I realize that I am longing for people around me that really love the earth and care about her current destruction. “Climate Change” has become too innocent for my ears. “The Destruction of the Earth and its inhabitants” is more to the point and depicts what is truly happening. The resources that the earth provides for humans are being over-utilized, polluted and misused to such a degree that humans have actually changed the entire biology of the earth.
Sorrow and grief well up at this realization but solutions seem empty and futile. We have passed many thresholds that flash warnings of how dangerous it is for the earth and its inhabitants at this time. Mass extinction of species is well known and humans also threatened and suffering in many areas. Inequality runs rampant. So much of the hatred and bigotry, violence and division that we see happening at this time in history, may very well lie in our inability to feel love and compassion for the earth and its all its creatures – including humans.
Thomas Berry in his book The Dream of the Earth says “A truly human intimacy with the earth and with the entire natural world is needed.” The source of change must be a change in human consciousness – an awakening to the sacredness of all things and a recognition that everything is connected to the Universe itself.
I believe it would be helpful to have communities of people support each other in developing this kind of consciousness; to stand clear about their love of the earth and each other. This support doesn’t happen via fragmented FaceBook connections or the short-winded Twitter messages.
As Terry Tempest Williams says in the Preface of the new edition of the Berry’s book: “We live our lives largely distracted, disconnected, and often times oblivious to the larger truths. Time is not money, time is being. Nature is being. We are Nature, not just human nature, but part of the great story of the universe.”
I do find initiatives and great work being done to bring attention to the earth, our only home. Voices for Earth Justice for example, is an “interfaith network of people committed to spiritual development, education and actions that deepen our sense of wonder, responsibility, and gratitude for all creation.” This initiative emerged from the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University. What a blessing to the world and the youth working on these projects.
I would like to know what you think! I would appreciate a response with your thoughts and insights. Will you be part of my network and community on these topics??
Warmest, Mara
Thanks, Mara. I look forward to talking and sharing soon. Brian
We look forward to good talks with you both! Love, Mara
Dear Mara, your message is so nicely worded and adds to Brians “A truly human intimacy with the earth and with the entire natural world is needed.”
In my simple wording that is to state that we as humans are an integrated part of earth’s ecology. The human population has grown at a speed and to such magnitude that it challenges the remaining part of the ecological system. Thank god, more than half of this population lives in urban areas and live out of food coming from an almost industrial production system. This system gives rise to major ecological challenges and it can and must improve, but the alternative to distribute world population evenly throughout the earth would not produce harmony and ecological balance.
There are lots of dilemmas in this interface, but in order to challenge these we have to define clear objectives. With clear objectives we can work in a coordinated way.
Thank you, Per Christian. Your thoughts are always appreciated.
Warmest,
Mara