From Cynthia...
Cynthia Druckenbrod
From Cynthia…
Going to the National Affairs and Legislation conference is so EMPOWERING! Not only is it a meeting where we learn about solutions to climate change but the GCA is a force of influential women who have a real impact on our nation’s legislators. We listened to a number of highly respected scientists like Katherine Hayhoe who rightly exclaimed, “Doom filled conversations aren’t moving the needle. Although a majority of Americans believe that we are the main cause of climate change, we just don’t know what to do about it.” She has a series of excellent and extremely informative videos on her you tube channel that you can subscribe to here.
I also highly recommend her ‘talking climate’ newsletter where you can get ideas on what you can do to mitigate climate change. Sign up here.
We heard from Brandi Jenkins from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign about the staggering amounts of fossil fuel based chemicals found in single use plastics and COSMETICS! You can read more about them here. It’s frightening to know that we consume a credit-card sized amount of plastics every WEEK. Get educated about the dangers of the chemicals in your makeup. Yikes!
Another fascinating talk from a scientist at the National Resources Defense Council detailed how much food we waste and solutions to reduce it and how much misconception there is regarding sell-by and best-by labels on food items. Check out this great three minute video on Food Matters.
You can watch all of the presenters online here.
It was truly a sobering but also inspirational day of talks that gave us solutions that will make a real difference. I only wish that everyone could have attended the NAL conference. Please do yourself a favor- watch these talks- they WILL change you!
Lastly, the Zone X ladies met with a legislative staff member in Senator JD Vance’s office. His experience is in agriculture policy and we had quite a productive conversation on the Farm Bill (which is due to be renewed this year). We were happy to learn that Sen. Vance does support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative which his predecessor, former Senator Rob Portman, co-sponsored. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative delivers the tools needed to fight invasive species, algal blooms, pollution, and other threats to the ecosystem. Here’s hoping the bill will pass this year!
Photo: Zone X women with Brian Oakes from Sen. JD Vance’s office on the legislative priorities of the GCA.