Finding The Courage to Call Yourself a Cli-fer

[Virginia]

As far as I can remember, I have always known I am part of a destructive species and I have always lived my life to minimize my impact, the greatest decision of which was to not have children. As far as I am concerned, I'm free and clear with this decision as I could not possibly consume as many resources as if I had kids, and they had kids, etc. (Maybe this was from coming up in the 70's, the greenest time in America, or maybe it was being born a "wise child". I don't know. I only know that I have "always been like this." Maybe you can relate).

I live my life to minimize my carbon output and this includes suffering financially. A few years ago, I quit my position teaching ecology at multiple community colleges because I had to drive at least 100 miles a day to tell people not to drive...It was absurd. I was offered a great opportunity recently to make some good money doing something I am good at but it required me to drive 150 miles a day (round trip) for a month. They refused to compromise allowing me to work from a home a few days a week, use Skype, Webinar, etc. I did the math on just how much carbon I would pump into the air (not to mention the hell of commuting into a large city, mass transit not being an option at their location). I turned it down and as a result, lost out on a substantial sum. Nobody earns money for me but me.

We need a name for those of us that live our lives as if climate change matters. We will sacrifice socializing (driving to do it), shopping, money--maybe we stay home a lot. Shop online (does this minimize our footprint?) We may get laughed at. Try telling someone "I'm sorry but I can't do it because I am worried about climate change and I want to minimize my carbon footprint."

In order to institutionalize climate change, those of us like me, need to start SAYING this on a day to day basis. There are other ways to institutionalize climate change but the INSTITUTIONS that should be doing it right now ARE NOT--SO IT FALLS TO US. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON A DAILY BASIS and unfortunately, this is how I think we will slow climate change down. I think the larger institutions are and will fail to right our eco-ship in time.

I needed a way to describe myself to people to negate constantly having to EXPLAIN...so I call myself a CLI-FER (long "i" sound)= I live my life according to climate change.

Be prepared to get laughed at.

"I'm sorry. I am very interested in helping you with your project but I am not driving 150 miles every day for a month to do it. I need to work from home, or drive less. I'M A CLI-FER."

"You're a WHAT?"

"A Cli-fer. I try to live my life in such a way as to minimize my carbon footprint."

Silence. Scoff. "You're kidding, right?"

"No. You shouldn't be surprised. I am a professional ecologist and even if I was not, I would be a Cli-fer. I'm sorry. If you change your mind or we can work something out so I don't have to pump so much CO2 into the air, please call me."

This is what we have to do. Call it a form of climate change civil disobedience.

I am convinced nobody else is going to do it if we don't.

Signed off,

Virginia Arthur, Cli-fer

[Enrico]

Congratulations for the integrity.
Out of curiosity : as you don't have children, why haven't you considered relocating to be closer to your job?

[Virginia]

I do a lot of different things but all here in my community. I don't need to relocate anywhere. I COULD and make a bunch more money but this is my point--in order to stay in my own community, I am willing to make sacrifices. I don't want to relocate to a place I hate for money. I want to be here not pumping out as much carbon and being a part of my community--one I like. In other words, I don't put money first on my list of life values-obviously NOT since I am a writer!