BRAVELY NAVIGATE FORWARD

It is not enough to set goals. We also need to be brave. My spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran explained what the Buddha meant when he used the word “brave:”

“See sometimes in the papers, even in the olden days, in the papers or in the magazines, I would hear about somebody being called very brave because he laid down his life. I would say, 'Oh, yes. But, according to the Buddha, it demands greater courage to live for others, to forget oneself, to make one’s life a contribution to all those around.' ”

Bravery requires setting aside our petty, private satisfactions if need be and asking how we can contribute to those around.

1. Go Plant-Based Diet. We need the widespread adoption of a vegan diet by 2026 to 1) prevent fresh water scarcity and, 2) allow re-wilding that will recharge ecosystems and biological diversity (which sustain what sustains us - oxygen, healthy soil to grow food, and water cycles). William James, the Parent of American Psychology, put it simply: “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
2. Reduce Atmospheric Carbon. Use the United in Heart App to plant veganic (no animal manure), native, food-bearing trees to remove atmospheric carbon and uplift families by establishing food security on their own land. (If money is tight, donate $8.75 per month and uplift one family a year. Mother Teresa would say, “If you cannot feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”) As to carbon emission reductions, choosing a plant-based diet reduces your emissions by 51% or more. If you go solar or switch your energy service to renewable resources, then your household fossil fuel use approaches zero. Even better if you do that and power your electric car that way (or don’t drive at all) and switch all gas appliances to electric.
1. For those looking for the best course of action due to the cooling effect of certain coal-fired power plants, switching to renewables is the way to go if you're in the US and Europe. In India, Russia and China, it’s complicated.
2. If you're in the U.S. and going solar, Powur will give you a 10% discount and will donate $1,000 to United in Heart for signing up. Start by going to Powur's United in Heart portal and requesting a free quote and energy savings report.
3. Communicate.
   
   1. Communicate the What and the Why: Use our app to invite family and friends and to share certain climate change videos. In this way, you will inform them about vegan reforestation, food forests and rainwater conservation to help solve climate change and stop biodiversity loss.
      1. Remember, by influencing a few loved ones to watch the documentary and download the app, you may ultimately influence thousands of people in your downstream network. As Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.”

   With that said…ahem, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention there may be stumbles, setbacks and reverses. Don’t tally up guilt and don’t run yourself down. Pick yourself up and keep trying! As Gandhi said “Full effort is full victory!”