Bystanders have a powerful impact in the face of injustice

With 2014, 2015, and 2016 being the three hottest years on record, Mother Earth is sending very clear signals that we humans are having a huge impact.

Recent statements by world leaders underline the need to respond and to limit climate change.

World Meteorological Organization Secretary General Michel Jarraud said in that global warming “means hotter global temperatures, more extreme weather events like heatwaves and floods, melting ice, rising sea levels and increased acidity of the oceans. This is happening now and we are moving into uncharted territory at a frightening speed. We have to act now to slash greenhouse gas emissions.”

But looking around, do we see significant changes to cut greenhouse gas emissions by governments, by major institutions like Yale or the Chamber of Commerce? Are we even hearing much locally about this unprecedented threat? The New Haven Register has had some coverage, but most people don’t seem to be paying much attention. Even nonprofit organizations — which have missions to improve the community, create solutions and reduce harm — have been doing little address this growing threat, one that is already increasing displacement and poverty around the world. The book “Courageous Resistance: The Power of Ordinary People” looks at the historical role of leaders in confronting violence and evil during crises, as in Nazi-occupied France, and the powerful resistance people there organized to protect fleeing Jews.

While leaders are important, the book also explains that bystanders also have a powerful impact in the face of injustice, stating, “While bystanders may see their silence in the face of injustice as having a morally neutral effect, they often actually contribute to the power of those behind injustice.”

The book explains that bystander acquiescence encourages others in their circles to go along with injustice, and even those in power see the bystanders’ inaction as tacit support for the oppression.

So in the face of climate change, what are the messages we ‘bystanders’ are sending to others ... or to our children? That we are unwilling to make significant changes or rock the boat in our communities or organizations? That future generations are unimportant, or those already being displaced through droughts and storms don’t matter? That we are powerless, that we don’t trust each other to join in to create the needed change? That sacrifice and risk are unnecessary and that someone else will take care of it?

And given our weak response to date, how well will younger people — with such uninspiring role models — respond when the climate crises really begins to ramp up?

Said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim recently, “When Dr. King talked about bending the arc of history, he didn’t mean that we should be spectators who stand back and watch history unfold. He showed us through his own life that all of us must do our part to grab the arc of history and bend it toward justice with everything we have.”

A Yale student told me that her father got arrested in Boston blocking a proposed gas pipeline project. Seems like a very sane action for a parent trying to protect his family from the harm climate change will bring. It’s interesting, the Yalie is also active working on climate change. It’s not clear who inspired whom, but as “Courageous Resistance” points out, we do learn from, and are encouraged by, those around us.

The truth is, we have the clean energy technology to get off toxic fossil fuels now. In many cases, these investments will pay for itself in a few years. We also know how to create better transportation and food systems that improve public health and reduce carbon emissions. There are many great actions we can take now.

We are just not paying attention, and not willing to take risks. Too many leaders are silent.

So climate challenge is real. The greed and resistance to change is also very real — especially with the recent election of a climate denial administration. But we need to stop just watching this unfolding disaster and act now. We need local leaders — of faith institutions, nonprofits, the city, the state — to step up and lead. The physics of global warming is clear and powerful and unrelenting. Good solutions exist. The only question is whether we have the soul to take this on.