Our community took the opportunity to demonstrate what it cares about at the “Drawdown Festival: Films Forum Fun,” presented by Drawdown East End and the Southampton Arts Center on Saturday, January 11. Despite the lure of spending a sunny, warm winter Saturday in the out of doors, over 650 citizens were drawn to learn about “drawdown,” solutions for the reversal of global warming, with its cascading economic and health benefits. This is history.
Everyone browsed some of the dozens of environmental exhibitors who informed us of what we can do now to make a difference. Over 400 people spent two hours watching and conversing about the inspiring movie “2040.” Its focus is how our future can be, 20 years from now, and practices to put in place to make that happen. The audience emerged, many with tears and most asking how they could show the movie to their friends and every civic group with whom they are affiliated. It was palpably powerful.
Peconic Land Trust’s Yvette DeBow-Salsedo asked so emphatically that it be shown again for friends who might have missed it that we showed it again on Friday to 105 curious folks.
There is a message here for each of us. Friends, our time is now to join our neighbors in this incredible opportunity to change the world. Elected officials know that our communities want this future.
The focus of the festival was “What’s My Drawdown?” inviting us to kick off new practices from January 12 till the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 12. To help you find yours, programs begin at the Rogers Memorial Library on Monday for the next six weeks, with many educational opportunities to learn about Drawdown Solutions.
Or join our brand-new organization, Drawdown 100Women4Women, on February 2.
If you would like to be kept in the loop about Drawdown meetings coming up, send us your email at drawdowneastend@gmail.com — and while you are at it, let us know: “What’s Your Drawdown?”
If you live elsewhere and want to bring a festival like this to your community, we are making festival kits to share.
After such an unprecedented turnout for “Drawdown Festival: Films Forums Fun,” it feels like a new day. Game on!
Dorothy Reilly
Co-Chair
Drawdown East End
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