Welcome @Adam Nealis, who is based in Thailand. As Adam joins us I have been preparing focus groups within our local Green Party to work on key areas of the Climate Crisis at a local level. The idea is to translate global and national issues into local narratives. How are these huge events playing out, or going to play out, in our local communities? What actions can we take now as a political party, but also in collaboration with our fellow citizens, to start mitigating the worst effects and preparing for or adapting to effects that we cannot avoid? The energy in our local group is growing. The seemingly thankless task of political campaigning is made bearable by becoming more active and making these connections. The food in our town is 95% imported from elsewhere - we think. Now we start the work of determining the real number. The next step is working with local growers to increase the amount of food we produce for local consumption. To do that, we need to know who is already working on this and what help they need to make it happen. One example might be to get around 100 families to commit to buying produce from a local grower; this guarantees the grower's income and allows them to change how they farm. Making the variety of crops wider. The risk diminishes for the farmer, and clients/supporters know exactly how many "food miles" their food has travelled. Through this work, we learn more about the fragility of our food supplies and make changes to reduce the risk of food shortages. Our party members feel that at last they are doing more than making donations and voting once every few years - they can see the results. Now, when they vote, they have a better idea of who they are voting for. Even if we are not elected to office, we will have changed the outcome for our community.

@Alexander So , thank you for joining. The last two months have been quiet for her as I have been working hard to help with a local election in the UK - we were aiming to get at least one councillor out of the possible seven districts. We had high hopes of riding the Green Party wave in a local town. But it was not to be. This is a Conservative stronghold - a safe seat. We may not have won, but for the first time, we developed an amazing team. Typically, candidates are left on their own to do the best they can - this time, 40 volunteers came together to distribute leaflets to 6000 households twice. In a rural area, this is not a small achievement. But now that we are past that, I am already back in her working on new sections in the classroom. They will be going live this coming week. So welcome, Alexander. Feedback is always welcome and sought.

Hello! I'm Rachele, a mom of 7 (bio/step/foster) kids, an artist, a software developer, an avid gardener learning about permaculture and food forests. One of my kids has an enormous amount of anxiety around climate change, and I'm learning more and trying to figure out how we can be more actively involved towards making a better future for the planet. I quit my corporate job recently for ethical reasons and I'm making digital tools to help people uncover and pursue their passions and values to do great things together, and I'm committing to building my life around things that matter to me. Climate activism is one of those investments in myself.

@Rachele Moresi has joined us and, like many of us, is looking to learn how to counter the prevailing forces.

Hi Nicole, welcome to the group. @Nicole Jordan My aim is to help people understand the Climate Crisis - how it became a crisis, what is going on now and where we might end up - if we do not act. Then, when you are ready, suggest ideas of how you might want to speak up or even lead groups to help make change happen. If enough of us do it, we will make a difference. As part of this, I am also on a journey from - I think I know - to - oh wow - really???? There is a lot here already, and I am beginning to think I need to get more of the "and here is how you can help" material. But when you read all of this, you will see how it can deflate you. Please rest assured that it is not my intention. But all that I read really indicates that this is an emergency, and it's huge. I started this because many of us are still learning what is going on. There is so much misinformation. But it is all linked - racism, religious wars, corporate power, billionaires - there is a system, and it is doing exactly what it was intended to do. Even to the extent that, as I write this, I think - Am I turning into a weirdo ...this cannot be true.... So I try to write in a calm, neutral voice about some really intense subjects - but if you think about them for a moment, we all know they are there. Seeing them as systems makes it easier - if we made them, we can change them. This is all about do unto others as you would do unto yourself. Now we need to do just that. Welcome to the group. Please feel free to point out what I have missed - what I should add, what you think I may have got wrong. I am here to learn as much as to share. Everyone - please welcome @Nicole Jordan !