Climate Crisis: Be The Sentinel

This blog post has been a long time in the making through a journey of looking, listening, learning, despairing, raging and, ultimately, endeavouring to make a stand in this topsy-turvy world.

Everything I ever knew, everything I ever worked towards, is shifting beyond recognition and, in some instances, has completely evaporated.

Perhaps you’re struggling with this feeling too? I wouldn’t be surprised.

If we’re of a similar age (I’m 47), you’ll likely recall the conditioning from childhood:

  • go to school
  • do your homework
  • get good grades
  • go to university
  • get good grades
  • get a decent job for life
  • buy a house
  • buy a car
  • keep working hard
  • pay your taxes
  • have kids
  • buy another car
  • keep working hard
  • pay your taxes
  • have holidays
  • buy another car
  • pay off your mortgage
  • retire at 65
  • receive a healthy pension
  • enjoy the sunlit uplands of retirement

Very simplistic, I know, but that’s the crux of the life I was conditioned to believe was ahead for me.

But a few things went awry in that plan. That’s life, though, right?

One of those things was feeling asphyxiated by that road map and realising it wasn’t for me.

It felt naughty and taboo to me as a youngster to even dream of steering away from it. However, I knew I wanted to be a photographer from the age of 8, so I got quite used to boring adults telling me that I’d have to get a proper job and maybe keep photography going as my hobby.

But I plugged away nonetheless and, to cut a very long story short, I went all-out when it came to insisting on creating something special in the form of The Lifeboat Station Project, which I’ve been making since 2015.

When people like me insist on earning a living from our creations because we believe in them so much, that in itself blows apart the simplistic road map. Flying by the seat of our pants becomes the order of the day!

And when something like 2020, 2021 and 2022 happens, everything we ever knew, everything we ever worked towards becomes unknown — not just for people like me but for most people.

Even now in January 2023, folk still keep talking about when things return to normal but the framework we once knew has gone. We need the collective courage to face up to that because it’s very destructive and disingenuous to do otherwise.

Not only has the framework gone but, for creative types like me, it feels like the framework has disappeared altogether. My main daily task now mostly involves working out how on earth to build a new structure — a new framework — and how to function within it.

Scales Falling

These last three years have often induced periods of pause and reflection, which have allowed space for newness in my life; new thoughts and new realisations.

Again, to cut a very long story short, the scales have been falling from my eyes and I feel like I see the world completely differently to how I once did.

Perhaps you do too? Perhaps you’ve had revelations and epiphanies that now make it hard for you to progress in the ways that you once did?

The major revelation for me has been the true extent of global heating, also known as climate change, climate breakdown, the climate crisis…the climate emergency.

It really is an emergency and my approach to life is rapidly shifting accordingly.

I’m still utterly devoted to The Lifeboat Station Project but I’ve reached a point in life where I also feel so acutely aware of the scale of the crises we face that it no longer seems appropriate or enough to simply write and talk about my project.

Furthermore, I feel it’s imperative for creators to use their skills to strengthen the message of the climate emergency wherever possible.

This was hammered home for me recently when leafing through Peter Kennard‘s incredible book, Visual Dissent.

On page 124, he writes:

“Now in the midst of climate emergency, it’s even more imperative that artists act as early warning systems, positioning themselves as the canaries in the coalmine. Through our work, we need to imagine the dystopian reality of where the earth is heading and to work with activists struggling to find another way.”

Those words were written in 2006, which only serves to highlight the urgency some 17 years later!

That said, although I agree with Kennard’s sentiment, I disagree with the canary in the coalmine analogy and the imagining of the dystopian reality.

To elaborate:

Canaries in the coalmine died first when the air became too toxic, which warned the coalminers of imminent danger for themselves.

So that’s no good — I don’t think us creators should be the canaries!

Us creators need to be the sentinels, beacons, searchlights, spotlights, guard posts, loud hailers and town criers. Indeed, we need to be the early warning systems in the climate emergency.

We also have to be careful what we manifest through our thoughts and actions, so imagining the dystopian reality is not what we want either.

Although realism is important when facing up to what’s coming, we need to imagine the world we do want, not the one we don’t want.

By imagining the world we want, maybe — just maybe — we’ll manage to make it happen.

Community Thinking

So, what have I done about all this?

