The holiday wish for "peace on earth" takes on new meaning in this era of an increasingly extreme and wildly destructive climate. Drought, wildfires, and flash floods are causing widespread devastation, crop losses and food shortages, and precipitating starvation and forced migration that intensifies conflict around the globe.
Today, on Giving Tuesday--a day of global giving established in 2012 as a counter to Black Friday and Cyber Monday--I ask that you consider making a donation that can help reduce the impacts of climate change.
The number of those affected by extreme weather grows each year, but it is also clear that the impacts are not equally distributed economically or geographically.
At Planet Aid, we know that people in the developing world are the least able to withstand the ravages of a changing climate. That is why we focus on increasing the capacities of communities in these regions so that they have more of a buffer to withstand tragedy.
In Belize, for example, Planet Aid has been helping Mayan farmers cope with flooding and drought by installing flood warning systems, improving the resilience of farmers to recover from climactic disruptions by employing climate-smart agricultural techniques, and helping to get the word out about the need for greater disaster preparedness.
Here at home, we have been supporting victims of Hurricane Maria, who fled the destruction of their native Puerto Rico and found a new home in Rochester, New York.
Giving Tuesday (Nov. 27) kicks off the charitable season. I ask that you help us continue and expand our work by making a financial contribution today.
Sincerely,
Ester Neltrup
Planet Aid President and CEO