Last summer, my family and I embarked on a remarkable journey to Yosemite National Park. I had visited briefly as a child, but this time was different—words and photos simply couldn’t capture the sheer grandeur of it all. Surrounded by towering mountains and ancient sequoias, some large enough to drive a car through, it was an experience that truly had to be felt firsthand. I was beyond excited to share this adventure with my kids.
One of the greatest treasures of our nation is the natural beauty found from coast to coast, from Maine to California and everywhere in between. The timeless song “America the Beautiful” resonates deeply because it’s true: our country is stunning. Much of this beauty is preserved by the National Park Service (NPS), which is tasked with protecting over 417 parks and 84 million acres of national land for all of us to enjoy.
The NPS doesn’t just safeguard our parks; it works tirelessly to ensure that they remain accessible and enjoyable. Programs like Every Kid in a Park provide free access to numerous parks for every fourth-grader and their family for a whole year! They’re also actively engaged in adapting to the impacts of climate change. Just before the new administration took office, they rolled out their Cultural Resources Climate Change Strategy, a significant step toward addressing the effects of climate change on our cultural resources.
However, the new administration seems to have a different agenda. On a recent Tuesday, the president signed an executive order to advance the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, which could have devastating consequences for the ecosystems in areas like the Missouri River and threaten sacred sites of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Furthermore, an executive order effectively silenced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), halting grants and banning staff from sharing information publicly. This included a gag order on the NPS after they shared tweets highlighting the modest crowd at the inauguration.
Fortunately, the Badlands National Park Service took a stand. Ignoring the silence, they tweeted important climate change data, only for those tweets to be quickly removed. It felt like a scene from a dystopian novel! While it’s common for new administrations to reshape federal agencies, this level of suppression and disregard for scientific facts is alarming. The current administration’s inclination toward “alternative facts” poses a serious threat to our understanding of climate change.
These are challenging times for those of us who value truth and science. They call not just for action but for courage and resistance. Thankfully, many individuals are stepping up to defend our planet. After the Badlands tweets were deleted, Golden Gate National Park also shared factual information about climate change—talk about badass! There’s even a political action committee forming to support scientists in running for office. Additionally, a group of National Park Service employees created an unofficial Twitter account, @AltNatParkSer, to keep disseminating crucial information, starting with the now-removed climate data. Before the administration changed, scientists even engaged in a guerrilla archiving project to preserve vital climate change data online—total badasses!
While reasonable people may debate policies and economics, the facts remain: climate change is real and affects everyone. It’s time to embrace our inner badass, because Mother Nature doesn’t discriminate based on political affiliation.
In summary, as we navigate this tumultuous landscape, it’s crucial to rally around the truth, protect our natural wonders, and support organizations that provide resources for those exploring their family-building options, such as this excellent resource. For those interested in home insemination, you can find valuable information at Make a Mom and check out our other posts here to stay informed.