“Narratives situate events in a certain place and a certain time” claim Bremer and Kraß in their article titled ‘The role of place-based narratives of change in climate risk governance.’
My initial thought as I sit, looking out over the Gorge waterway in my hometown of Victoria, B.C., is how much this place has changed in such a short amount of time. Today, I watch locals (human and non-human) enjoy this space in a myriad of ways – there are cyclists, joggers, rowers, and paddle-boarders. Crows and seagulls dip close to the water, a blue heron stands stalk-still near the shore, and seals bob, keeping an eye out for kayakers who slip silently past. Less than 15 years ago these waters were considered toxic due to decades worth of pollution from sewage and industrial waste (CRD, 2021). Now, thanks to a community initiative to “clean up the Gorge”, this waterway teems with wildlife and recreational users.
As someone with a keen interest in climate action, I am often humbled by the harm humans are able to inflict on the planet, seemingly without a care, and in such a small amount of time. We are known to make short work of destruction.
Today, I am humbled instead by how quickly humans can create change for the better when we work together – how we can take a “toxic” space and turn it into an area to be enjoyed by all.
Bremer and Kraß discuss the use of narrative as a way to drive moral change; a way to “motivate legitimate local action” (Bremer and Kraß, 2020). As I observe this place, I see a motivating narrative playing out in front of me – a narrative that tells of a sanctuary once lost to pollution and industry, revitalized and appreciated more than ever before.
During the record-breaking heatwaves this summer, I, like hundreds of my neighbours, took refuge in the cool waters, letting the kelp wrap around my ankles and the saltwater soothe my skin. People lounged on the shore, dove off docks, read under the shade of the huge oak and arbutus trees lining the waterway. The narrative of the Gorge Waterway in this place, in this time, is healing. By enjoying this space, we are ensuring its protection and its longevity; giving the animal and plant species that also call this waterway home a chance to heal alongside us.
By enjoying this space, we are also narrating the type of world we want to live in – by occupying this land we are fighting for more spaces like this one – more public green space, more nature.
It is impossible to appreciate something you don’t have access to. By cleaning up the Gorge and providing ample public access for the community to enjoy this space, we have opened the doorway for more local initiatives, more ways to motivate local action.
Fiddleheads, Horsetail, Eelgrass, and Blackberries can all be found here too.
Today, I hear splashing in the water, laugher on the bridge as children run past. In my immediate surroundings, I can see at least four indigenous medicinal plants that I recognize, and I wonder how many more I don’t yet know. It occurs to me that access breeds curiosity, which breeds appreciation. That even in the middle of a city, green space such as this can garner curiosity and appreciation of nature for those who might not have access to it otherwise. Green space teaches us that nature isn’t only “out there” but also right here, in our own communities.
But humans are creatures of opportunity. I wonder if protecting a communal space in which to enjoy nature is enough to inspire the protection of nature as a whole? Does a community initiative like this one or even something as simple as a beach clean-up motivate others to continue this work? Or does it provide an unintentional moral-licensing that the entire community can rest behind?
References:
Krauß, W., & Bremer, S. (2020). The role of place-based narratives of change in climate risk governance. Climate Risk Management, 28, 100221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2020.100221
Gorge Waterway. Capital Regional District. Retrieved from https://www.crd.bc.ca/education/protection-stewardship/harbours/gorge-waterway
This is such a good read, Kaitlin. Thank you. The idea that, as humans, we can and do clean up *some* of our messes is something worth thinking about. We have the ability to do so, but how do we make it more commonplace? I often think about how many of these projects are spearheaded by a passionate individual or small group of individuals. Many restoration, conservation, or climate action projects would not happen if these people weren’t involved. I’d like to find the project that inspires me to be one of those people!
Thanks Hanna! And that is such a good reminder: there are so many people doing good – it only takes one or two people to inspire many!
Beautiful post Kaitlin! You ask an interesting question regarding whether protecting small spaces motivates or dulls future action. I don’t know the answer to that question, but it makes me think about fractals (patterns repeating at different scales), which are found throughout nature. Perhaps we can think of community work as one level of a fractal? By being part of a small community that cares, people may be more willing and likely to take this ethic of care to a smaller scale (their home & relationships) or a larger scale (their city or country).
Thanks, Amy! I love that idea! I also don’t have an answer, but I do lean more towards your attitude – that an opportunity to clean up a piece of your own community provides valuable insights for those who do this work regularly and especially for those who might not. Plus, it’s a way to share a common experience with your community which I think can be valuable especially in communities that might be fractured over issues such as climate action.
Kaitlin,
I really enjoyed reading your post. As someone who also lives in the Victoria area, I could visualize all the places you are taking about. I also enjoy spending time and walking on the gorge.
What I found most intriguing about your post is when you mention “how quickly humans can create change for the better when we work together”. I couldn’t help but think about the polarizing world we live in and, especially, how almost anything climate related determines where you lean on the political spectrum. There is such a lack of cohesion here it baffles me. Why can’t we work together to ensure that this planet will be around for future generations? And why not push for more green spaces in our cities to educate the public about the natural environment? These are concepts that don’t need to be swayed by political ideology. They should adopted and enacted by the majority. This, as we know well, is not the case but maybe the introduction of more green spaces will continue to influence and change minds. Wonderful ideas.
Thanks for your post Kaitlin. You have hit on something really important: curiosity. As Tony mentions in the above comment, there’s a lot of polarization occurring today, but curiosity is one of the ways that we can start to bring people together. It is really hard to hold onto politics when we are experiencing curiosity in a deep way. The more we can foster curiosity, such as your own about what other native medicinal plants might be right around you, the more we can cultivate the appreciation (gratitude) you speak of!