THE POWER IN BROADENING OUR PERSPECTIVES

My name is Becca Amdur-Kass, and I have been a COEJL (Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life) policy intern this summer; I’m also a rising sophomore at Alfred University in New York, and a member of Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation in Bethesda MD.  

It’s been an honor to attend coalition meetings, reach out to Jewish leaders about policy matters, shape and generate educational materials, and advocate on behalf of a better future for all. One particular highlight was attending the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) Summer Conference in June. Here are a few reflections on what I learned – and what we might all learn: ​

Over 1,000 people attended CCL’s conferences, and lobbied on Capitol Hill, urging support for numerous environmental justice and sustainability initiatives. Among this year’s priorities were the Prove It Act (S.1863); permitting reform; and money for seedling nurseries for urban and rural reforestation projects. We learned about the complexities of the Farm Bill and its relationship between farmers and low-income SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) beneficiaries. 

I also spent a lot of time learning new acronyms -- it is the Hill, of course – and meeting numerous devoted activists and change-makers. But my biggest takeaways came from conversations and presentations about nonpartisan language and understanding. 

Seeing People on All Sides

As climate activists, we sometimes wonder “why doesn’t everyone think like me!?” Though climate action might seem like the obvious course of action to protect ourselves and the planet, not everyone sees it the same way. We have to try to understand why and how others came to their conclusions – and for that matter, how we came to ours. Just as our own beliefs and priorities are the product of our surroundings, the same of course goes for others as well.  

During the conference, the film-maker Ben Stillerman shared one of the short films from his award-winning series “True False, Hot Cold”. This piece was filmed in rural Emery County, located in southeastern Utah, where two coal mines have fueled the local economy for decades. Stillerman gave his audience a window in the lives and minds of locals.

The show follows real people sharing their stories, from tales about the founding of Emery County, to the challenges and opportunities of current-day living. There is an incredible intimacy and deep sharing to the interviews. People are speaking their truth. So often people’s stories can be lost, and their lives turned into statistics. A farmer named Ross, sharing his views on climate, really spoke to me: he loves the land, living with and on it every day. He says city folk may vote the most green, but they are also the ones that do the most damage, paving over nature and pulling themselves away from the land. Getting quite emotional, Ross shared that no one has ever really asked him what he thinks. 

Ross cares about these issues just like I do; he just approaches them in a different way. Though Ross does not think of climate change as a human-made threat, he does have a solar farm on his extra land to make some extra money. Though Ross is not a “climate activist,” he does spend much of his time and energy caring for his land, and engaging in profitable business ventures that end up helping the climate. He does not have to hold the same views as others to make a difference. 

For many others in Emery County, working in the coal mines is their best option for employment. When the two coal mines inevitably shut down, they will be out of a job, with few other options.  A large solar farm could replace the energy derived from that coal – and in so doing it would reduce carbon emissions, improve the health of marginalized and minority communities who bear pollution’s brunt, and be a long-term boon for humanity. But we can’t forget that at the same time, closing those mines means decimating the main source of employment and income for numerous locals. 

In expressing opposition to climate initiatives (or even skepticism about the scientific facts), these everyday citizens are less focused on supporting fossil fuels, but rather focused on supporting themselves and their families. We clearly need a “Just Transition,” to a fossil-fuel-free future. And the process of getting there must include everyone’s voices – including both the frontline and fence-line communities whose lives are threatened by pollution, and the rural workers whose jobs are threatened by solutions.

Implications for Us

When talking with people who hold different views than you, I invite you to recall this story (from the Buddhist tradition): A long time ago, four people who had been blind since birth were brought together. An elephant was brought out, and each person was led to one part of the elephant – its leg; its tail; its belly; its trunk. When asked what an elephant was, they argued relentlessly. 
      “An elephant is like a pillar!” said the first person.
      “No, it is like the bristles of a broom!” said the second.
      “No, it is round like a barrel!” said the third.
      “No, it is long like a rope!” said the last person.

Of course, they were all describing the same thing, but their limited perceptions were different. They argued, angrily perceiving the others as wrong. If we remain closed-minded in this way, no progress will be made. We must each take a step back, and take in a wider range of views and facts. Only then will we be able to see how others reached their conclusions (and for that matter how we reached ours), and only then will we achieve the understanding that is needed to make real change. 

We all want what is best for ourselves, and our country, in our own ways. Bringing mindfulness and greater respect into political discussions has the power to really change our current polarized political landscape. It is also a core Jewish value, as it is for many other faiths – respect, kavod, is a central characteristic we must continually hone within ourselves.  And it’s closely connected to humility, anavah, the awareness that we haven’t yet touched every part of the elephant, and we need open communication with others in order to gain a fuller picture.

The film-maker spent months getting to know the people of Emery County on a personal level, which allowed people to open up and share their own views and personal perceptions. Only rarely are most of us able to do such a deep dive into the minds and hearts of people who may be quite different from us. But in small ways, every day, we can open ourselves to a wider range of voices and perspectives. While cultivating greater kavod/respect, we will also be building bridges and generating the insights that can engender a Just Transition, and turn around the climate crisis.