Well, this website has been through many incarnations since its inception in 2000 and, by reading this post, you’re actually in the midst of something new that I’m sharing with with you for the very first time:

I’ve completely overhauled the site, not only in appearance but in the very way it’s geared.

It’s no longer focused on my photography and audio recordings, but on the foundations of a new community for people like you and me.

So, it now features our very own community space — a bespoke social platform free of ads and algorithms, which I hope will mature into a safe place for us to share our thoughts and findings during such difficult social, economic and environmental times.

It’s a public platform but you’ll need to create an account to take part. It won’t cost you any money, although donations are gratefully received to help with its upkeep.

Once registered, you’ll find there are many features common to other social platforms, so it should be pretty self-explanatory.

These are just some of the things you can do:

  • upload a profile photo
  • upload a cover photo
  • follow and connect with other community members
  • post in the news feed
  • edit posts
  • share photos
  • edit privacy of posts
  • send and receive direct messages

And if the community space isn’t for you, the newsletter is a great way to stay connected too.

I recommend you do both as we build this new community together but, of course, the choice is yours.

Conversation…on our terms

By building all this, I’m endeavouring to turn my personal comms on their head.

While those scales have been falling from my eyes, I’ve come to rely on Twitter far too much for fighting the good fight. But it’s become an addictive, anxiety-filled space for me, tapping right into my obsessive, neurodivergent makeup.

I can feel its tractor beam sucking me in and holding me in place, pinned to its cyber walls. Twitter’s fantastic in so many ways but I despise how it can bring out the worst in me within moments.

That’s no good and, for what it’s worth, I’m really questioning it’s overall place and value in the world.

I need and enjoy space to write with expression and nuance — a space like this!

So, true to my Be The Goalposts mantra, I’ve built this new space for me, for you and for us to have the conversation on our terms.

By sharing my thoughts and findings with more nuance, expression and detail — as well as bringing some of my other communication and technical skills into the mix — this is my way of being one of the sentinels, a beacon in the early warning system.

I’ll doubtless still use Twitter — and Mastodon — but increasingly to direct people towards the missives and creations here, all in an effort to increase the momentum of positive action and quash the toxic negativity.

Onwards…

There’s much more to share with you on my journey of learning, despair, rage and action. For example, my involvement with Extinction Rebellion (something I never thought I’d be writing) but I think that’s enough to digest for the moment!

So, let’s see how it goes shall we?

I hope you’ll join in the discussion as we work out how to function — and simply how to be — in this grave new world.

I sincerely hope you’ll register as one of the pioneering members of this new community (look out for the links in the side menu and/or the top right corner) and signup to the newsletter.

If you have any feedback or would like to get in touch, please send me a direct message via the community space or use the Contact Jack form.

I’ll look forward to hearing from you, wherever your comments may land.

Love and courage,

Jack

Did you know that fewer than 1% of people convert their Likes, Shares and Retweets into financial support for the creators they follow?

I’m asking my online community to buck that trend. If you value my work and would like to contribute to its future, please consider donating here — it’ll make a huge difference and will help with the upkeep of our growing community space.

Responses

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  1. This is superb, Jack. An honest and rallying piece if writing, with your trademark mix of eloquence and passion. Bendigedig! (My favourite Welsh word. Look it up )

    1. Thank you, Anne. I’ll look forward to you joining us. Head to the News Feed and you’ll see there’s already plenty to absorb (let me know if you need a hand with signing up).

  2. I’m looking forward to this (I think) Jack. Thanks for the invite and taking the the time to build this platform for dialogue.

    1. You’re most welcome, Andy, and thank you for being part of it. The idea for this format has been churning around my brain box since 2021.

      It’s great to finally have had the mental capacity to snap those ideas together but who knew it would end up taking quite this form on the topic front?

      However, as you know, I’ve found my line lately with regard to the climate emergency and 2021 now seems like a very long time ago.

  3. Wonderful words. I’m a little older, 70 last week, but have arrived at a similar place if through a different route (studying a Masters with the Centre for Alternative Technology), photography very much a hobby, I agree creatives are vital for tackling the Climate Emergency. Plus as a long time volunteer with the RNLI, love the Project! Now where’s that register button…

    1. Thank you for your kind words and for registering, Rupert. I’ve just shared an early peek at some new audio recordings in the News Feed for registered members, so I hope you ‘enjoy’ those.

