Revolutions; Bicycling to Resist

Soon the environmental policy of the country will be run for the interest of massive economic gain for the very few and for the very short-term, at the expense of the very many, and of the entire future. There may be nothing the American Resistance can do to stop this, although countries around the world continue to be committed to saving the future of the life we know on earth by reducing carbon emissions and other greenhouse gasses. When America abandons recent reduction targets, and emits and pollutes more than ever, even the effort at carbon reduction of other countries may be neutralized by the Republican-Trump team. Even if Americans of goodwill cannot stop the cataclysm, we can move to show that we wish the earth, and earth’s nature to endure. That might encourage the world to stay on the path of sanity, and if we get out of this political nightmare, there may yet be something of the climate salvageable. To do this, the American Resistance should make collective and individual plans to curb emissions and sign on to the Paris Climate Accords as citizens of the world. That’s what I plan to do, and become healthy and happy doing it, by bicycling to resist.

The public infrastructure of the necessary commute through roads and highways are not designed to make bicycling commuting easy. Cars and trucks are dangerous to bicyclists. Work schedules are indifferent to daylight and weather. But they are there, and the infrastructure as it exists can be used to meet healthy, sane, and community building goals. My commitment (gesture really) is to bike to work at least two times a week, all year, all hours, and in all weather. I would like to get rid of my car altogether, but Children need to be picked up from school, and family living requires some compromise, and the requirements of working in a capitalist society makes fleeting grasps at freedom and integrity challenging enough, indeed. With my will and the help of God, this will become habit and character changing in me, and I can advance towards my ideals.

As I have begun, I am realizing that biking as an act of social consciousness is also an act of personal liberation and mindfulness. When I push my pedals through the sun and dark, heat and snow, I lose myself in the motion of wheels. I feel the stress of the day fall away from me. I sense the smile and laughter on my face. I say hello to others I meet on the street or path. I come home to my family in a better mood, and in better health. It reminds me that I am of the earth and that the earth is of me. When I meditate on the fact that I am on the earth, I respect it more. I notice that on days I bike, I also wash and reuse plastic bags and containers.  I slow my life down and see the purpose in it. I am grounded, and I am changing. Just like the revolutions of the wheels of my bike. And, hopefully before long, the Revolution of the powers of our world.