This is Tracey speaking here, from Plakortis Earth Cafe in Jamaica. I just got the news that I’ve been selected for the Renew Our Power gathering that 350.org is organizing next year – and I’m thrilled about this opportunity to meet fellow local climate leaders.
My wake up call to the impacts of climate change came shortly after college, when I was offered a position as Junior Scientific Officer and monitored coral bleaching. It wasn’t much later, though, when hurricanes Ivan and Dean added a new and even more personal sense of urgency to me: as a Type 1 Diabetic, the loss of electricity meant my insulin – and therefore my life – was at risk.
The storms we face in Jamaica are getting stronger and more intense, and when we lose electricity, we lose so much more than power. It’s the lives of older people, women, and other vulnerable groups that are most affected. Medications that need refrigeration are compromised, the threat of heat stroke becomes a serious concern, groceries spoil and small shops lose income. This increases the pressure on families who are already struggling, as they face even more financial instability during a crisis.
Moving from one disaster to the next creates significant anxiety, particularly for those of us trying to mitigate these threats while often feeling powerless. My community faces heightened risks every day as the climate crisis worsens – and yet, awareness is still insufficient. These experiences made climate resilience a deeply personal issue for me.
Tracey at an action for Power Up for Climate Solutions, November 2023. Photo credit: personal archive.
“Real climate solutions address the root causes of climate change while centering equity and community needs. These solutions integrate renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and nature-based approaches. They also ensure the voices of marginalized groups, such as women, Indigenous peoples, youth, and older vulnerable people, are central to decision-making. A world where no one feels forgotten, rejected, and ignored.”
With our organization, CCN Jamaica, led by Plakortis Earth Cafe, me and my friends are building resilient communities through renewable energy. We equip local institutions like churches and schools with the tools and knowledge to adopt solar power and other renewable energy solutions – ensuring education and protection during power outages for vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, youth, and women in business.
Our goal is to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and foster sustainable, empowered communities. And the Renew Our Power gathering will allow me to learn more about innovative, low-cost renewable energy solutions. We don’t have time to wait, as many of our communities are still struggling to recover from past disasters – and this gathering will give me the knowledge, skills, and connections to drive real change and quickly – to help my community adapt swiftly to the growing challenges.
We don’t want to just survive, but to thrive in the face of climate change. And like mine, many other communities can benefit from the Renew Our Power gathering. But getting to this training is expensive, and we need your support.
By coming together, we can change our story, take a stand, and send a strong message that we are ready to embrace solutions that protect our people and our planet. We count on you!
Now is the time to empower our communities to become energy-independent and resilient – help 350.org bring more activists like me to the Renew Our Power gathering!