COP27 and hope

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been feeling too swell lately.

In an attempt to numb my desperate brain, I tend to reach for my phone.

It’s not helpful.

What’s also not helping, is that COP27 started this week. It should be a time of hope, knowing that our leaders are talking about solutions to our climate crisis. But to me, it feels like this:

I’m not saying those COPS aren’t important or helpful, but at least last year I could contribute something. I made a cartoon in advance that was on display along with others artist’s work.

and I listened in to some panels and drew.

It makes a difference, to have a voice. And sometimes I forget that we all have one, always.

Last week, my local climate activist group gathered. One of the members told us she wrote a letter to a Dutch celebrity. He had pissed her off when he condemned a climate activists who glued himself to a table during a live interview on tv.

She looked him up online, found his address in the phone book and delivered the letter herself. Her phone number was at the bottom of the letter and before she got home he had called her up.

That one conversation may not change his mind. But imagine he has a few more of those.

It matters.

It gives me hope.

Next week, our group is going to talk to clients of a certain supermarket. This supermarket is pretending to be sustainable, while the numbers tell a different story. I’ll tell you how it goes!

Oh!! And if you have a story like the one above, please let me know. I would love to see if I can share those in comic form, to inspire and bring hope. You can hit the reply button or comment below.

With love,