The Hunt for Bright Spots Continues!
Know any Bright Spots at the crossroads of economy and environment? Send them my way!
Amici mei, my dear friends, a quick request for your help. I’m on the hunt for Bright Spots that bridge the gap between working-class livelihoods and sustainability. Do you know of any initiatives that are solving working people’s needs while protecting the planet? If so, would you kindly point me in their direction?
I found one such Bright Spot in Spain where unions and the government are working together to end coal-mining in a way that doesn’t sacrifice miners’ livelihoods. (Thanks to
for this find!)I know there must be more.
I ask because I recently reached out to one of my favorite problem-solving podcasts, Future Ecologies, with this very question. This is a shortened version of my letter to them to give you a better idea of the Bright Spots I’m tracking. Not speaking for them or for you, if you see things differently:
Dear Future Ecologies,
…I’m writing to share a topic suggestion that I don’t think you’ve covered in depth (apologies if I missed it!). Would you consider doing a deep dive into the complex relationship between working-class security and climate action? I’ve noticed this theme naturally pops up in your episodes, but I’d love to hear a dedicated exploration.
…This is a decades-old problem that climate activists have struggled with, failing at times to address or even acknowledge-- though I think you and I know, there's bright spots where these groups have also successfully come together. And when they do, the united front is *powerful*.
Working class buy-in is absolutely essential for climate action, and no climate action is good enough unless it tends to working class issues.
The destiny of the Working Class and of the Climate are deeply, inextricably interlinked.
….[In my Italian-American community, there’s an old story.] When asked who they’d vote for, our immigrant nonnas1 (grandmas) would say, “Whoever feeds me.” How can climate solutions become the thing that “feeds” the working class?
I’d love to hear your thoughtful take on this. Regardless, I deeply appreciate the work you do and will keep listening and recommending you!
Future Ecologies has kindly responded to my request, and I’d love to offer them as many Bright Spots as possible. If you know of any at this crucial crossroad where working class livelihoods and sustainability meet, please share by replying to this email or dming me on Substack!
Mille grazie—1000 thanks! Let’s grow the light.
I noticed days later that “nonnas” is incorrect in Italian (nonne is correct)… but this is also perfectly acceptable in Brooklynese which dances with Italian and English… and nowadays also with Spanish <3