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The Sea Is Rising and So Are We: A Climate Justice Handbook
The Sea is Rising and So Are A Climate Justice Handbook is an invitation to get involved in the movement to build a just and sustainable world in the face of the most urgent challenge our species has ever faced. By explaining the entrenched forces that are preventing rapid action, it helps you understand the nature of the political reality we are facing and arms you with the tools you need to overcome them. The book offers background information on the roots of the crisis and the many rapidly expanding solutions that are being implemented all around the world. It explains how to engage in productive messaging that will pull others into the climate justice movement, what you need to know to help build a successful movement, and the policy changes needed to build a world with climate justice. It also explores the personal side, how engaging in the movement can be good for your mental health. It ends with advice on how you can find the place where you can be the most effective and where you can build climate action into your life in ways that are deeply rewarding.
- GenresNonfictionEnvironment
160 pages, Paperback
Published June 29, 2021
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 18, 2021
I highly recommend this book for climate activists, concerned citizens, teachers and their students, government leaders and anyone who wants to create a greener world.
Author Cynthia Kaufman brilliantly focuses our attention on challenging institutional culprits in the climate crisis-the fossil fuel industry and its servants in elected office-rather than merely mapping our carbon footprint, a distraction engineered, as Kaufman notes, by the oil company BP to shift our attention to ourselves, rather than the industry burning fossil fuels and the global institutions, such as the IMF and World Bank, that protect the profit-making interests of oil companies.
What's the solution? Collective action, on the ground organizing, says Kaufman, professor and community activist, that demands a multitude of government-for-the-people fixes: investments in solar and wind energy; end to federal subsidies for oil drilling and big agriculture; community ownership of utilities; walkable tree-graced cities; investments in public transportation; reparations paid by rich carbon-heavy counties to the Global South, where those most adversely impacted by U.S. and European consumption and extraction become climate refugees, on the run from rising sea levels, drought and famine.
While many may paint the environmental movement as white, driven by privilege, Kaufman points out that indigenous water protectors are on the front lines in the U.S., fighting pipelines that threaten to contaminate their land and rivers, and people are rising up south of the equator to protect their forests.
What's so refreshing about Kaufman's book is her optimism, hopefulness and encouragement, her emphasis on the power of the people to drive the cultural shift necessary to realize a sustainable world. As a retired teacher, I recommend educators adopt this book for their classes as the text is accessible and provides rich material for discussion.
I loved this book!
Author Cynthia Kaufman brilliantly focuses our attention on challenging institutional culprits in the climate crisis-the fossil fuel industry and its servants in elected office-rather than merely mapping our carbon footprint, a distraction engineered, as Kaufman notes, by the oil company BP to shift our attention to ourselves, rather than the industry burning fossil fuels and the global institutions, such as the IMF and World Bank, that protect the profit-making interests of oil companies.
What's the solution? Collective action, on the ground organizing, says Kaufman, professor and community activist, that demands a multitude of government-for-the-people fixes: investments in solar and wind energy; end to federal subsidies for oil drilling and big agriculture; community ownership of utilities; walkable tree-graced cities; investments in public transportation; reparations paid by rich carbon-heavy counties to the Global South, where those most adversely impacted by U.S. and European consumption and extraction become climate refugees, on the run from rising sea levels, drought and famine.
While many may paint the environmental movement as white, driven by privilege, Kaufman points out that indigenous water protectors are on the front lines in the U.S., fighting pipelines that threaten to contaminate their land and rivers, and people are rising up south of the equator to protect their forests.
What's so refreshing about Kaufman's book is her optimism, hopefulness and encouragement, her emphasis on the power of the people to drive the cultural shift necessary to realize a sustainable world. As a retired teacher, I recommend educators adopt this book for their classes as the text is accessible and provides rich material for discussion.
I loved this book!
February 6, 2022
A good introduction to the environmental movement and to the ways of getting involved in organizing in your own community. Very accessible, but does only give a general overview. However, Kaufman does a good job of emphasizing that climate justice organizing -- and organizing more generally -- is not one size fits all, and that there are many ways people can get involved that best fits their own talents and comfort.
