Our world is facing crises of a magnitude never before experienced: the democracy crisis, foreshadowing a near total erosion of our basic freedoms; and the climate crisis, foreshadowing the endangerment of life on earth itself.

These are struggles we simply cannot afford to lose. Standard responses —letter-writing, lobbying, marching, etc —are important but are grossly inadequate to the threats at hand.

What is demanded now is nonviolent direct action (NVDA) on a mass scale. The power of NVDA is widely known, from anticolonial struggles to the civil rights movement. Nothing in human history has demanded this kind of resistance more than the present moment.

Elders have a unique responsibility and role to play. The climate crisis unfolded on our watch. Many of us now have the time and wherewithal to fight, and we can afford to take risks for what we believe in, bringing our skills and experience to bear.

The presence of young family members and comrades serves as a constant reminder of our obligation to preserve a world—a climate and a democracy—where all life can flourish.

To date, the power of elders mobilized for direct action has been dispersed, and thus not as powerful as it might be. This is a call to elder groups that understand the need for NVDA to join together in a national Elders Coalition for Climate Action.

If not now, when?