Non-Depressing Thoughts After the 2024 Election
Dear Dri Family,
If you voted for the safety of our planet on Tuesday, the outcome of our presidential election likely wasn't what you wanted. To be frank, thinking about the promises made to "drill, baby, drill" and the horrifying contents of Project 2025 have lead to a few brown paper bag sessions for me personally. But during one of those hyperventilating moments, a memory flashed back to me.
When I was graduating college, I was sort-of dating this cute guy. You know - a college situationship. Because we'd never had the whole "boyfriend/girlfriend" discussion, I worried our fun dynamic might not make it in the real world. Distraught with the negative thoughts and dooms day scenarios swirling in my mind, I turned to my mom. As I babbled on about how difficult the time and space apart would be, and how we couldn't possibly survive without our "dates" at the school cafe (don't judge - we were poor college kids!), she listened patiently then gave me some of the best advice I've ever received. "Deirdre," she said, "Don't live in the hypothetical. Just keep going."
On June 3rd, 2023, I married that cute guy.
I tell you this story because a lot of people are saying this presidency means the fight against climate change is over. But that is them, living in the hypothetical. I reject that belief, and you should too. Sure, threats against our planet have been made. When haven't they? It's been our situationship for literal decades. Now is the time to dig our heels in and double our efforts, not give up on them.
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I shared this story on Dri's Instagram the day after the election, but it's worth repeating. Previous Vice President Al Gore, who exposed the world to climate change in his famous documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, released a statement on Wednesday saying,
"In moments such as this, it is important to remember that all major reform efforts from civil rights to the climate movement, suffer dark days. And this is surely one. We can mourn a loss, but we can't linger in despair. Our planet doesn't have time for that. Now more than ever, this movement needs engagement and leadership from all corners of the country...We have won major victories in tackling the climate crisis and reducing climate pollution in our country, and we will again. Onward."
The only thing that will eliminate our ability to win the battle against climate change is if we give up. It's only when we lose our hope, our belief in the possibility of a safe planet for our children/grandchildren/cute kids who live next door, and our willingness to take action to protect it, that we've lost.
Voting to safeguard our planet via legislation won't be an option for awhile, so it's up to us to vote with our time and dollars until then. Get involved in your local grassroots organizations. Buy products that focus on sustainability, not those that profit from continued drilling. Be mindful of travel, meat consumption, fast fashion, composting, and proper recycling. Individual actions add up. They matter.
Don't linger in despair. Don't live in the hypothetical. Keep going. We got this.
All my hope and belief in us,
Deirdre Bird
Founder & CEO, Dri
November 7th, 2024
