"I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful."
~ Mother Theresa
The politics of climate change are challenging. At times it feels as though we lack power as citizens to influence public policies about care of our earth. But there is definitely much that we can do both inside and outside the ballot box to help raise and influence public consciousness about earth care.
Voting for candidates who prioritize environmental protection and sustainability is, of course, the most obvious way to put our democracy to work. But we can also interact directly with candidates and elected officials by writing letters, making phone calls, and meeting with them to express our concerns about environmental issues and urge them to take action. Joining your area's FCNL Legislative Advocacy Team is an excellent way to gain skill and experience in lobbying your elected representatives.
An often overlooked democratic opportunity is participating in public comment periods for environmental regulations. Comment periods allow the public to provide feedback on proposed regulations and can influence the final outcome. We can also attend public hearings and meetings to make our voices heard and hold elected officials accountable for their actions. For example, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Scoping Plan was approved in December 2022. Our Friend from Sacramento, Muriel Strand, submitted extensive comments, which you may read here.
Another hope for finding climate solutions may lie in promoting deliberative democracy. Deliberative democracy focuses on open and inclusive discussions among citizens to make collective decisions. It emphasizes the importance of informed and rational deliberation, where people come together to exchange ideas, debate different perspectives, and reach thoughtful conclusions.
In this model, every individual's voice matters, regardless of their social status or background. Citizens actively participate in discussions, sharing their knowledge, experiences, and values. The process values the power of reason and public deliberation. The goal is to foster a respectful and inclusive environment where diverse viewpoints can be heard and considered. The emphasis is on the quality of the discussion, rather than simply counting votes or relying solely on the opinions of elected representatives. It promotes transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of common good, hopefully ensuring that policies and laws reflect the genuine interests and values of the people they affect.
Ultimately, deliberative democracy strives to empower individuals, foster a sense of civic duty, and create a society where everyone's voice is heard and respected, promoting a more inclusive and participatory form of governance. The links below represent some of the methods that could move us toward deliberative democracy.
Voting for candidates who prioritize environmental protection and sustainability is, of course, the most obvious way to put our democracy to work. But we can also interact directly with candidates and elected officials by writing letters, making phone calls, and meeting with them to express our concerns about environmental issues and urge them to take action. Joining your area's FCNL Legislative Advocacy Team is an excellent way to gain skill and experience in lobbying your elected representatives.
An often overlooked democratic opportunity is participating in public comment periods for environmental regulations. Comment periods allow the public to provide feedback on proposed regulations and can influence the final outcome. We can also attend public hearings and meetings to make our voices heard and hold elected officials accountable for their actions. For example, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Scoping Plan was approved in December 2022. Our Friend from Sacramento, Muriel Strand, submitted extensive comments, which you may read here.
Another hope for finding climate solutions may lie in promoting deliberative democracy. Deliberative democracy focuses on open and inclusive discussions among citizens to make collective decisions. It emphasizes the importance of informed and rational deliberation, where people come together to exchange ideas, debate different perspectives, and reach thoughtful conclusions.
In this model, every individual's voice matters, regardless of their social status or background. Citizens actively participate in discussions, sharing their knowledge, experiences, and values. The process values the power of reason and public deliberation. The goal is to foster a respectful and inclusive environment where diverse viewpoints can be heard and considered. The emphasis is on the quality of the discussion, rather than simply counting votes or relying solely on the opinions of elected representatives. It promotes transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of common good, hopefully ensuring that policies and laws reflect the genuine interests and values of the people they affect.
Ultimately, deliberative democracy strives to empower individuals, foster a sense of civic duty, and create a society where everyone's voice is heard and respected, promoting a more inclusive and participatory form of governance. The links below represent some of the methods that could move us toward deliberative democracy.
connections and inspiration
CII Wise Democracy Pattern Language |
GꝊv Zero |
citizens' climate assemblies |
These are key factors and design principles that make a joint effort, organization or community better able to govern itself to the benefit of all affected by its actions. Based on hundreds of successful real-life innovations, assembled by the Co-Intelligence Institute, This evolving set of wise democracy “patterns”, offers immediately usable tools for working with others to understand and transform how we manage our shared world.
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A better way to give ordinary people a direct say in their government, tens of thousands of them at a time--setting the agendas, coming up with better solutions, and making the choices that govern them, invented in Taiwan & now spreading across the globe.
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Gaining rapidly in popularity around the world, these assemblies are small groups of citizens randomly chosen, covering multiple viewpoints, paid for their time, & professionally facilitated. They are being used by national and local governments to guide decision-making on climate policy.
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