On the Road for Climate Action: Announcing The Sequel!

We have some exciting news! We are going back On the Road for Climate Action! 

Last summer's 11 week tour was just the beginning; we learned a lot of lessons, have done a lot of reflecting, and feel extremely inspired to continue our mission! There is so much work to be done and we are motivated to continue doing what we can to educate and elevate the climate conversation! 

We will be departing on May 1st, and will be visiting the pacific northwest! We will also be crossing the border into Canada and returning back to southern California through the northwest where we will visit some habitats/areas that have been experiencing climate change impacts such as Glacier National Park. We will continue to organize community climate talks, visit universities and schools, talk to farmers, vintners, wildlife preserves, and beyond in order to hear about climate concerns, and raise awareness about climate change and what is happening both globally and locally. It is very exciting, and we are diving right into planning mode for this six week mission. We thank each of you for your support in this large undertaking that this project is. 

If you would like to support or help our next leg of the Road for Climate Action, there are a few things that you can do! 

1. Consider donating to our GoFundMe. No amount is too small!

2. Organize an event in your community.

3. Share our project on social media.

4. Take our online climate survey.

Book Reading at Gatsby Books - Long Beach

With the last week being extremely rainy, a beautiful, sunny Saturday was embraced! I started off the day at the local Women's March, which is always uplifting and inspiring. Especially to see so many people right here in my community who are concerned about important issues such as climate change! Following the march, Shahir and I visited Gatsby Books in Long Beach where Shahir did a book reading. It is the cutest book store, with a collection of new and used books. Shahir read some various excerpts from his book. It is always interesting to hear how Beyond Debate is received, and which chapters and topics people want to hear more about. 

Shahir at Gatsby Books in Long Beach

OC Womens March

Rendezvous with the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano!

Shahir and I attended our first ever Rotary Club meeting and it was a great time. Larry Kramer invited us to be the featured speakers at the meeting. The San Juan Capistrano Rotary members are a fun fun bunch. We really enjoyed meeting this community and learning about the important service that their community organizes. Shahir gave a 30 minute talk, answered some really interesting questions, and shared some great conversations after the meeting concluded. The opportunity to speak to the Rotary Club is very special, as Rotary is not a climate focused organization, and offers a diverse audience with a range of knowledge about the issue of climate change. From our conversations, it seemed to be a mixed audience of conservatives and progressives, some of whom were less acquainted with the issue of climate change. Its always nice to reach new people! We hope this is the first of many events with Rotary!

-Athina

Keeping it Local - Progressives of Southern OC

We were invited to be the featured speakers at the monthly Progressives of Southern OC meeting in Dana Point on Tuesday. It was an awesome night, started off with a beautiful cotton candy sunset over Dana Point. Shahir spoke to the group of about 70 OC progressives about climate science, our findings from the national climate action road trip, and how each of us can do our part to continue to prioritize the issue of climate change. We had copies of Beyond Debate for sale, and the presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session. This presentation was a bit different because there was no projection capabilities for the slide show. Shahir did a great job painting a picture with his words for the attendees. It continues to inspire and ignite us to meet so many people who are enthusiastic and passionate about achieving climate solutions and elevating the climate conversation. Not to mention our neighbors right here in OC!

- Athina

Shahir Speaks at LA Environmental Conference

Shahir attended the Fifth Annual Health and Environmental Conference in Los Angeles. He was one of the four main speakers at the event and also had a booth where he was selling copies of his book, Beyond Debate. The audience was largely made up of Hispanic women, many of whom did not speak English (a translator was present). His talk was the only talk on climate change at the conference, and was well received! The conference was aimed at equipping undeserved communities with the knowledge to protect themselves and their families from toxic chemicals in their daily environments. 

An example is cleaning solvents and BPA in bottles. Shahir braved one of the strongest downpours this year on his drive to LA. On his way back, he popped into a bookstore to inquire about the prospect of them carrying his book, Beyond Debate. When Shahir left the bookstore, his book was on display at the store! A great way to wrap up the last month of the year. Beyond Debate is making its' way into a number of different hands, and we couldn't be more excited!

-Athina

GO VOTE - Our Climate & Future Depend On It!

