In the Trenches by Nanie Hurley

In the Trenches by Nanie Hurley

Update From the Trenches #28

Writing and climate action

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Nanie Hurley
Dec 14, 2023
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flags on green grass field near brown concrete building during daytime
COP28 is over, and the draft of the final agreement is available for public reading. | Photo by Mathias Reding on Unsplash

Writing & writing some more

Today, I spent the whole morning writing. I finished an article that has been submitted for publication (fingers crossed it’ll be published today), and I have a few ideas in draft. I might be able to get another two or three articles from my notes. Eventually…

I wish it was easy to bring all my ideas to life, but sometimes it takes forever to get something from the draft stage to an article that makes sense. Sometimes, drafts end up being excluded because the idea doesn’t make sense any more. More often than not, ideas stay in the draft folder, then they are merged with other ideas and after a long incubation period, they morph into something new.

When I first started this newsletter back in November, I was talking about an article I was working on about honey. I haven’t been able to finish that article yet. I now hope I’ll be able to get it ready for January — but I’m not sure. There’s something about that article that makes it really hard to get it ready. I’m missing something, and I don’t know what it is!

I never thought writing was this hard, although I never thought it was easy either. I don’t know what I thought, but I’m always surprised at how challenging it is to write articles online!


Optimism for the future

I also spent a great deal of time this morning reading the COP28 agreement. There’s a glimmer of hope with the “Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science” promise. Although, they didn’t go as far as a phase-out of fossil fuels. They do talk about a phase-down of coal and a phase-out of subsidies to fossil fuel. Overall, it’s an interesting document and it has great promise. If the signatories will keep their promises, though, remains to be seen.

You can find the 21-page document in the UN Climate Press release. I’m still reading through it. It’s not as green as I would have liked, and there is the possibility that it’s more greenwashing than green action. I remain hopeful, though.


Getting contest ready!

If you’re a writer on Medium, I’ll have news of a writing contest for you in the upcoming days!

I’m talking with the other editors at TTO and getting the details ready for a writing contest. We have to make sure all details are agreed upon, including prizes.

It’ll be ready to go soon!


Mindfulness Advent Calendar Day 14: Mindful Thanksgiving. | © Image credit: Nanie Hurley with Canva— CC-BY.

Calendar Day 14: Mindful Thanksgiving

I absolutely love to thank people for all their help. It makes me so happy to show my gratitude, and I try to make it a part of my life.

I wouldn’t be who I am or able to do the things I do if it wasn’t for the help of so many friends, family members, and professionals. I have a lot of thanks to say to a lot of people!

I hope you find joy in sharing your gratitude with someone who has helped you this year, too.

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