Carole Holmes of GASP

We sat down with Carole Holmes, one of the founding co-chairs of GASP - Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet, a dedicated walker, and a self-professed person of few hobbies. Here’s what she had to say about her vision for a vibrant future:

I am excited that individuals can make a difference. It sounds corny, but I believe that. I care deeply about leaving a green legacy for my granddaughter and all grandchildren. A commitment to future generations is a compelling factor for grandparents the world over. We have had a couple of wins, and by ‘we,’ I mean we and a million other people. 

Even though we’ve got lots of skills, finding a way to act is hard for people. I never meet climate deniers, but people wonder, ‘What the heck can I do?’ People want to do something beyond recycling. What gets me up in the morning is that there is something to do and people to do it with. If you ask people to get involved, you’ll be surprised by just how often they say yes. People just need to be asked.

When we started (GASP), we all made a personal commitment, right there and then. I became a vegetarian, some tried gardening, others limited car travel. Seeing renewables and wind turbines and solar panels on everything is exciting. Food and soil health solutions are healthy and economically feasible!  Everybody’s got climate on their agenda, and that’s a preface to change. 

If you have a passion in any area, and you bring it to GASP and find two or three other people who want to do it, we’ll do it!  Someone said, ‘If we want a just transition, we need a basic income.’  

We’re all just ordinary people. Every month we have new people joining. You can find your people. You can always find people who want to make the world a better place.