It only takes 60 seconds of doomscrolling to feel helpless and hopeless — about the fate of democracy and the future of the planet. Why doesn’t somebody do something? The unconscious passivity in that question explains a lot about how “We the People” got to this moment.
Waiting for someone else to fix the problems that directly impact all of us has effectively protected much of the status quo — for far too long. Our too-common inaction has enabled others’ bad choices and freed bad actors from accountability.
We.
Can actually.
Do something.
That’s the premise behind Third Act, a national organization of “elders” (age 60+) who realize there is no time to waste addressing the biggest problems we face — as a country and a planet. Founded by Bill McKibben, a noted climate activist, Third Act is a motivated movement of Americans determined to stop being part of the problem and become part of the solution. Together, we harness our unparalleled generational power to safeguard the climate and democracy. It is a simple but powerful idea — in part because there are currently 70 million Americans who qualify to join us!
Our seasoned generation holds the political and economic power to enact real change. Combining life experiences, countless skills, and extensive resources, we are uniting to help preserve democracy and safeguard our climate — for our children, grandchildren, and future generations. Too many of us have been silent for too long, and our silence has been misinterpreted as support for those undermining democracy and harming the planet.
It’s time to get busy — making what Georgia’s beloved Rep. John Lewis called “good trouble.”
In two short years, Bill McKibben has already inspired 70,000 elder Americans to join Third Act. Its Upstate New York Working Group has characterized the movement as “ordinary people doing extraordinary things… together.” Coordinated actions have had a direct and immediate impact on issues that threaten all of us. For example, writing 200,000 postcards encouraging people to vote in November, influencing the Federal government to pause natural gas permits to reduce climate impacts and pressuring Citibank to stop lending to fossil fuel producers.
And we’re just getting started.
Knowing there is power in numbers, Third Act is launching the Third Act Georgia (TAGA) Working Group on Sept. 4, 2024. Like 34 other Working Groups around the country, TAGA will act with urgency — to protect our democracy as we approach the November elections, and our climate as we face a rapidly narrowing sliver of time to make a meaningful difference. Our strategy is to execute relevant campaigns, organized and executed by like-minded elders, that build a more sustainable future.
As many Georgians know, our legislature has enacted some of the most restrictive election laws in the nation. The outcome of the 2024 Presidential election may well depend on Georgia voters. And Georgia’s governor, state legislature, and public service commission all refuse to address urgent climate change issues. Third Act Georgia wants to excite our generation of elders to join the front lines to help protect democracy and provide a sustainable future.
Many of us were children of the civil rights era, teenagers as women’s rights took hold, or college-age kids during the Vietnam War. We understand the power of collective action.
Now, it’s time to harness it again — for our future.
Third Act Georgia will officially launch Sept. 4, 7 to 8 p.m., with a zoom webinar featuring thought-provoking speakers Bill McKibben, Robert Hubbell, and Bill Sapp. They will discuss the power of Third Act’s grassroots activities. Then, organizing members of Third Act Georgia will describe specific volunteer opportunities. Click here to register and participate in the webinar.
“Age shouldn’t be an excuse for doing nothing. It should be the incentive to do something. We elders have the wisdom and the experience to know change is possible! We just have to put in the work. And there’s no time to waste. It’s not too late to make a difference,” McKibben said. “To preserve democracy. To pursue clean energy that protects our nation’s natural resources. To protect the future, for us and our children’s children.”
Now is the time to do something. Register for the Zoom webinar launch on Sept. 4.