Light a candle for the climate
20 minutes at 20:00 hrs on the 20th of the month
I came up with the idea of Candlelit Gatherings after a particularly depressing climate related zoom call that I joined. On it, there was a young male physics graduate speaking about his dissertation work on Tipping Points and Feedback Loops. He was clearly suffering with anxiety and panic and I just wanted him to un-know what he now knew and was struggling to live with. The zoom asked for action, to be arrested etc. I knew I couldn’t do that, that’s not me.
The next morning, I awoke with the idea for the gatherings, and as it was Remembrance Day in a few days’ time, I decided to run with it. The gatherings were something I COULD DO and to make them accessible to people who might otherwise have been put off by protests in London, with huge crowds, travel costs, risk of arrest etc. I felt I could get more people on board this way, and hopefully some media coverage to raise more awareness.
It worked! The initiative has the support of the Climate Majority Project; has been on the front page of the Midhurst and Petworth Observer and I was interviewed by Briony Leyland and featured on BBC South Today on 16th December 2023.
The first vigil on Saturday 11th November went really well. Groups stood publicly in Midhurst, Petersfield, Chichester, Haslemere and Bristol plus individuals lit candles in their home and then sent photos in to me to publicise. The second vigil on Saturday 16th December was particularly well attended no doubt thanks to being on the news that day. The vigil movement is growing. The aim now is to have a vigil at 8pm on the 20th of each month. Everyone is invited to light candles – either publicly with others or privately at home – to show concern and to help raise awareness of the link between the millions of human lives, homes and livelihoods being lost and more frequent and extreme weather events caused by climate breakdown.
We need to fight the climate crisis on multiple fronts, and we also need to pause and reflect on the impact of the crisis, especially on people’s lives.
For more information about candlelit gatherings click here.
To find the latest details of events near you please join the 20 minutes at 20:00 - Candlelit Gatherings Facebook Group.
Or you can email me at nomoreclimatedeaths@gmail.com for more details.
Or search the hashtag #nomoreclimatedeaths on Facebook, X, Reddit etc.