By Sarah Aswell | Missoula Current

As a comedian and community organizer, I do think there are places comedy shouldn’t go… But when it comes to talking politics, taking on sensitive topics, and making fun of our most terrifying current issues, comedy isn’t just okay, it’s imperative.

This Giving Tuesday, we are asking for your support to help us break climate silence and build momentum for bold climate action in Montana. Here are some ways you can join our community for stories, skills, advocacy, and action.

A critical part of building a livable future for all involves learning, unlearning, and confronting difficult truths about our past. It is only when we dispel our myths and take an honest, critical eye to our stories that we can authentically begin the work of reconciliation, reparation, rebuilding, and realizing a truly livable future for all.

We have gathered this (non-exhaustive) list of resources to help guide us on this journey of learning, unlearning, confronting, connecting, and taking action.

Our children need us to address the climate crisis now. Donate today to support our work to break climate silence in Montana and build momentum for bold action. Through December all donations will be matched, up to $5,000!

Families for a Livable Climate and Stories for Action are looking for Montana storytellers and artists to contribute to our Montana Climate Stories project. Selected storytellers will receive $100 for their submission, and their story will be featured on our website, social media, and may be included in a traveling exhibit of stories in 2023. Priority submissions deadline: January 7, 2023. Final Deadline: January 30, 2023.

We at Families for a Livable Climate recognize the power of storytelling, and we also acknowledge how important it is to speak up about climate change. We know, despite widespread misinformation and attempts to divide and silence us, that there is actually vast support for climate action - we simply have to normalize it and mobilize those who are concerned.

This year, we’ve met many of our supporters at virtual and in-person events, and it has been amazing to see our community grow. When Montanans speak for our families, our kids, and our communities, change happens. We're so excited to build momentum for the coming year.

Over this past summer, we canvassed for signatures on our NorthWestern Energy letter in Helena, Butte, and Missoula, and had incredible conversations with moms, dads, grandparents, energy workers, small business owners, and more. As a result, on September 23, we delivered a letter to NorthWestern Energy’s Board of Directors and leadership bearing over 1,000 signatures, asking the company to move to clean, affordable, and renewable energy. Help build momentum for this campaign by getting involved in upcoming advocacy opportunities, and get inspired by watching the remarks from our speakers at the letter delivery rally.

What I’m realizing I want is NOT to have to do all the research and work and suffer the burden of making the more difficult but “right” choice - what I want is for the right choice to be the easy, accessible, and obvious choice. What I want is a system where workers are valued, water is kept clean, ecosystems are healthy, air is breathable, and our climate is stable, all inherently. I want a system that enriches rather than pollutes. I want a future that is livable for all.