April 16, 2025
Action Ridge Meeting 4/9/2025 Minutes
The meeting began at 7:10 pm.
Nan thanked the speakers and audience for coming. She referred the attendees to Sean O’Leary’s website titled Rapidclimatechange.org. Sean will present on the topic “Adapting to the Climate Emergency”. Cindy Grau will present on composting and Tim Milburn will support Sean and offer facts about Solar Energy.
Nan announced that Pride in Park Ridge will be held on 6/5 from 5 until 8 in Hodges Park. Action Ridge will have a planning meeting in June, mainly to discuss becoming a 501c4.
Sean talked about global warming/climate crisis. He described a Hyper Object as an object or event whose dimensions in space and time are massive in relation to human life. Such an object is basically an idea or event that’s too big for our minds to comprehend. Therefore, it’s tough to face and discuss. (Examples of such objects are: The dimensions of the universe; Black holes; Trump’s world; One’s own death and Global warming.)
He began by discussing the reality of the climate emergency and said that it is worse than we think. Adaptation and mitigation are not mutually exclusive. It’s important to do both. Many of the mitigation options are economically advantageous for individuals.
Mitigation will reduce gases going into the atmosphere and adaptation strategies will enhance the quality of our lives with the least impact on the environment. There is a lot of crossover between the two. We should change habits by:
1. Using electric Vehicles
2. Employing solar/Wind energy
3. Growing our own food
4. Not buying “crap.”
2024 statistics are very scary, especially the methane gas levels which are increasing at skyrocketing levels. Other statistics include increases in the atmospheric CO2 level, coal usage, gulf stream disruptions, ice melt, higher ocean temperatures, extreme storms and many others. Demand for energy is going up, exponentially, and will continue with increased AI usage. (Check Sean’s website for the climate shocks of 2024).
Secondly, he discussed adaption/resilience for suburban prepping:
1. Be prepared (The rich and tech pros have their bunkers and plans in place.)
2. Make a list of key factors including things like geographic location, sources of water, food, energy, security. Consider communications, medication and other needs.
3. Sean has hydroponics in his basement. It’s relatively easy and inexpensive but does need power for the grow lights.
4. Practicing the hydroponics’ hobby now is good preparation for potential future needs. There are, however, considerations regarding self-sufficiency, such as monitoring the level of nutrients in the water and obtaining water & energy sources if they fail.
Tim Milburn, Action Ridge Environmental Lead and Sierra Club activist, demonstrated how a solar panel works. He explained that it can be set up and used independently to supplement energy needs.
Sean concluded that he hopes he’s wrong about the dire climate situation and encouraged us to enjoy life, such as joining Friends of the Chicago River and to do better for the health of our planet. Look at Chicagoriver.org to find canoe trip and volunteer opportunities.
Our second speaker, Cindy Grau, began by saying that the best thing we can do to help our planet is to build community and take action! The original recycling program is composting. 20% of landfills in Illinois are filled with buried food waste which causes methane gases; so, it helps to compost food waste, which is exposed to the air, instead of burying it in landfills. On 4/15, Green Drinks will host a program at Harp and Fiddle on composting. Collective Resource Compost Co-Op has a pilot program to provide drop off food scrape spots in Park Ridge, or residents can pay to have a compost tub by their house or gardeners can have a compost container in their yard. Go Green Park Ridge is holding a contest to win 3 months free food scrap pickup. More information is on their website, gogreenparkridge.org.
Sean ended the evening with this final thought: “I don’t doubt that there are solutions out there we haven’t figured out yet. There may be a way to balance the chemistry of the oceans and the atmosphere without doing even worse damage… So, in addition, to preparing for the worst, I am going to continue to sound the alarm. And as long as there are people…on the job, I will (also) continue to have hope.”
The meeting ended at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Liz Swanson and Nan Parson