What is Rotary?
Without going into too much detail about what Rotary is, just a short description: Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Having been a proud Rotarian for over 30 years, I can attest to the fact that all of the above is true…and it’s why I “stay in.”
Rotary and Climate Solutions
Imagine my delight when the April 2019 issue of the Rotarian Magazine front cover reads: Climate Solutions Within Our Reach. I was not surprised because Rotarians understand that the whole world is our backyard. We can see the effects of climate change in communities we care about, and we haven’t waited to act. And we are tackling the problems the way we always do: coming up with projects, using our connections to change policy – and planning for the future. To me, Rotary has been and always will be the quintessence of “thinking globally, acting locally.” We work on projects in our own communities and we lend support to projects we believe in all over the world – such as the eradication of polio and bringing clean water to people who don’t have access to it in place like Ghana and Kenya and others.
This particular issue of The Rotarian featured articles about the disappearing land in the Bahamas due to rising sea levels, about losing ground for Indigenous Alaskans facing a disastrous situation, about how the Citizens Climate Lobby brings an even-handed approach to advocacy using friendly persuasion (the Rotary way) and a major article about Project Drawdown – a book written by a recent Mrs. Green’s World guest: Paul Hawken, highlighting some of the key ranked solutions identified based on their potential to avert or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Call to Action
My personal call to action? Find out more about the important work of Rotary International by visiting their website and consider becoming a member. The world needs more Rotarians.
From about the age of five, Gina has been on the path of being a disruptor for good. A dreamer at heart, Gina is madly and passionately in love with this great planet of ours and is tireless in her efforts to preserve it.