I grew up east of San Francisco in the 1950s. Each summer, my family spent time at Camp Nelson, a collection of cabins nestled in a meadow high in the Sequoia National Forest. Here, my father taught his two sons to love trout fishing on the Tule River.
My memory of fishing at first light with dad is a blessing he left me. Sadly, this summer, the SQF Complex Fire ravaged the mountains and some of the cabins around Camp Nelson. Now my heart is broken.
As wildfires raged across Western states, Republicans stopped calling climate change a hoax, which had made them look like idiots. But those with power connected to fossil fuel profits will not give up without a fight, and certainly not give it up based on science. Now our conservative friends have moved to the next line of defense: Yes, the climate is changing, but we don’t know to what extent humans are responsible. The destruction will only end when Republicans are removed from office.
Many of you have similar childhood memories. To honor those family moments, please vote to make our planet great again.