Introducing Imperfect Eco-Hero with Jordan and Mimi
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Jordan 0:14
Hey friends! This is Jordan.
Mimi 0:15
And this is Mimi. And welcome to the Imperfect Eco-Hero podcast.
Jordan 0:21
How many of you feel stressed, or anxious, or even scared when you think about climate change, or even the state of our future, confused about how you can even begin to help? Does it constantly feel like you're only bombarded with negativity and hopelessness when it comes to new climate information out in the media? Do you want to help but feel paralyze because you don't actually know how? Well you're not alone with any of that. Because we feel exactly the same way. Which is why we're starting this Imperfect Eco-Hero podcast series. For the average person feeling all of that and more right now, especially during the pandemic, the one who feels like they're more imperfect than eco-hero.
Mimi 1:03
So often, it's easy to get discouraged, overwhelmed, anxious and even hopeless about our collective and individual impacts on the Earth. Especially now, in the middle of a pandemic, these feelings have been amplified by more loneliness, confusion and grief. We hope this podcast builds a community of people that want to do right by the planet but aren't always sure how. We're not experts in this field either. We both are actively trying to figure out how to navigate the environmental movement and climate crisis and improve our own relationship with nature. We're here to open dialog, share ideas, learn from others from various backgrounds and lived experiences and empower each other to be eco-heroes while simultaneously normalizing the notion that we don't have to be perfect in order to be that. The reason we've chosen to base these episodes on stories is because historically, stories have been a source of knowledge, connection, and deeper understanding. Stories can not only teach us about life and about others, but also about ourselves. We want these stories and conversations to help folks better connect to a local ecology and challenge the prevailing notion that humans are superior to others. We're hoping this will encourage a paradigm shift that will repair the human-nature relationship and share about the theoretical and practical ways to do it.
Jordan 2:26
Episodes will consist of conversations between us and guest speakers, to discuss their story, their relationship with nature, the importance of language and intersectionality in their activism and also how they are navigating their way through all of this during the pandemic. We will also end our episodes with suggestions of actions and ways that you can help in this movement. Climate change is the story society has failed to tell, because it has historically only focused on one narrative. One disproportionately focused on negative environmental impacts and devoid of tangible and creative solutions. But that one key narrative that is often missing from most is the human aspect of it. The narrative of resilience and hope. Especially now during the pandemic. Those communities that are disproportionately suffering greater impact from the pandemic are the ones getting hit the hardest by the impacts of climate change, for all the same reasons. Environmental justice is often used to refer to any action on climate change, but there are plenty of people working on climate change who are also not working on climate justice. There's also been very little research on public thinking about climate justice and recognizing the ways in which climate change multiplies existing oppressions. So we will be trying to tackle this climate crisis using more of an intersectional lens and offer solutions that do too.
Mimi 3:50
We also wanna take this time to give a big shout out to two incredible organizations that have helped make our project possible:
Start the Wave is a non-profit organization focused on empowering and supporting projects that creates positive change world wide. And a huge part of their mission is focused on building an inclusive online community that empowers individuals to find their unique path to create positive change. They do that by funding action, amplifying change and encouraging growth. They believe in a global movement based on love and kindness that focuses on finding positive solutions to the world's problems.
And #RisingYouth. #RisingYouth is a program led by taking it global to help youth in Canada to develop life skills by giving back to their communities. Created for youth, by youth, they have built a program to increase involvement through community service. The program is funded by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Service Corps Initiative.
Both organizations welcomed our program with open arms and have been so supportive throughout the process. If you have a community project idea, definitely check out both Start the Wave and #RisingYouth.
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