The effects from results of the 2016 election have not yet come to play. The country is in a time of stagnation. We are all holding our breath, waiting to see what will happen when the ball starts rolling in the court of the fully powered GOP. One thing that has been mentioned by Donald Trump and his campaign is the continuing use of fossil fuels and the building of more coal mines—things that would directly affect our nation’s footprint on nature and our impact on climate change.
When talking of climate change, a lot of politicians fail to mention (or even remember) the effect nature has on children. One would think that when children get outside and play in nature, they would want to keep that privilege available to their children and grandchildren as they grow older. In my experience, the more people experience nature through being in it themselves or reading of adventures in nature, the more they appreciate it and want to preserve it as it is (if not make it better, however that may be).
I suppose that all we can do it watch and wait. We can still get the word out about the things that matter to us as individuals. Concerning the environment we can stay vocal on the need for local green efforts such as banning plastic bags. We can take our kids into nature, introduce people to the joys that being in nature brings us. The emotional effects on being in nature are proven through things like forest bathing, but we need those forests to thrive and survive in order to enjoy this practice. We can also teach and introduce children to books with strong nature themes like Julie of the Wolves, Call of the Wild, and My Side of the Mountain in order to spark their interest and (hopefully) future conversational efforts.
In the meantime, I hope everyone takes care of their own psyche during this time of the unknown. Stay strong, people.
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
BRISTLECONE JOURNAL 
Your post is very powerful. I love your idea of showing the importance of our environment to children through books and activities out in nature. I’m not sure everyone fully understands the gravity of the situation and the big picture damage this election can cause on a global scale. Great job in providing some helpful solutions!
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Dear Yost,
What are the chances that our environmental law will remain intact or improve in the future from now?
Sincerely,
Ann
Ngo
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I agree wholeheartedly with what you are discussing here. When I found out that Trump plans on liquidating the climate change research funding I was inferiated. What also is troubling is that I found out that funding for a number of other energy issues including solar, batteries, car fuel efficiency, air pollution, as well as others will be taken away too since it is part of the initiative. Trump needs to wake up and smell the energy efficiency, there’s a reason why the population has tripled and pollution has gotten better. It’s because these programs have been in place, providing resources for research on making the country more environmentally friendly.
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