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March 2026: the power of your money

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

This week's module: LEARN

• ✅ CONNECT | Dream about a future where money looks different​
• 🎯 LEARN | Let's talk about consumer power (and lack thereof)
• ACT | Actions to make your money powerful (but like, for the Earth and for good stuff)
• REFLECT | Art, poetry, and commitments

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Here's what we'll learn today Reader

The United States is being a bloodthirsty murderous violence machine with our tax dollars, so yeah, the power of money as our March topic is haunting me.

I can't sit here and tell you everything is going to be okay. (But I CAN include a meme to hopefully make you laugh)

My perspective on the climate crisis has changed a lot since I've first started writing this Changeletter in October 2019. Before, I would wonder, How can we be more sustainable? How can we reform the system? How can we avoid collapse?

Now, I'm less interested in avoiding collapse than I am on imagining what comes after, because honestly? I think we need to look at the future with clear eyes. The world as we know it is ending, and I don't mean that (just) in a war-type way. We've done irreparable harm to nature (including humans). I don't really think there is a "going back."

But we are in the icky transition with a lot of big questions, and today's Changeletter is my best offering at contextualizing the power of our money in the place and time we're in.

I did my best!

And I am excited to be collapse buddies with you! (I'm not saying that sarcastically; I do think we can build a more beautiful world than the one we're leaving behind and it'll be hard work but it could be fun...? Maybe? Dancing on the ashes of the rot we burned?)

Okay, now onto our learn module about the power of our 💰 💴 💵 .

I'm especially excited for you to watch the video I shared.

P.S. you know what's probably not going to die out? PAPER MAIL! Come join our virtual party on March 29 to be assigned a Soapbox penpal!​

Your bite-sized action plan Reader

LEARN by choosing one article or video to explore further.

• The power of your money matters in more ways than you think. In the sustainability space, we're often overindexing on sustainable products, services, and other types of purchasing. This article from Commons breaks it down really well. Shopping locally slows down impulse purchases, keeps your money in the local economy (which matters so much for community resilience), keeps you rooted in your community, and more. It's not always more "sustainable" in terms of like, the perfect plastic-free product, but when it comes to local businesses? Use them or lose them.
  ​Also, if you're in the USA, Amazon and Walmart use your tax dollars to subsidize poverty wages.​
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• Also, yes, the system is rigged and we need to acknowledge that. In 2010, the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled Citizens United, a villainous little (big, huge, monstrous) decision that unleashed unlimited electoral spending. 15+ years later, we're feeling the impacts in the form of extreme wealth inequality and billionaire control of American democracy, which in turn, affects the rest of the world. According to the Roosevelt Institute, "just 100 billionaire donors [made] up nearly 20 percent of total spending" in the 2024 election. Our money matters, and one of the most important things we need to do in the next 15 years is to build class solidarity. (I saw a hat that says "billionaires can't read" and I love it???! here)

• One step we should ALL take? Assess where we bank and invest. If you put your money in a large bank like Chase, Wells Fargo, Royal Bank of Canada, etc., you're helping them financing fossil fuels.​
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• The good news? There are solutions, like...
  • ​Use Mighty Deposits or Bank.Green to find a bank or credit union that aligns with your values.
  • Green your retirement with Carbon Collective or Make My Money Matter​
  • Advocate to prevent algorithmic price fixing, like they successfully did in California!
  • LIBRARIES! Libraries libraries libraries libraries!!!
  • And more, next week, in our ACT module.

But for now...

Libraries.

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With love and libraries,

​Nivi​

​P.S. see you at the penpal party​

Upcoming Soapbox events

We have WEEKLY events in Seattle AND in Portland! Both are on Tuesday evenings, same time, same place.
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​Our entire events calendar for ALL locations + virtual can be found here.