It’s the end of the world as we know it and a Red Lake author understands how that can paralyze most people from taking action.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when the scientific community is nearing consensus that climate change brought on by industrialism is threatening humans’ ability to survive on the only planet we have.
Christine Penner Polle’s new book Unfreeze Yourself is a step-by-step guide to evolve even introverted amateurs into what she calls “climate champions” by getting involved then encouraging others to convert their concern into action.
“It’s time to face the fear that has us frozen and that is imperiling our children’s future and our present happiness,” Polle’s book reads.
“We are frozen not because we care too little about future generations and the planet but because we care too much.”
Although Polle had been following the scientific tide turning, she could have been counted among “climate avoiders” standing on the sidelines until 2009.
Polle was living part time in Winnipeg with her daughter who was finishing high school in an era when social movements were turning their attention to Canada's perceived democratic deficit.
“A significant majority of people were really concerned about climate change but had no idea what to do about it,” Polle recalled.
Back in Red Lake, Polle came to be counted among only a handful of locals who were actively working on environmental issues of any kind. Unlike those living in urban centres, she said, Northwestern Ontarians have their intimate relationship with nature at their doorstep.
She did find a cultural difference, however, when it came to the perceived intersection of environment and economy.
“When you work in the resource extraction industry, one has to do a bit of soul searching about the cumulative impact that industry has not just on on our climate but the ecosystem that keeps us alive,” Polle said.
“When I talk about solutions, I like to focus on the big solutions, which is putting a price on carbon. Really what people want in Northwestern Ontario as well as in Alberta and New Brunswick, they want a roof over heir heads and food on their family’s table. Do they want to work in the oil sands to do that? No. They want the end goal. Putting a price on the carbon -- because it’s a solution big enough for the problem -- it will facilitate this shift.”
Although the region’s political culture can appear isolated from the physical centres of power, Polle doesn’t see it as different from the frustration felt in Winnipeg or other larger cities.
As someone who had never even written a letter to her Member of Parliament until the age of 47, she was moved to hear how few constituents bring up climate change to those who can influence policy.
“I think Canadians in general are disconnected from the political process and they don’t realize how empowering it can be to participate,” she said.
“You don’t need to go to Ottawa or Washington. That’s kind of intimidating and it can be exhilarating at the same time but our Members of Parliament come to our communities here in the Northwest and you can always sit down with your MPs – and you should because that’s what they’re there for.”
While doubling as a motivational read, Unfreeze Yourself is unapologetic in proposing climate action solutions and the organizations Polle feels will best deliver them. That’s coupled with personal stories of men and women from Kenora to Australia who have taken similar roads to become engaged in the struggle and are now ready to inspire others.
Polle urges her readers to rise above the liberal personal changes to consumption habits and engage in both the grassroots sense of community and the global sense of urgency.
“I wrote this book for a very specific audience: people like me six years ago who are concerned but paralyzed," she said.
"It is proscriptive and I wanted to underline the fact that personal individual change, while not unimportant, is not going to make the shift we need in the window that we have. I wanted people to look at the big picture.”
Christine Penner Polle launched Unfreeze Yourself at The Water Buffalo coffee shop in Red Lake on Feb. 14.
