Dear J and A,

Dear Jayden and baby girl,

I know, like everyone in our family knows, that you will have barriers ahead of you, and that they will be enormous. There are so many things about your circumstances that I cannot touch—because it is not my place. And I hate to say that because it seems like such an excuse, but the nature of the nuclear family is that the parents reserve all the input, and no matter how much the fringe family loves you and cares about you, we are not welcomed into conversations about how to raise you. And your parents love you, so there’s that.

I can’t promise that I will pay for adventures and education. I can’t promise that I will travel to Idaho to spend time reading to you or teaching you constellations. But I can promise that I will do my best to fight for your future. I will vote in all elections, and I will make climate change the priority in the candidates who receive my vote. I will continue to write about it in the ways that I can, to use my work to help bring the issue to the forefront of minds.

I also promise that I will talk to your mother. No matter what she does or says, I will never fully cut ties with her, and I will never stop believing that she can make a bright future for herself. I will never stop talking about complex issues with her, and I will never pronounce a destiny on her head. When everyone has given up on her, I will not. And I will not give up on her because I will not give up on you because I will not give up on the planet because I will always believe in change—in massive positive change. That positive change is on the horizon, and although I can’t promise I will be there beside you, buying you clothes and holding your hand, I throw my weight to tip the scales in favor of a better life.

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More Messages to the Future

Dear Nafia,

I also hope that your previous prayers have been answered. The way you wanted to create green jobs for your fellow city dwellers have been fulfilled already.

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to use my reusable water bottle more often

To my Kids,

I wish you all the best and always make sure that you can be proud of yourself and don’t need status-symbols for feeling nice.

Dear old dude Mårten,

I know that the 2019 version of me (today that is) wished and hoped for that I did all within my power to turn the world around without loosing sight on the beauty of being alive.

Dear Nephew,

I believe i have truly played my part in raising awareness and practical solutions to climate change.

To My Dear Grandchildren,

Be assured that in the upcoming election, I will cast my vote for your future – for elected officials that recognize climate risks and are willing to promote and vote for legislation that will stop environmental damage and begin to heal our planet.

To my children,

I am working with 350.org on shutting down the coal and unconventional gas industries in our country because I cannot think of a more direct way to protect you, the food, water and biodiversity we all love and rely on.

Dear future generations,

My hope for you is that you can have equal experiences with nature that I was able to have with my dad.

Dear James,

More importantly, what are we doing to better our planet and everyone who lives in it?

Dear Tomorrow,

My climate promise: community awareness of the climate crisis.

To the future generations,

I will stand on the streets, in the courts, and in the schools to encourage awareness and empathy for the earth.

I pledge to stop using plastic bags.

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