Dear Chenoa,

Before you get any funny ideas about why I picked your over your sister, it’s only because you are younger. I’m writing this letter to you– I’m 82 years old if I haven’t died yet, and you’re 42. Back when you were 14, I wrote this letter. I would like to you be living in a world better than the one that I live in. One where there is winter in Vermont. Winter where there’s skiing in the winter. Where it snows in burlington and in the mountains. One were we can ski every month between November and April. I remember your sense of humor when you were a 9th grader. You told such a funny story about being trapped in the hallway with a rat at BHS. You said you called Maddie on your phone, and you were whispering, but you didn’t know why. I want you to grow up in a world where you can maintain that sense of humor. I want you to live in a world where there’s a wintertime– one that’s natural. Where people don’t have to leave their homes because their land has flooded. One where there isn’t so much wealth and power concentrated with so few. Did you know that 100 companies are responsible for 71% of all greenhouse gas emissions? We’re at a tipping point in society, and by the time we’re at 2050 I envision a society where maybe we’re less rich, but more happy– where we take delight in experiences more than things. We are traveling less, but enjoying life more.

The action that I’m taking to create this world is that I’m on the board of directors of 350 Vermont– a non-profit working for climate justice. Climate justice is that the people most affected by climate change are the ones who did the least to cause it. I’m also lobbying in Washington. And, by the time I’m 60, I’m planning to participate in an act of civil disobedience in support of reducing climate change.

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More Messages to the Future

Dear Zhengqing Gao,

Fortunately, you didn’t get injured while the wildfire burned your school.

Dear Future Afnan,

You should make a time machine and come back to past and solve all the problems.

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to eat less meat.

My future husband,

I want us to read this in future time and remember all the senses and views we witnessed.

Dear Makena,

Sweetie, you deserve clean air, water and soil. You deserve to thrive in an environment that supports you.

To what we’ve overcome.

The first step would be in overcoming ourselves. Because whether we end up fading into obscurity, or thriving in prosperity, we will overcome ourselves.

To My Friends, Family and Future Grandchildren,

I realize my reflection of the past, current and future state of the environment paints a grim and pessimistic picture, but I feel optimistic in our ability to turn planet Earth’s fate around if we all work together and commit to making a change.

Dear A and C,

You are growing up in a time of immense change. In the last two years alone, we’ve learned so much about big and important issues including climate change and the systemic racism that runs through our institutions.

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to pick up trash at every beach I visit, use metal straws, take quick showers.

Dear Birds,

will continue championing land preservation and the restoration of woodland, prairie and wetland habitats. I will not stop advocating for “bird friendly” legislation to make cities safer for your passage.

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to work with my family and neighbors to reduce carbon output.

Dear Sander,

I pray that you are having a happy life and that you have contributed each year of your life into helping to make our planet healthy, cleaner, thriving and greener- a better place for all people and animals to live.

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