For such a serious topic, Kaufman manages to maintain a sense of optimism and in fact emphasizes that optimism is absolutely vital to the success of the environmental movement.
For such a serious topic, Kaufman manages to maintain a sense of optimism and in fact emphasizes that optimism is absolutely vital to the success of the environmental movement.
February 16, 2022
This book gets three stars for being "dashed off." I think Kauffman is too busy doing something to sit at the desk all day. I appreciated her positive outlook on climate action. Since we are in dire straits, most books are dire. But she collects news on all the people who ae doing great things and inspires us to follow suit.
June 10, 2024
Great information for folks wanting to roll their sleeves and git involved with climate justice and climate action of all sorts. It's good for the novice and the expert, especially if they have little knowledge or experience in organizing.
There are some typos that, hopefully, can be addressed in future revisions or printings.
There are some typos that, hopefully, can be addressed in future revisions or printings.
April 6, 2023
While the book could use a thorough copy edit, the strategies for organizing, analysis of the structural change needed, and advice for being involved in the movement for climate justice are all spot on.
December 14, 2024
Pretty good book for anybody wanting to learn about how to do effective activism and engage people in the subject. And learning about frameworks of analyses
September 26, 2023
Like Bill McKibben's intro blurb: nothing new or revolutionary here, but a nice concise book that lays it all out in one place. I disagree with some of the overall politics presented, but it is a nice and straightforward book with practical use. "But what can I do?" is apparently a common refrain when faced with the climate crisis, and this book is a great response. It details the different kinds of climate action and forms that may take (from protests to working within the system and attending local community meetings). This is a great message, encouraging local participation and involvement, and I dig the theme that the climate movement is an integrated whole, with different roles complementing the overall goal. Focusing on the positive and striving for a better future is also a good framing - optimism over despair.
Where I disagree is, to me, the goal of addressing climate change is one of decarbonization. Period. Kaufman, however, is more a subscriber of the Green New Deal ethos, in which decarbonization should go along with a not just complementary policies to address losers of policy changes (workers of oil companies, etc.), but a wholesale dismantling of the capitalist system. Which, to her credit, is treated seriously and concrete steps to beginning that process are presented. But, like, climate change demands action now, and reducing greenhouse gases while maintaining existing power structures and inequities is an entirely reasonable position considering that the alternative ("green new deal"-style smorgasbord of progressive causes tackling racism, sexism, and class struggles) is a much steeper task and in most cases results in nothing. (The Build Back Better --> Inflation Reduction Act is a good case study: nobody is on board with a bill that includes everything short of universal healthcare, but scale it back to focus only on the climate pieces - and to promote supply-side policies in decarbonizing rather than regulations prohibiting certain activities - and it passes, and still just barely).
Actionable steps to get involved in the climate movement: 4/5
Positive vision statement of a better future: 4/5
Policy prescriptions: 2/5
Book title: 5/5
Where I disagree is, to me, the goal of addressing climate change is one of decarbonization. Period. Kaufman, however, is more a subscriber of the Green New Deal ethos, in which decarbonization should go along with a not just complementary policies to address losers of policy changes (workers of oil companies, etc.), but a wholesale dismantling of the capitalist system. Which, to her credit, is treated seriously and concrete steps to beginning that process are presented. But, like, climate change demands action now, and reducing greenhouse gases while maintaining existing power structures and inequities is an entirely reasonable position considering that the alternative ("green new deal"-style smorgasbord of progressive causes tackling racism, sexism, and class struggles) is a much steeper task and in most cases results in nothing. (The Build Back Better --> Inflation Reduction Act is a good case study: nobody is on board with a bill that includes everything short of universal healthcare, but scale it back to focus only on the climate pieces - and to promote supply-side policies in decarbonizing rather than regulations prohibiting certain activities - and it passes, and still just barely).
Actionable steps to get involved in the climate movement: 4/5
Positive vision statement of a better future: 4/5
Policy prescriptions: 2/5
Book title: 5/5
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews