Turn21 is a group of committed and concerned citizens of the planet dedicated to preserving the only world we have, here in the 21st Century.  Our goal is to educate, inform, and exponentially grow in number those individuals who share this vision in order that we may take action as fast as possible to preserve the planet’s ability to sustain life.

We have put out a massive call to action every month, every 21st, urging all concerned people to be activists at least one day a month. Our hope is that this effort will spread like mycelium.

Launch Turn21, our call to action for April 21st (the day before Earth Day) urges everyone to take action now and be involved every month on the 21st in protecting our planet from further destruction, preserving it for the future.

As part of Launch Turn21 we are showcasing 7 amazing groups that are doing incredible work around the world. But mainly, our underlying purpose is to stoke the flames of activism because “business as usual” is morally unacceptable, given the challenges we are facing as a planet.

It’s not really an organization you can “join” in the sense that there are fees or membership dues. Of course, we have a website and people can sign up to receive our newsletter via email, but mainly we see ourselves as a resource—that catalyst–for getting individuals to commit to the collective action that real transformation is going to require.

It started with a group of like-minded individuals—a network of brainiacs with hearts, you might say–who were interested in articulating the realities of the situation we find ourselves in and finding ways to educate and promote radical action. Where did it start? Where did Rosa Parks start, or Darwin, folks who demanded we view things for what they are? Our culture was born from the industrial revolution and is heading towards a cliff full steam ahead. It is fair to say that our dire predicament as a human species is where this was born.

It was a catchy name that brought together the new, 21st century and the idea that it was time for each one of us to grow up, to act like we care about our home and future generations. We then tied it to the 21st of each month as an easy trigger to remember to consistently take action.

The main difference is that it is not driven by membership numbers. We are advocating for action every 21st of the month, as an individual, in an affinity group, or by joining groups and organizations that are already doing great work, often in one’s own community. Being a paid activist is a job, and many live, sleep and dream about their work. We are not suggesting people quit their day-job, but take at least one day a month to be part of the movement if you are not  already a full-time activist.

As mentioned earlier, this month—the day before Earth Day, which seemed appropriate—is our huge effort, Launch Turn21. Our website Turn21.org is showcasing 7 organizations that have joined Turn21 as Affiliates and we will be doing cross-promotional work with them for the month of April and beyond, encouraging folks to plug in and help out wherever they can. In May we will be expanding and showcasing new Affiliates as they join us and we will have a special focus on the Resiliency Challenge, a project of Daily Acts, during the month of May

We are in a global crisis. We’ve been involved with groups and actions in places like Kenya and Greece, but because the U.S. is such a major polluter and believer in growth above all costs, our efforts have initially centered on U.S. organizations and actions. Actions speak louder than words, and through increased collective action we can promote this globally.

15 Comments on "Introducing Turn 21"

makati1 on Wed, 20th Apr 2016 7:05 pm 



Another attempt at change…that will not work. Too little. Too late.

makati1 on Wed, 20th Apr 2016 7:07 pm 



BYW: In other news…

This one should get some here riled up and especially Theedrich:

“Treasury Removes Jackson From $20 Bill, Will Replace Him With Harriet Tubman”

“There will also be changes to the $5 bill to depict civil rights era leaders including Marian Anderson, Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr.”

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-04-20/treasury-removes-jackson-20-bill-will-replace-him-harriet-tubman

It’s about time there were changes made to reflect modern fiat values and not old real values.

Davy on Wed, 20th Apr 2016 7:10 pm 



I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not in a dream.

HARM on Wed, 20th Apr 2016 7:23 pm 



Well meaning idealists that have about as much chance of changing the status quo as I have of finding a gold-nugget popping unicorn.

+80 billion net new people every year, another billion every 12-13 years, on course for 12-15 billion by end of this century. Good luck denting that dynamic, especially when world “leaders” won’t even talk about it, much less do anything.

HARM on Wed, 20th Apr 2016 7:32 pm 



-80 B-illion
+80 M-illion

oops

penury on Wed, 20th Apr 2016 8:58 pm 



I applaud the effort and ambition to attempt to do at least something to slow the rot which we are causing on the planet, I thing it was Gandi or perhaps Mao that said every journey begins with a single step, and if we had another hundred years it might make a difference.As it is it is much too late for this iteration of life on planet earth.

JuanP on Wed, 20th Apr 2016 9:20 pm 



“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tsu

As a migrant, hitchiker and through hiker I could always easily relate to that saying.

makati1 on Thu, 21st Apr 2016 5:20 am 



JuanP, a few of us are far on that path but the masses have not even found the beginning, nor are they looking for it.

rockman on Thu, 21st Apr 2016 7:31 am 



“Our goal is to educate, inform, and exponentially grow in number those individuals who share this vision in order that we may take action as fast as possible to preserve the planet’s ability to sustain life” As always a worthy goal. But fails from the start with the false assumption that things are heading down the wrong path because folks don’t understand what’s happening. The vast majority know to some degree what the dynamics are. Especially those in political control. At this point to assume that all one needs do is explain the problem to enough “uninformed” folks and they’ll fix the problem is incredibly naïve. If one doesn’t understand the cause of the problem (the INTENSIONAL choices being made) then one has no chance of fixing the problem. Their conversation starts with “I’m smarter than you so listen to what I have to say”. And that attitude ends any conversation about change before it even begins.

rockman on Thu, 21st Apr 2016 7:33 am 



And as I’ve offered many times before: I suspect the majority of climate change deniers actually do see the correlations but won’t admit it because it conflicts with the primary goals of self-interest.

Kenz300 on Thu, 21st Apr 2016 7:36 am 



The worlds biggest environmental problem is OVER POPULATION. Endless population growth is not sustainable and makes every other problem harder to solve.

Birth Control Permanent Methods: Learn About Effectiveness

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/birth_control_permanent_methods/article_em.htm

Filipino children driven to the streets by crushing poverty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW5qoAKRSKE

Rescuing Homeless Children From the Streets of India

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpaR_pTVeBk

The worlds poorest people are having the most children. They have not figured out the connection between their poverty and family size. Endless population growth is not sustainable. If you can not provide for yourself you can not provide for a child.

PracticalMaina on Thu, 21st Apr 2016 8:12 am 



The worlds poorest have always had the most children Kenz, which is why income inequality is a huge issue in the grand scheme of things. When the assumption is that some of your offspring will die, than it seems almost instinctive to produce more when there is shared work, such as farming. This is how it was in the US in the early days of the country, and also in nature, I have heard coyotes will breed more if they are being picked off by hunters.
It is also income inequality that gives corporations such as Monsanto the ability to purchase and dictate federal policy. Along with every other huge corporation with malicious greedy intent.

penury on Thu, 21st Apr 2016 9:42 am 



The problem is that like all live forms the purpose of life is: you are born, you reproduce and you die, the problem is humans have extended both their reproduction cycle and delayed the dying part. And basically:”prime directive” will not allow us to deviate in a significant manner from or alter this, Therefore we need to adjust our standards of living to meet the needs of nature, Forlorn hope meet fat chance.

PracticalMaina on Thu, 21st Apr 2016 9:54 am 



Penury, true. I have a funny feeling it is hard to get a rubber in many parts of the third world. And if I am facing starvation and death on a daily basis, I am looking for dopamine in the only free form available to me. Not to many 7-11s with hohos, cigarettes, synthetic drugs, booze and energy drinks in the 3rd world slums.

makati1 on Thu, 21st Apr 2016 7:14 pm 



In nature, the herd is always culled by some natural means when it gets too big for the ecology to support. Humans are beginning to be culled by methods both man made and natural. This time, it may be to the point of extinction.