Tangier Island sits in the middle of Chesapeake Bay. Water is steadily swallowing it up as sea level rises. But many if not most of the residents of this tiny community deny that it is due in large measure to human-caused climate change from carbon emissions. Belief in fundamentalist Christianity and support for Donald Trump run deep among the people there. Directly trying to convince them of the incontrovertible science explaining the slow demise of their island has had little effect. (Read more about the community in this in-depth article in Pacific Standard.)
This story convinced me that a very different approach is needed to bring our country together to fight climate change. Instead of being "preachy" and "teachy" about it, and alienating climate-change deniers further in the process, it is time to meet them where they are. And one way to do that is to place ourselves below instead of above them, and confess that we are the cause of the problem. Personal responsibility is key to conservatives' world-view. Taking personal responsibility for climate change is a good first step toward them.
I can imagine sending messages like this to people in places around the US that are similarly threatened by catastrophic human-caused climate change. If you want to be part of such a campaign, let me know.....
Dear People of Tangier Island:
I write to ask your forgiveness for causing your beautiful island home to slowly wash away. As a Christian, I make this confession before God and you, and I pledge to change my ways.
I am guilty of consuming too much fossil fuel energy. These carbon emissions have built up in the atmosphere, with catastrophic effects around the world. This human-caused climate change is a major reason for the rising sea level that is drowning your island, and I confess to my part in it. I have burned more gasoline than I really needed to use. I have left lights on in my house when I should not have done so. When I have traveled by air, the burning jet fuel has put too much carbon into the atmosphere.
God made this world, and Tangier Island is a precious place in it. God expects me to take care of this world, not to pollute and destroy it. I read about what is happening to your island, and it made the problem of human-caused climate change more real for me. I will remember what is happening to you and your island home as I make choices about consuming energy.
But due to our sinful nature, individuals like myself, acting alone, cannot be effective enough. Only by setting external limits around ourselves can we protect God’s creation and save your island. So I will vote for candidates for public office who will enact regulations to limit carbon emissions.
Again, I am sorry for what I have done, and prayerfully commit myself to reduce my use of fossil fuels so that this climate change crisis can be reversed and Tangier Island can stay above water.
Yours in Christ,
Jim Burklo
JIM BURKLO
Website: MINDFULCHRISTIANITY.ORG Weblog: MUSINGS