“You can’t get upset enough to improve anything.” ~ Wayne Dyer
Earth Day #55
A few years ago, I wrote that we should have more than just one day a year to celebrate our mutual Mother Earth. But Earth Day has never been a celebration as much as a day to draw awareness, not only to the beauty and magnificence of our natural environment, but also to the devastation inflicted on our forests, the extinction of our wildlife cousins, and ultimately, climate change. It’s always been challenging to face the damage inflicted on our natural environment by human activity, but it’s particularly tough this year.
The current administration has undertaken extensive actions to dismantle environmental protections: withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the elimination of protections against air and water pollution, and the suspension of Renewable Energy Projects. He has also declared a national emergency to expedite fossil fuel development, made significant changes to the Endangered Species Act, and dismantled environmental research. I could go on. What we’re dealing with now is not just denial but ecological indifference.
John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club, said it best, “God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools.” He also said, “The battle for conservation will go on endlessly. It is part of the universal battle between right and wrong.”
Falling into despair will not help the situation, and anger depletes the energy we could put to better use. My concern for the planet has only deepened, and so has my willingness to take action. This Earth Day reminds us to open our hearts, refocus our intentions, and redouble our efforts. If you’re able today, take a walk in a forest or park, hug a tree or smell a flower, and embrace your natural heritage.