Feeling the weight of the world right now? Me too

Let’s come together and support each other in action for a better world

Blog by Ruth Jedidja Stael

Let’s be honest, 2025 has had a bumpy start with the formation of a conservative Irish Government and Storm Éowyn shaking the nation, leaving vulnerable people still without electricity. January is already breaking temperature records. In the UK, Stop Big Oil activists have been imprisoned simply for standing up for our future. And across the ocean, Trump’s gutting environmental and social protections will have far-reaching impacts.

It’s hard not to feel deflated. I know, I feel it too. Our grief, fear, fatigue and sense of hopelessness are all valid. It’s a really tough time right now.

Back in November, one of our speakers at our From Despair into Action panel discussion, Lelo Mary Thebe, who is a Healing Justice facilitator, reflected on this grief:

The grief that comes from witnessing the earth’s suffering cuts deep—it’s as if a part of ourselves is also dying. The journey isn’t easy...This is why community support is so important. Having a network of people who understand your challenges and can provide a space to rest and recharge is essential. Burning out helps no one. Taking a step back to care for yourself, leaning on those around you, and finding strength in collective action can help sustain the fight for climate justice. Healing justice reminds us that caring for ourselves and others is a necessary part of caring for the earth.

When we feel deflated we can also lose our motivation and sense of hope. It’s times like this that we really need community to get us out of our isolation and energise us back into action and active hope.

I know I might sound like a broken record, but now more than ever, it is important to connect with others. You might think, "I don’t know anyone," or "I’m just one person." But the fact that you’re reading this means you’re part of something bigger. You’re among many others who care deeply and who are engaged in the fight for climate justice. We are all experiencing a lot of emotions right now. You are not alone.

I wanted to offer you a few ways to connect and engage with our community. It’s important that we create spaces to pause, reflect, and find strength in fellowship and community. Places to process the pain we are feeling and channel it into positive action. 

Join our Not Too Late reading group call!

For our upcoming Reading Group on the 24th of February, we’ll be reading Not Too Late, the book that inspired our panel event in November. One of the key themes in the book is that despair isolates us, but action together connects us. Even when the future feels uncertain, history shows us that collective action has the power to create change. We may not control every outcome, but we can influence the path we take together.

Host a Cuppa for Climate gathering with your friends!

Our Cuppa for Climate initiative has been a powerful way of creating community. Bringing people together to talk about the climate crisis and collectively contribute to support our work is a powerful way to find fellowship and take positive action. A previous Cuppa for Climate host reflected and said:

I felt like what I was doing was insignificant…but meeting so many other people who are also working to change things for the better has helped me to feel that there are enough of us to make a difference!

Check our website to read more people’s experiences. 

There are powerful forces trying to strip us of hope, trying to isolate us and convince us that our voices don’t matter. But they are wrong. The climate movement is strong, we just have to look around us, stay connected and stay active to remember and realise our collective power. 

If you’re short on time or need time to rest (because rest is so important too), simply keeping up with our emails and social media updates can make a difference. Staying informed and remembering that you are not alone is vital in navigating these challenging times. 

 

If you’re in a position to make a donation today your support will help us push back and make a meaningful impact - strengthening the Friends of the Earth community and our campaigns to affect real change. 

And remember, every fraction of a degree of warming matters, meaning you’re never too late or too small to act. 

Forward this blog to your friend, family or colleague who might be experiencing this grief too. Let others know they are not alone and they can find fellowship, community and active hope here at Friends of the Earth.  Every act of care counts. Together, we are stronger.