  4. Marvellous stuff Jack. Very happy to join this and be among likeminded creatives and wonderers. It is almost certainly the most consequential time to be a human, and the good ones should stand side by side

  5. Interesting article and observations, Jack. It’s such a massive problem that it’s difficult for me to take it fully on board and even more importantly where an individual can make the most difference. If I only had the chance to do one thing in responding to the emergency, what would that be?

    1. It certainly is a massive topic to take on board, Paul, not least as it’s the defining, ultimate topic. I wish I could point you to the End Frame I wrote for On Landscape last year but it’s not being published until the end of the month. It will (hopefully) help with your exact question but, suffice to say, perhaps start introducing the climate crisis into your thought processes when making photographs and books, and then into the conversation when talking about them.

      Increasing your knowledge about the crisis and what’s coming will help with that too. I recommend some articles, books and viewing in my recently updated Linktree, which also serves as my Twitter profile link.

      How’s that for starters?

  6. What you wrote is eerily similar to what I’m wanting to do in this life. I want to provoke people with my art. I want to fix what is broken.

    I desperately want significant change in this world. I weep for our children and what they will have to endure.

    This community just might give me the inspiration I need to finish building my website that I’ve ignored for over a year out of frustration, laziness, old age, etc.

    1. Thank you for your thoughts, Kathy. It sounds like we’re very aligned on this front and it’s great to welcome you here.

      Remember to have a scroll through the news feed in our brand new community space where I hope you’ll also find things of interest and inspiration.

      Feel free to post too (I’ve created a Community Guidance page which you may find helpful).

  7. You did it again. I stumbled on this website in a “Jack Lowe” search and this photo positively jumped out. It’s so beautiful.
    I wanted to write to say that I will have to be reducing my contribution, but that I found it impossible to leave the Lifeboat Project altogether. And now here is this remarkable blog!
    How on earth do you get the time ?!
    Sara Stuart

    1. Great to see you here, Sara…glad you found it! The answer’s simple: I make the time for the things I feel are important.

  8. Excuse me!
    Lifeboat Station Project
    And the first time i discovered Jack Lowe’s photos was on Instagram, several years ago, and they just jumped out! And I was hooked.
    Sara

  9. Reminds me of an Environmental Ethics course at College of the Redwoods in Eureka which was taught by a former Boeing engineer who ‘saw the light’ and got out of the business of war. Lots of insightful, collobaroative dialog on critical issues. Glad to find this community!

  10. This is great Jack. The writing chimes with me. I am on holiday in Pembrokeshire and out cottage is being pounded with torrential rain. Yes, it’s more rain than ever and this is new and challenging. But I’m here and your words are words that are mine too and we need to build communities of love and understanding. Or we are so f%*ked. And the Lifeboat Project is a wonderful thing. So much to celebrate in life. Well, we are pinned inside by this Biblical down pour. I expect more challenges to come. Food, drink and shelter: I don’t take anything for granted.
    Best Wishes – Love and Rage

  11. Hi Jack, this is a great initiative I welcome. However our knowledge of the tactics of culture wars and division with almost unlimited find deployed by the Tories in the lies of Brexit are now deployed to climate, so this needs to be a tactical group. It needs to have people from all parties and be like the European Movement, agnostic and respectful. Your art means a lot, the age old picture worth a 1,000 words and comedy works better still. A few MPs from every party would be helpful. I am doubly concerned that the same people already in each of the groups. For my sins I am nobody, but you will see me across it all as best I can and can afford, this year as the Vice Chair Campaigns in the Green LibDems, the ecological arm of the Liberal Democrats. I post most of the Twitter feed in @GreenLibDems. I’d like to see a really safe space in social media and have worked on this by monitoring the progress of what must work across our world or is not big enough. George A Polisner worked for Oracle and very publicly rebuked his Chief Executive who stood on a platform wih Donald Trump, in his resignation letter. His civ.works is chargeable, but I think that can be an advantage once basic costs are covered across a larger base. From what I gather he can then help. Fragmented we will take too long to form, plus there’s an election to start delivering on behalf of the most likely progressive party to win each seat, or a Tory will win with emails and letters by post in the Shires. Look forward to what others think. Come together like this or however we see works best..