The tragedy of Lahaina and lessons to be learned

Dear Sharra,   The fires that destroyed Maui's Lahaina this week were an unspeakable tragedy. The apocalyptic scenes blasted across television and internet were literally hard to believe, the stories of people jumping into the sea to escape the flames – and some not surviving – too harrowing. One of the most beautiful spots on earth went up in flames.   Of course, the island will need to heal. But more than that must happen, as well. We must learn from this. The catastrophic weather we've been warned about for years is at this point no longer an abstract possibility; it's here. Rivers are drying up. Arctic ice sheets are melting. People are dying from the heat. Wildfires are destroying whole towns.   We have known that this would happen, and we did next to nothing. We continue with our pretense of just and responsible behavior toward the earth,  making moderate investments in green energy, yes, yet ramping up fossil fuel extraction when it's imperative that we ramp it down. This is a sign of a species deeply out of tune with our own nature. Humanity is headed toward the proverbial iceberg, and our trajectory of incremental change does not mean we will avoid hitting it; it just means we'll hit it a bit later, and at a different angle.   That is why I'm running for president. No, Mr. President, it's not enough to put green energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, when approval of the Willow Project and granting more oil drilling permits than even President Trump did will nullify their effects.   We need a president who goes much further. We need a president who will declare a climate emergency. And I will. When I am President, I will use every executive power granted me to end the aberrational chapter of history in which Big Oil is allowed to destroy our precious world with impunity. Last night in Las Vegas I asked my audience to raise their hands if their answer was "Yes" to this question: "If you are a young person who has ever said, or if you have ever heard a young person say, that under normal circumstances you would be thinking of having a child but given the state of the world you don't think it would be a responsible to thing to do." For the first time in my experience, and out of more than 200 people present, the vast majority raised their hands.   Why would I declare a climate emergency? Because we are in one. I want to help America look honestly at our problems, and at the same time remind ourselves that doing great things is our historical legacy. And it's time to do great things right now. We must make a just transition from a dirty economy to a clean economy, and under my leadership we will.   Please do what you can to make this vision a reality. There is a much bigger issue here than that danger lies down the road. The danger in fact is here.   In the meantime, God bless those hurt and killed in Lahaina, and those who now grieve their lost family, friends, animals, and natural environment. The loss is inconceivable. May God Himself wipe away all tears.  P.S. For details on my Climate Action Policy, read here.  Would you like to receive text messages from us? Join here. We send periodic messages about events and opportunities to join the campaign. You can sign up here and opt out at any time. Shop official Marianne Williamson merchandise.   Paid for by Marianne Williamson for President ©2023 Marianne Williamson for President, all right reserved   Our mailing address is: Marianne Williamson for President 1901 Harrison Street Oakland Suite 1550 Oakland, CA 94612 United States If you wish to receive fewer emails from the Marianne Williamson for President campaign, please click this link.   We're sad to see you go, but if you believe you received this email in error, or you no longer wish to receive our emails you can unsubscribe using the link below: unsubscribe