I don't know about you, but to me there is not a lot that tops being outdoor in nature. I like exploring new places, immersing myself. Sometimes, the best places are a little out of reach, this means potentially having to walk for quite a while. I like finding new places to run in, that state of flow the mind gets in that allows you to observe your surrounding a different way... if you are a runner you know what I mean, if not.. I invite you to try. Best if done away from busy roads, but even cities, at the right time of the day, can show you some nature, and you may be surprised by it, if you go out at dawn or dusk, when less people are out and about. Right, if you still don't want to go, I won't take it personally... But please stay here and read on, as today I want to bring to the table some ways in which some sports communities are being 'activists' , and how this can be a wonderful platform to bring more awareness. First of all, sport is something widely followed, even by non sporty or less sporty people. This means that sports personalities have a spotlight, and they may choose to harness this to bring a message. I must say that this is not only true for climate activism, but a lot of other issues, from inequality issues (including racism and gender biases) , soial justice, indigenous culture, violence. A list of athletes involved in activism can be found here . In terms of climate activism, I already talked about the power of runners for climate change awareness and these activities are continuing, with runners being paired with scientists to empower them in discussing the topic via the athlete climate academy . I also encourage you to follow Tina Muir and her podcast running for real where she often discusses the climate crisis, actions to take (that she also takes, like travelling less for races and being mostly a veggie), today I wanted to bring to your attention 'the outdoor manifesto' They define themselves as 'the first 12 signatories who, starting from a shared idea, have decided to create this Manifesto to try to boost ecological awareness to the outdoor world.', the manifesto What they BELIEVE in: The centrality of the natural environment within human experience and in a biocentric world view. Man as an effective part of natural reality. The usefulness of outdoor practices as a way to reconnect with the natural environment. The function of outdoor culture as a way for raising awareness on environmental issues. The limitation of a vision of outdoor practices such as sports aimed exclusively at overcoming limits. The need to influence the outdoor market and territorial development through a peaceful and active pressure from the critical mass. The importance of any active participation, from the smallest to the largest one. The importance of education and example. A possible coexistence between the aspects of territorial development linked to the outdoors and respect for the environment. The need to pursue a transnational and intercontinental outdoor culture. What they OPPOSE to: An anthropocentric vision of the world that reduces nature to a mere economic resource. The exploitation of nature. Outdoor as a consumerist fashion for its own sake. Sterile green marketing that is not supported by concrete actions and campaigns aimed at raising awareness on environmental issues. Putting sports or tourist purposes before environmental protection ones. The exploitation of sensitive areas in the name of an alleged economic progress that does not take into account environmental and cultural sustainability and the multiple benefits provided by ecosystems to the human race (You can sign the manifesto too on the website if you see your point of view reflected ) I love in particular the opposition to outdoor as a consumeristic fashion, you know, going somewhere to get a selfie, or going around in outdoor clothes just because it's fashionable to say that one 'goes to the mountain', when in fact it just took a car and maybe a cable car from the parking spot to the top... this is just an example, but I hope that I gave you some food for thought, and inspired you to go and immerse yourself in nature in some capacity. I know that there are people with limited mobility, and i don't want to say necessarily that nature and the outdoors should become exclusive to those who can reach it, but i think a balance should be reached.
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