En el mar

I close my eyes and I can still see her. That little girl with the fast feet running into the water, taking her little sister fearlessly with her. Their little brown hands – kissed by the sun – clenched tightly. Their feet created quick rhythms, their mouths blurted the words, “Here I come, ay voyyyy!” It was in the water, together, where these two hermanitas felt most alive and free.

More than 25 years have passed since then and now I watch my own young child experiencing the mesmerizing waves of the Pacific Ocean. And, here we are – the image of our ancestors who guarded and protected their lands and waters, acknowledging how our sustenance and the livelihoods of those around us, our vecinos is at stake because of the climate crisis.

For me, Lake Michigan was my first ocean and just like the seas, the Great Lakes levels are escalating to historic highs, swallowing up playas while erosion jeopardizes roadways, walking and bike paths, if you’re privileged to live in a neighborhood with them, and most importantly, homes. These lakes are also dipping to all-time lows, casualties of high air temperatures and infrequent rainfalls. Ocean temperatures and our global sea levels are rising, too – from Florida to Alaska and, well, beyond. The seas, science tells us, will rise one foot to more than four feet compared to levels just 20 years ago. Flooding will become commonplace whether triggered by high-tides and erosion.

¡No debemos dejar que suba la marea has never been more urgent! The encroaching waters fueled by the climate crisis, creep closer and closer ashore. In some geographies, they’re already experiencing this at catastrophic levels.

The climate crisis affects todos and we have the agency to act on climate, now. Sea level rise brings with it the guarantee of flooded homes, displaced humans and a housing crisis – in addition to inundating coastal ecosystems and eliminating wetlands. We can and must advocate for policies that will protect people and our planet, while holding polluters accountable for accelerating the climate crisis and putting the health and safety of our gente in grave danger. While flooding itself isn’t biased, the most pervasive bias does include the location of many affordable housing units and families who are on the frontlines of this warming planet. Those who will carry the greatest burden of the crisis are low-income and communities of color.

Armed with agency, coraje, love, esperanza and the almighty power of science, we too can work to protect humanity and the planet we universally call home. But, we need to be in this together. 

I close my eyes and remember that little girl, with water touching her knees at the beach. Oh, how we basked in the glory of the glistening agua surrounding us. Now, I open my eyes to the reality inaction could bring – my child, who since infancy has been taught to honor the earth, has a high probability that he will bear witness alongside the next generation as la marea sube and wreaks havoc and harm. There will be no joy, no laughter – likely only stinging anguish as he witnesses the result of climate inaction, hurting those who have done the least to cause the crisis yet carry the greatest burdens. 

Still wondering if you have what it takes to act on climate? Lo voy a poner en claro – a los latino/a/xs les importa el medio ambiente y no vamos a dejar que sube la marea. Are you ready? You’ve already picked the perfect soundtrack, powered by Azul. Now, let’s fight back. 

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