Summary: Love Will Save This Place By Naomi Klein

“Love Will Save This Place” Summary/ Response

“One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish,” wrote Dr. Seuss. How this should’ve gone was, “one fish, two fish, no fish,” because that’s exactly where we’re headed if we continue plundering our seas and demolishing our ozone. In “Love Will Save This Place”, author and climate activist Naomi Klein explains the dangers of putting profit before pelicans and revenue before reparations. Klein exemplifies the harsh impacts of the fossil fuel industry by explaining the complex dangers to the food web. We all learned that the eagle eats the snake, the snake eats the mouse, the mouse eats the grasshopper, and the grasshopper eats the grass. What happens when one of those pieces are missing? Does something

She speaks of pipelines, oilrigs, and supertankers. The author starts off immediately with a serious tone, giving the reader a sense of importance and urgency. It implicitly begs the question of, “how big of an issue is this really.” Klein doesn’t waste time answering this question floating in the reader’s mind. She delves into the intricacies of the food web, she explains that one missing piece, salmon, could be detrimental to entire ways of life. Salmon is a specific example, but its impacts are indicative of any loss of food web activity. She writes that, “endanger salmon and you endanger the entire ecosystem.” She doesn’t expressly say it, but it can be reasonably inferred that Klein seeks to apply this theme to all animals, not just salmon. Her advocacy is that biodiversity ought to be protected for the best interest of the animals and us. The authors intentions for writing this piece are most likely with the animals and their livelihoods. However, in order to appeal to her audience the author relates all of her impacts back to everyday people. This makes the piece incredibly agreeable and incredibly moving. She does a unique job of relating the dangers to not just a loss of human life but to a loss of culture, dignity, and value. The author goes on to explain the power of climate movements and the power of unity in solving crisis. The author begins her writing

She gets there. She explains, or rather implies that a philosophical shift is required for a global climate solution to be achieved. Klein wants her reader to know that there are people literally dying due to these pipelines and supertankers. By painting the picture in this manner, she places the reader in the middle of a moral dilemma. You enjoy the luxuries of the modern world at the expense of those who don’t have access to basic necessities. The author wants the reader to have hope though, she wants the reader to have faith that we can do this, together. The author highlights the successes of climate activists already and in doing so entrenches the movement. Klein is very clear in her deliberation: no more fossil fuels, protect our water, and humans are the cause for all of this. By taking a direct approach she creates finality in her argument. Like when you’d ask your parent why they said no, only to hear the most unbeatable logic ever in return, “because I said”. You’re left not really thinking there's another way and that’s what Klein is seeking. The pace of her essay is quick, the examples are clear, and it rarely goes off track. The reader isn’t left questioning the advocacy. Like Ben Franklin’s ‘Join or Die’ cartoon. Yes, you may have to read between the lines a bit, but once the message hits you, it hits hard. The bluntness is persuasive and attractive, especially