What We Can Do: Today and Ongoing

Dear Friends,  

I am sending you this letter because you expressed interest --or I thought you might be interested-- in things we can do to protect ourselves and all of life in the next days and years, starting right now in these critical days and months (see below for important Senate vote this Wednesday). You might want to keep this for future reference, in addition to acting now.   

My hope is that you will contact your own circles, forwarding this message -- or one of your own -- and ask your people to contact their circles, etc. We still have power. If each of us continues communicating with our circles and beyond, we can grow our movement. The only way I know to counter misinformation on social media is person to person contact. 

First, I trust that you are doing whatever you need to do to balance your nervous system: meditating more, walking in nature more, BREATHING deeply more. Bringing ourselves into balance helps us bring the world into balance. 

As some of you know, my primary focus in 2024 was on the November elections. As I emerge from this heartbreak, this letter is my continuation of that work. I firmly believe that we are on the path, it’s just taking us longer to get where we’re going and where we had hoped to be.  

I won’t go into my whole analysis of what I think happened; suffice it to say I think it was another stolen election--this time by lies, violent threats, racism, misogyny and more. 

MY HOPE—AND REQUEST Please consider committing a minimum of 15 minutes a day or a week to make phone calls or write letters on important issues. You might ask yourself “How much is the Earth worth to me? Or democracy? Or ___?” (fill in the blank with your most important causes). I know many of us are tired and discouraged (me too!) yet our actions are as important as ever. As Pirkei Avot says “It is not up to you to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”  

• You can sign up for updates from The Sierra Club for actions to take now while Biden is in office, as well as a new project asking people to spend 20 minutes a week helping to counter climate disinformation/lies on social media. 

• Donate (large or small amount) to receive alerts from MoveOn. Some of the information in this letter is from them. 

• The Senate votes on Wednesday, Nov. 27 on Bernie Sanders’ bill. Call your senators! 

• Action is needed to block HR9495, a Trojan Horse bill which could be used to defund any non-profit. Phone calls are most effective but emails, especially if personalized, work too. If your Representative voted against it, thank them. It will likely come up in the Senate in January. https://now.org/urgent-action-alert/.

DONATE / REASONS FOR HOPE Please consider setting aside a dollar or more a day to donate to important causes. I personally am focusing donations to the ACLU; they filed 400 suits against _rump in his first reign and are even more ready now. 

Women all over the world are working for a more just and sustainable planet. Some are Women’s Earth Alliance; Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network; Lotus Fund of the Asia Foundation and many more.  

Midterm elections are in two years and there will very likely be a backlash to the chaos. About 1/3 of eligible voters voted for _rump. It’s never too early to start to focus on elections. For just a few excellent voters' rights organizations, see my website here.  

The Republicans in Senate just elected John Thune as their leader. He is known to be anti-MAGA and will have some power. _rump is not happy with this. 

Out of the blue, a week after the election I had a dream that _rump was a clown chef in a parade with a whipped cream mustache and hairpiece. A dangerous clown, but also a narcissistic performer and chaotic. I actually think we need to pray for his health, as Vance is smarter and scarier. _rump will cause some damage, but I personally think/hope it will be not as much as he promises—if  we act and organize others to do so. 

MEDIA I agree with Vietnamese Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh about guarding one’s health with respect to what we consume, including media. Here are some healthy options.  www.theguardian.com/uk/media. heathercoxrichardson.substack.com;  A historian’s take on current affairs.  roberthubbell.substack.com;  A good combo of news, heart and a photo from his backyard of a distant galaxy.   robertreich.substack.com;  Some humor, with a focus on economy. 

I am canceling my online subscription to the New York Times (for the second time) and The Washington Post in protest of their sane-washing this election. Ditto Time magazine, which was quite progressive for a while there. 

Let us continue our efforts for a living world in justice and peace. And as Howard Zinn said “To live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is…around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” 

Peace, Love and Freedom, Hallie