib and Scribd.

Better yet, order it from your local bookstore, so you can #SupportLocal.

You can read the reviews, including a new five-star review on Book Commentary, another five-star review on ReaderViews, a review on BookTrib, and three more on Booklife, another on Book Commentary and Blue Ink Reviews. I’m also collating reviews on my Website too. Have a look and grateful to everyone who has written or recorded one.

Come and join the conversation in my Facebook Group Uncommon Courage.

Listen in to the Uncommon Courage, the podcast on Apple, Spotify and everywhere podcasts are published.

The Know Show

Check out The Know Show. It’s a fortnightly wrap up of the news!

Climate Courage

A fortnightly conversation on issues that matter to you and I, focusing on the actions we can all take.

18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile 

Listed by Book Authority in the 100 Best LinkedIn Books of All Time and 22 Best New LinkedIn eBooks To Read In 2021 and 2022 categories. Grab it today if you want to take your professional presence to the next level! When it comes to LinkedIn, it really is time to ask — can you really afford not to have this book in the hands of every employee?

Are you a Social CEO? The Social CEO: How Social Media Can Make You A Stronger Leader. 

Want to claim your stage? Unleash Your Voice – Powerful Public Speaking for Every Woman 

Feedback

Have I done a great job for you? Can you write a reference on my LinkedIn profile or on my Google Business page? If not for me, why not write one for someone else who inspires you or has helped you? Join the #GivingEconomy.