I've learned from Indigenous leaders that alcohol can literally be a matter of life and death for many native people. 2/
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I'm ALL IN for people getting together to process climate emotions. But I think it's 
a mistake to center this around alcohol for *many* reasons, including backing Indigenous leadership. I ask people to consider a Climate Coffee or some other fun thing instead.
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1/https://twitter.com/ClimateHuman/status/1207412854095171584 …
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There's a reason "alcohol and drugs were strictly forbidden" by Indigenous youth at Standing Rock. "The struggle against the pipeline was part of the same struggle against alcoholism, suicide and abuse." 3/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/magazine/the-youth-group-that-launched-a-movement-at-standing-rock.html …
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Like the Fossil Fuel industry, the Alcohol industry lies and uses similar tactics to cover up the science and confuse the public. "The science on the link [between alcohol and cancer] is clear, but the alcohol industry has worked hard to downplay it." 4/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/04/did-drinking-give-me-breast-cancer/ …
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Alcohol isn't safe – it's harmful. "there is no known safe dosage [of alcohol] in humans, according to the WHO. Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, but it kills more women from breast cancer than from any other." 5/
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There's a link between alcohol and domestic violence. According to the WHO: "Strong links have been found between alcohol use and the occurrence of intimate partner violence in many countries" https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/factsheets/fs_intimate.pdf … 6/
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Alcohol is a depressant and is used by many people to *numb* their feelings. When was the last time you heard of someone drinking in their therapy or counseling session? 7/
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Let's create spaces where we can be fully present with each other. Where we can be vulnerable, and connected with our whole selves and minds. Alcohol interferes with our ability to be present. Why would we want that when we need each other so much? /END
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Emily, you make good points, though as the website says, everyone is encouraged to gather around whatever food or beverage they prefer. As someone who did avoid alcohol for many years due to these reasons, however, I will reconsider.
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I love your format though. I have lead and participated in many groups where people got equal time to listen and be listened to. It's POWERFUL. We need to cry and rage and laugh and get our emotions out. It helps us to be more effective climate activists.
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I think you have to consider also the local culture and connotations, you're having these gatherings in. Not everyone drinking a pint in a pub has an alcohol problem. If you want to consider all aspects of coffee, promoting it is problematic as well.
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