The results of this midterm election will be pivotal for many reasons. One reason that isn't brought up nearly enough has to do with the destabilization of our climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just published a new report, which essentially gives us 12 years to get our act together as a society before we cross a dangerous threshold. For years, climate scientists have been warning us that the burning of fossil fuels and release of greenhouse gas emissions will warm our atmosphere and oceans, and that this warming will lead to extreme flooding in certain areas, more droughts and wildfires across the West, more intense hurricanes in the Gulf, etc. These predictions are already playing out across the country. Athina and I just spent 3 months on the road interviewing farmers, business owners, and ordinary citizens who are feeling the impacts of climate change, as well as scientists and other experts studying the issue. There is no question we've got a major crisis on our hands that we must urgently address. Click here to view our growing video archive that showcases some of these interviews.

Fortunately, renewable energy technology is available to reduce atmospheric pollution and get a hold of this problem. If you think shifting to renewables will be costly to the economy, consider the cost of inaction. For example, in 2016, 15 major climate-related natural disasters cost the U.S. economy $46 billion. This is 3 times more disasters than the annual average. In 2017, things took a new leap, when 16 major disasters cost the economy over $300 billion! The time to address climate change is now. We cannot keep kicking the can down the road if we wish to hold onto our regular weather patterns. Similarly, we cannot think that "they" will take care of the problem. This problem requires congressional action to remove fossil fuel subsidies and let renewable energy compete. This problem requires that the big polluters pay a fee to release carbon dioxide, much like they do when sending hazardous waste to the landfill. This problem requires YOU and I. Because if we don't vote today to send people to Washington who care to address climate change, then climate change won't get addressed.

Importantly, we don't have forever to get our act together. Once enough glaciers melt and once the oceans warm enough, we don't get to go back. Thus, the actions we choose to take or not take today will have impacts on our society for generations to come. The children and grandchildren of this world will one day ask us, "what did you do to help prevent climate change?" Let us tell them, "I VOTED to protect the future!"

Vote for Who?

Orange County, CA - If you live in OC and have Dana Rohrabacher as your congressman, you have an opportunity to make an important change. Dana has been in office for decades and has been a MAJOR impediment to climate action. I have personally met with him twice in D.C. He makes fun of even the most basic and well understood aspects of climate science and the greenhouse effect. Dana Rohrabacher must go. His opponent Harley Rouda, on the other hand, places an emphasis on the importance of climate change and the protection of our future. Harley gets my endorsement.

I also support Katie Porter in CA District-45 given that her opponent Mimi Walters takes money from fossil fuel corporations and does not have a good track record on the environment and climate change.

Further Reading

For more on climate change and understanding the misconceptions that often surround the topic, pick up a copy of my new book Beyond Debate: Answers to 50 Misconceptions on Climate Change. If you already know the issue, it'll make a great holiday gift for someone who does not!

Dr. Shahir Masri
Air Pollution Exposure Scientist

New Mexico - Solar Fiesta 2018!

We had a much needed good night of sleep at our hotel, thanks to having covered so much driving (11 hours!) the day before. After a quick breakfast, we were off to Solar Fiesta 1018, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We reached the venue by 930AM. It was a quaint and cute little parking lot area where many venders had already begun setting up. It was a windy morning, but we still set up our banner and booth, using rocks to hold the flyers down. I sold a book right off the bat, to the guy who owned the neighboring booth. A nice start to the day! I was scheduled to be on a science panel at 11AM. The panel went well. I was one of four presenters. We each spoke for 7 minutes, followed by QnA. I lived-stream the talk through Instagram, which was a first for me! Returning to our booth was a joy. We both enjoyed the opportunity to chat with passers-bys about our climate tour and the work we’re doing. Lots of people were excited by our work and very supportive of us. A dozen or so people even picked up a copy of Beyond Debate! At one point, I slipped away to do some video recording of the event. There was great live music and tasty vegan cookies and pizza prepared by a solar cooker. Who could complain!? There was also a cool rainbow colored Tesla, among other electric cars on display. 

We packed up at 4PM. By that time we were quite tired from the sun and many hours talking. We were very excited for our evening’s destination. We were off to Santa Fe, where we would get a long-awaited day of rest and vacation. Arriving to Santa Fe we were greeted by a beautiful sunset. After a quick stop to the hotel to change and relax, we hit the town for dinner. Fall was definitely in the air. A great change from the past couple months of blistering heat we’d experienced! Our night in Sante Fe was fantastic. Athina and I have been very tired in these recent weeks as we’ve headed across the south. Living out of a suitcase, being on stage all the time, and driving long distances can really wear you out. Santa Fe would be our breath of fresh air, and an opportunity to recharge and just enjoy our surroundings!

Click here to learn more about "On the Road for Climate Action!"

-Shahir Masri, Sc.D.