I spent the rainy Saturday at a symposium, Awakening the Dreamer--exploring bringing forth the dream of an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on Earth. It is a program of the Pachamama Alliance.
One of the things I learned--was reminded of, really--is that since I have food in my refrigerator, clothes in my closet and a roof over my head I am better off than 83% of the world's population. I am reminded to express gratitude but also challenged to do more.
I also learned that natural resources are being used at a rate that is 50% greater than the Earth can renew and sustain. Some of the food in my refrigerator and most of the clothes in my closet have a cost to the planet far more than I was privileged to be able to spend.
So for me, things are not okay in this country right now and, really not okay in the world. It is devastating to contemplate and what can one person do?
I am going to take a long hard look at candidates for the next election and vote.
I am going to continue to work at decreasing the amount of chemicals in the products I put on and in and even near my body. It will be better for me and better for the environment.
I am going to continue to volunteer my time where I can.
I am returning to my plan of having at least one car-free day each week.
I am going to educate myself about companies that are dedicated to doing
good in the community and in the world and support them. I am going to seriously investigate changing my investment strategies.
Why are so many people in this country so scared and angry? We should be...BUT not because we don't have enough and someone else has more.
One of the things I learned--was reminded of, really--is that since I have food in my refrigerator, clothes in my closet and a roof over my head I am better off than 83% of the world's population. I am reminded to express gratitude but also challenged to do more.
I also learned that natural resources are being used at a rate that is 50% greater than the Earth can renew and sustain. Some of the food in my refrigerator and most of the clothes in my closet have a cost to the planet far more than I was privileged to be able to spend.
So for me, things are not okay in this country right now and, really not okay in the world. It is devastating to contemplate and what can one person do?
I am going to take a long hard look at candidates for the next election and vote.
I am going to continue to work at decreasing the amount of chemicals in the products I put on and in and even near my body. It will be better for me and better for the environment.
I am going to continue to volunteer my time where I can.
I am returning to my plan of having at least one car-free day each week.
I am going to educate myself about companies that are dedicated to doing
good in the community and in the world and support them. I am going to seriously investigate changing my investment strategies.
Why are so many people in this country so scared and angry? We should be...BUT not because we don't have enough and someone else has more.
Oh, yes, I do love your last statement!
ReplyDeleteI know I will not be as vigilant as you are, but all of what you mentioned is important. We need to find ways to evolve on this planet so that we can feed and clothe more people while damaging the earth less. We need brilliant thinkers and problem solvers. and we need the will to do with less ourselves in order to protect the future of the next generations.
Thank you for this post.
I've scheduled a post for tomorrow about a solar airplane and electric car. We've tried our best to reduce our carbon footprint buying veggies from the farmers market, having solar panels and a Prius. We really do have to be grateful for what we have and we are.
ReplyDeleteI do what little I can as one person but it is monumental to think about all that needs to be done. It's best not to think but just to do.
ReplyDeleteI always bundle trips and usually take the car out only once or twice a week. I volunteer, but do not feel it is making a big difference. I bought some clothes on sale recently and all of them were labeled made in China...this is only bad because I do not know if they were made in an environmentally positive way and that the people were safe in the workplace. There is so much to worry about!
ReplyDeleteAnd since you summer in Vermont and winter in Florida, you are actually better off than 99% of the world's population, at least in my humble and recently-freezing-again opinion. Anyway, I like your resolutions. We should all make them.
ReplyDeleteThat 83% really does make you stop and think. We don't have to walk miles to carry polluted water on our heads back to our straw huts and so much more. WE are very lucky and thank you for the reminder that I must do more.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully put Olga and goals we should all live by. The poorest of us are richer than a lot of the world. Thank you, I will try to be a better citizen of the world also.
ReplyDeleteGood post. I agree with your sentiments exactly. We see movies of humans searching the skies for planets to live on that can support life. We are setting our great-great-great grandchildren on this path by the way we live today.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. It is a terrific reminder to all of us, that every time we make a decision we have an impact on the world around us. By making a conscious decision we can ensure that decision is positive rather than negative.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm off to turn off all the lights in the house that don't need to be on.
If the planet Earth becomes uninhabitable, our descendants will have to fly to Mars or the Moon to live.
ReplyDeleteVery well said, Olga! You have a lovely blog. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. :)
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot of education and each person can make a difference, I believe. We are such a consumer society. Bob and i have tried to use our car less and less over the last 10 years. We do a lot of walking and biking for transport. I'm also very cautious about chemicals I use in my home and on our bodies - I mostly buy organic vegan products so I know I won't have an allergy issue. I'm not sure how these small things will make a difference, but I think it's worth trying.
ReplyDeleteI'm finding it hard to know what to do. We live 5 km out of town. We have to drive!
ReplyDeleteRegarding food, as long as we grow it here, it is sustainable. I don't mind throwing food out, since I've bought it and supported the farmer. We have many organic farmers nearby and a store that sells all this.
I do think you represent the best of this world. You've lost your husband, but you carry on living and learning. He would be so proud of you, I am sure.