La Madre Patria

LISTENING: to the evening soundscape of bugs
FEELING: grounded
SEEING: a tablecloth with "El Salvador" embroidered on it

I’m riding up a mountain with a view of Lake Coatepeque. It‘s a volcanic lake in the northwest of El Salvador near Santa Ana. I read online that it formed tens of thousands of years ago when a group of volcanoes collapsed. My lover, my sister, my mom, my nephew, my niece, and a few other beloved family members and I swam where the waters were warm — likely heated up by the same geothermal vents that feed the broader volcanic geology of the country.

It was a special day. The few times I’ve come to El Salvador, my family and I usually just visit more family and don’t get to see much of the land. Today, we adventured. I feel reconnected to a place I‘m still getting to know. I feel grounded. It’s a privilege to connect with one’s motherland. I’m reminded of the many people around the globe displaced from their lands due to extreme weather or war. Many never get to see their lands again.

Welcome to Possibilities, a creative climate newsletter on the possibilities that lie where crisis meets community. I’m Yessenia Funes, and I'm writing to you all from El Salvador.

Here, drought conditions are growing more severe — likely a result of climate change. It’s currently driving migration in the country. But the lack of water isn't the only problem — so is too much of it. My mom's family lives near a creek where the rains pour in and in until it swells. Recently, the storms have been so bad that my aunt and everyone else at the house lost internet, some electricity, and their potable water. Their home lacks the sort of infrastructure many of the rest of us take for granted.

As we drove by one of the tall volcanoes — likely the Santa Ana volcano that's connected to the lake — I asked my dad if he would want to visit the volcano. He said no. I agreed. Humans don't belong everywhere. Some places are too sacred. Indeed, the Gwich'in in Alaska won't set foot into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the massive pristine landscape that former President Donald Trump was trying to open up to the oil and gas industry. The Gwich'in call the refuge Iizhik Gwats'an Gwandaii Goodlit, or The Sacred Place Where Life Begins.

Saving the Sacred Place - Atmos

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s 60th anniversary is coming up, but the Gwich’in Nation has been protecting it for much longer.

AtmosAtmos

I am reminded of that belief system as I journey through my own lands. Where did my people's life begin? Where lie the origins of my story? How will that story morph through generations as sea level rise, desertification, and strange weather lay their marks? I don't know the answers, but I'm looking to the past to find them. I hope that I can learn more about myself during this trip. That way, I have a better sense of what comes forward.

After all, the possibilities ahead can be ones of light, music, and joy — but only if we know how to heed the rhythms of lives past. 🌀

Rest in Power

While we can't say for certain that climate change led to these specific weather events (we need attribution studies for that), we do know that the Earth's rising temperatures are already creating more disasters like these.

A gentle reminder to take a deep breath before and after reading this list, always. Today's is especially long and tragic. I'm sorry to bring you all terrible news, but these deaths are what climate injustice looks like. These are lives, families torn apart, entire worlds blown to bits. We must honor them.

In Yemen, heavy rainfall and severe floods have led to over 100 deaths over the last few weeks.

In New York and Connecticut, wild-ass rainstorms earlier this week became deadly and killed at least two people.

At least 20 people in the eastern Indian state of Tripura are dead from rain-caused floods and landslides.

Last week, southeastern China suffered dangerous rains that led to the deaths of at least 30 people.

This summer has been exceedingly awful in Pakistan, where over 200 people have died from the monsoon rains since July 1.

In June, a heat wave that hit Montreal, Canada, may be tied to at least 14 deaths, per a recent government report.

Currently Reading

Here's the shot... A must-read from Erika Hayasaki for The New York Times on the Lahaina wildfires: "She survived the fires that killed at least 102 others. But what does it mean to survive when society’s most vulnerable remain unprotected after a crisis? For Ms. Diezon, the road to rebuilding her life would turn perilous."

And the chaser... a good news story. Who doesn't love those? Emily Pontecorvo has a piece on the Inflation Reduction Act's second anniversary for Heatmap.

We also love The Onion!!!!! And print!!!!

Apologies for all The New York Times links. I know, I know, we have our feelings about them. This column, though, from Masha Gesson on Vice President Kamala Harris really hit home for me. It's the last night of the Democratic National Convention as I write this. Is she listening to the people who support Palestine and want to see an end to this genocide? Doesn't seem that way.

The speech that should've happened from Rep. Ruwa Romman of Georgia who wasn't allowed to speak at the DNC. FREE PALESTINE: "For 320 days, we’ve stood together, demanding to enforce our laws on friend and foe alike to reach a ceasefire, end the killing of Palestinians, free all the Israeli and Palestinian hostages, and to begin the difficult work of building a path to collective peace and safety. That’s why we are here—members of this Democratic Party committed to equal rights and dignity for all. What we do here echoes around the world."

We don't need more reminders of how fossil fuels are tied to the evil right-wing monsters trying to push out our liberties — but here is one.

OK, not climate-related... but if you know me, you know I LOVE The Sims. This Washington Post story had me geeking out. Please geek out with me.

Poetry

a crater lake
a girl giggling,
floating on her back

green, lush mountains
strong and splendid
like the breasts of our mothers

this is my mother
this is my land

I'm learning again to be a child
I'm learning to take another's hand

-ylf-

I'm so sorry for today's late edition, y'all. My dad's house has no internet, so I've been scrambling to find time to get to my aunt's to write this. I've written it in pieces. Here it is. Hope you enjoy xx

- Yessenia