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July 2026: waste & climate change

Each month, we break down our topic into four weekly modules. Catch up on previous editions here.​

This week's module: ACT

• ✅ DREAM | imagine a world without X where you decide what the variable is
• ✅ LEARN | learn about actual, systemic solutions for waste around the world
• ✅ ACT | actions you can take asap for a waste-free future
• 🎯 REFLECT | Art, poetry, and commitments

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Here's what we'll learn today Reader

My lil baby nephew I told you about last week is doing well! He had his surgery last week a few hours after I sent out your Changeletter. So scary for a tiny guy to have open heart surgery, but he is big (small) and strong and loves milk. Big shoutout to modern medicine.

The other notable thing that's happened is PRAMILA JAYAPAL CAME TO SOAPBOX SEATTLE! (For those of you not in the USA: it's a big deal, trust me)

Here are some pics of us with our close personal friend.

She said, "It was such a hopeful, joyful, and productive conversation. This is what community looks like."

My favorite story from last night was about how, when she was elected, there were only 4 politicians (I bet you know who) that didn't take corporate donations.

AND NOW THERE ARE SIXTY.

This is the perfect example of how individual action vs. systemic change is a false dichotomy. Your individual leadership influences systemic change.

It's been a big, hectic, rollercoaster of a week for me, so I'm signing off with a poem about waste to end our month.

Next month's theme is rewilding, September's is on transportation, October's is democracy, and November is spirituality, so if you'd like to suggest a poem or art piece, send it in.

Your bite-sized action plan Reader

Earlier this month at Soapbox Seattle, one of our speakers said we don't need to just solve waste, we need to learn how to live with it. Waste is part of life, and it's not waste that's the problem.

And then I found this poem.

To me, it's about the things we love, and the things we throw away, and the things we turn into problems so we don't have to face other ones.

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Until next week,

Nivi

Did It Ever Occur to You That Maybe You’re Falling in Love? by Ailish Hopper​

We buried the problem.
We planted a tree over the problem.
We regretted our actions toward the problem.
We declined to comment on the problem.
We carved a memorial to the problem, dedicated it. Forgot our handkerchief.
We removed all “unnatural” ingredients, handcrafted a locally-grown tincture for the problem. But nobody bought it.
We freshly-laundered, bleached, deodorized the problem.
We built a wall around the problem, tagged it with pictures of children, birds in trees.
We renamed the problem, and denounced those who used the old name.
We wrote a law for the problem, but it died in committee.
We drove the problem out with loud noises from homemade instruments.
We marched, leafleted, sang hymns, linked arms with the problem, got dragged to jail, got spat on by the problem and let out.
We elected an official who Finally Gets the problem.
We raised an army to corral and question the problem. They went door to door but could never ID.
We made www.problem.com so You Can Find Out About the problem, and www.problem.org so You Can Help.
We created 1-800-Problem, so you could Report On the problem, and 1-900-Problem so you could Be the Only Daddy That Really Turns That problem On.
We drove the wheels offa that problem.
We rocked the shit out of that problem.
We amplified the problem, turned it on up, and blew it out.
We drank to forget the problem.
We inhaled the problem, exhaled the problem, crushed its ember under our shoe.
We put a title on the problem, took out all the articles, conjunctions, and verbs. Called it “Exprmntl Prblm.”
We shot the problem, and put it out of its misery.
We swallowed daily pills for the problem, followed a problem fast, drank problem tea.
We read daily problem horoscopes. Had our problem palms read by a seer.
We prayed.
Burned problem incense.
Formed a problem task force. Got a problem degree. Got on the problem tenure track. Got a problem retirement plan.
We gutted and renovated the problem. We joined the Neighborhood Problem Development Corp.
We listened and communicated with the problem, only to find out that it had gone for the day.
We mutually empowered the problem.
We kissed and stroked the problem, we fucked the problem all night. Woke up to an empty bed.
We watched carefully for the problem, but our flashlight died.
We had dreams of the problem. In which we could no longer recognize ourselves.
We reformed. We transformed. Turned over a new leaf. Turned a corner, found ourselves near a scent that somehow reminded us of the problem,
In ways we could never
Put into words. That
Little I-can’t-explain-it
That makes it hard to think. That
Rings like a siren inside.

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