Climate catastrophe looms but there is still hope

By Joseph Quigley - Editor  |  Nov. 17, 2018

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After Alanna Mitchell delivered her catastrophic climate change message at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion Nov. 12, she offered forgiveness as the way forward for humanity. 

 

“You look at the state of the planet, you feel grief, immense grief, paralytic grief,” Mitchell said during her one-woman play, Sea Sick. “What if we could forgive our species? It’s not to let anybody off the hook. It’s not something warm and fuzzy and benign … it’s the start of something. It carries with it the promise of action.”

The award-winning journalist earned applause and laughter from the packed Haliburton theatre as she regaled the audience about her comedic encounters with scientists. The play, based on her book of the same name, details what she had learned about how climate change is severely harming our oceans. 

The world-touring play was brought to Haliburton by Abbey Gardens and Environment Haliburton. Environment Haliburton Enviro-Café Committee chair Terry Moore said the performance went well. 

“She’s brilliant at what she does in terms of communicating science,” Moore said. “The message is not great. We’re in trouble. I think the message is also hopeful. That we can do it if we really put our minds to it.” 

Mitchell had a talkback session with the audience after her performance, with audience members asking her more about taking environmental action and people being closed-minded about climate change. 

She said people should keep in mind how rapidly the world’s climate is changing. “In terms of the Earth’s history, this is unbelievably fast,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes, it takes not looking at what’s happening in the Twitter timeframe, but in a geological timeframe.” 

Audience member Martin Scheller said he thought Mitchell’s performance was amazing, adding people locally need to take action on environmental issues. 

“This is a very senior community, where a lot of people are driving down to Florida and flying off wherever,” Scheller said. “They should share some of the guilt and I just wish we could have a stronger answer to how to turn that guilt into action.” 

Moore said there is plenty for people to do to address climate change locally, such as pressuring politicians to move forward with proper climate change planning. 

He added the performance was successful in drawing in people who do not normally attend Environment Haliburton events. 

“Our efforts to create environmental and climate change conversation is just beginning,” he said