350.org in Vermont held a Climate Change Cabaret in Montpelier on June 15. It brought together artists to portray the impact of climate change through performance, music, poetry, dance and art. Fran Weinbaum, Radical Joy Board member and friend/colleague/artist Janice Walrafen wove a poem (The Vision by Wendell Berry) and a story (The Necklace collected by Laurens Vanderpost) together into one—the story of a village that forgot the importance and the way to live in balance on the Earth, and how through one person’s compassion and courage, began to remember rightful relationship with Earth and each other. It was performed by Fran, Janice and other friends at the Cabaret in front of at least 300 people. As the story was told, a bird was created on the State House lawn and at the end of the story the audience was invited to bring a place they love on the Earth to mind—a place that is wounded or threatened and to place cut out birds that formed the perimeter of the “stage” into the larger image of the bird to represent that place.

Afterwards people came forward to say how moved they were by the performance and how it gave them a new understanding of how to walk with the anger and grief they feel about the impact of climate change and human decisions that destroy the Earth—bring Compassion, Love and Joy.