It's exciting times!  Have you heard the news? An estimated 310,000 people marched through the heart of Manhattan on Sunday to raise awareness of the climate change crisis.  It's the largest demonstration for climate change to date in history.  Power to my peoples!

                                                   Image: ABC 7 News
Exciting as it is though, we're (still) not focused on the message.  Some of the participants were spot on, but the media coverage doesn't quite bring it home (only quotes from Sec. Kerry get it right in this entire NY Times article...he's in better, on-message company in the LA Times...look below the jump for Fox News). 

Here's the skinny. Climate change is not about the planet. Seriously.  Forget the environmental bumper sticker that says "Save the Planet"...switch it in your head with one that reads "Save Ourselves".  The planet will keep on turning.  It's the environmental systems that WE all depend on for our well-being...those are on a rapid and accelerating pathway to horrorville.  Repeat after me: caring about climate change means you care about people, especially yourself.

I know what you're thinking, climate change?  Personal?  Isn't that something that affects polar bears and not me?  Well the unfortunate answer to that is no.  It's going to affect us all directly and indirectly.  And it has already started.  [Hold the dramatic musical score for a beat....]

Climate change is a big, hairy, scary issue.  And there's a LOT of misinformation out there, which makes you think this is impossibly confusing. But don't stress!  I'm going to make it bite-sized and easy.  I love the Dinner Party Download concept, so we're running with that as inspiration. Welcome to the first installment of the Eco Party Download: "All you need to know to 'win' your eco party*...as told (mostly) with the help of your favorite celebrities."
*having or going to an 'eco party' not required

I've been talking about climate change for a decade, but the timing of this blog is impeccable. It means I get we get to hear Matt Damon talk about climate change.  There's a fantastic documentary recently out that hits the right message on the nose.  It's called Years of Living Dangerously, and uses celebrities as correspondents interviewing people's whose lives have been altered by climate change. Yes, there are many of these people, maybe even you!