Words by Smiley Team
When journalist Jessie Brinton gave birth to her first child, the significance of the climate crisis for future generations really hit home more than ever before. Discussing her fears with her friend, an environmental organiser, Tamsin Omond, she realised that she was not alone in worrying about the future.
“I also started to notice other mums and this amazing camaraderie between them in a way I never had before,” she said. “So I thought ‘What if all the mums in the world got together and did something about the problem?’”
Together, the two women started connecting with environmentally-minded parents to build Mothership, a network focused on helping concerned individuals engage with the environmental predicament weighing down on us all.
Tamsin, who is not a parent herself, but who draws inspiration from her own mother, said: “I know that unconditional love as well and my experience of it has defined me. I feel secure, whole, loved, strong. If we could turn that energy onto the planet, if we could love it with the fullness of mother energy, that could just be revolutionary.”
Mother energy isn’t simply some fluffy idea either. It reflects a phenomenon where women become more concerned about the environment following childbirth, as shown by research conducted at the University of Melbourne. New mothers are more likely to express concerns for the planet and adjust their behaviour accordingly.
Mothering the world
As a growing network, Mothership isn’t only for mums. It’s also for dads, friends, uncles and aunts to unite and tackle the climate crisis together, as Tamsin explained.
“It’s not some exclusive mother’s group,” reaffirmed Jessie. “The model, Daisy Lowe, is helping us. She’s not a mum yet but that doesn’t stop her from having lots of mother energy.”
Over the next year, they plan to host events, spread campaign ideas and tips for how to care for children in more sustainable ways.
Among the initiatives they promote, Choose Earth is an organisation that collaborates with community leaders to build strategies to fight the climate crisis. It works with indigenous storytellers to exchange knowledge and amplifies the voices of communities, challenging Western stereotypes.
“A huge part of this story is about indigenous people,” said Jessie. “I wanted to recognise that the people who have been fighting this for a long time and are the frontline in this struggle are the indigenous people. Also, there are people living in places that are completely wrecked by the system we are inside. It must be annoying for such people to see us in the West only just waking up to the destruction we’re causing.”
Over the upcoming months, they hope to build numbers and are preparing campaigns around the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this November.
“At the moment, with all that our government is investing in fossil fuels, I’m not sure we’re going to get the global leadership needed. So it’s time for mothers and all those who care about the next generation to speak up,” Jessie said.
Those interested can join Mothership via their Facebook group.
For more information and updates follow @heymothership on Instagram.
