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The League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara is hosting a community forum focused on climate change advocacy during the pandemic and the inter-generational activism that continues to build local momentum. This event is usually held at the Santa Barbara Public Library but is being held online this year due to the continued need for social distancing.
Event co-sponsors are the Community Environmental Council and the Santa Barbara Public Library.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the climate emergency are both global crises with invisible enemies and immense power to hurt us. Forum speakers will address how lessons from the pandemic could help us work together to fight climate change and build resilience in our community.
Sigrid Wright, CEO of the Community Environmental Council, who will moderate the event, poses this question: “How do we turn a cataclysm into a catalyst moment to address the local impacts of climate change?” She adds: “The true measure of a community’s resilience is its social connectivity, and its willingness to take on long term challenges together.”
Emily Williams, a PhD candidate at UCSB, will provide information about the UCSB’s Environmental and Energy Transitions Lab, (ENVENT) which works to understand climate change, energy and environmental policy.
Says Williams, “Climate change is perhaps the biggest and most systemic issue of our time; it's going to require equally big and systemic action to address it.”
Acknowledging of the need for an “intergenerational all hands on deck” approach, the forum will feature Madai Quevedo, a senior at San Marcos High School and award-winning slam poet. Madai declares: “This is our future. As an 18-year-old, I feel the urgency of climate change burning at my ankles and it fuels me to be a loud advocate.”
Irene Cooke from the Society of Fearless Grandmothers, will share what that group is doing to create actions that raise awareness and build an interwoven social movement to address our climate emergency.
The forum will include audience ‘breakout’ rooms for community building discussions as well as a question and answer session.
The forum will be structured as a “Zoom” meeting and the registration link will be available soon. The platform can accommodate up to 300 registrants. Attendees can log in via computer, smart phone app or simply call in to listen. The event will be recorded and will be available for later viewing on both the League and CEC’s You Tube channels.
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