Sunday, April 22, 2007

Night Of The Earth

I have a choice today:  I can either celebrate the earth in all its mystery and beauty, just for itself, its cascading hills and glorious great waterfalls, its vast and mighty plains, and especially the tiniest of life forms sharing it with me - or I can decry the ruination of so much of this planet, and do what's possible within my limitations to repair that damage.  I can note with awe that this is the only place in our galaxy where life is flourishing visibly and heartily, or I can loudly and without doubt of intention protest the continued paucity of concern in the one species which has affected every other life form on this great, forgiving planet.  There's too many of us.  But nature will see to that, she always does.  When an infection threatens the life of the host body, it is cast out.  I don't want that for my grandchilden's children.  I don't want it for myself.  Or for you.       

In looking at this planet from both ground and sky, it becomes clear that the earth is completely unique, like nothing else we've yet to discover - why?  Because LIFE exists here and in great variety, breathtaking beauty.  Knowing then, that in China people can no longer use the Yellow Sea as it has literally become carcinogenic, I don't think I have the luxury to contemplate and admire anymore; wasted time has forced us into a personal choice - to continue sitting quietly and admire with gratitude this singular realm, our incomprehensible home satellite, or rally voices to ACT upon the ruination we've caused, the ugly future we're leaving as our legacy here, and join our best and brightest minds from all sectors of every science to seek out and develop the answers we sorely need NOW if we're ever to last as a successful species.   We have already sabotaged so much, our only ship in this universe, and we WILL crash.  It's really just a question of how hard we'll go down.  We already know when and where - when is now, where is everywhere.  

However pessimistic this may sound, best look elsewhere for resignation.  The hope I have for human kind is based on the strongest faith imaginable and that is faith in people to eventually do the right thing.  If I can plant a single tree can't thousands re-forest a million acres?  Imagine if we could use that same desire, the same will, the same energy used to tear it all apart to gradually repair the damage?  A superhuman task, and time has become a luxury - yet we can do it, we've already started in many places, many ways.  For instance, for the first time in automotive history, GM sales have come in second to Honda because so many people are buying the air-friendly hybrid they make.  Ingenuity!  Ingenuity is one of the parents that may save us.  The other is action - immediate and focused.   

I would ask of anyone in power who could lobby for a bill setting aside land as federally protected, if a loved one was dying for want of a single medicine, wouldn't they move heaven and earth to get it?  Well that's part of the problem, we've moved the earth around too much - the same medicine that politician would need is found in our rain forests.  Or was. 

So Happy Earth Day To All - if only because we have no where else to go.                

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Earth Day to you too, Cathy.

Anonymous said...

Very thought provoking.  When you talked about the yellow sea, it reminded me of earlier years, when I could swim in the Potomac and get out of the water without being greased down by dirt.  Now, it is a given.  It is time to quit sleeping, before we wake up to a huge nightmare of our own making!

Anonymous said...

The trouble is that market forces dictate that we continue to kill off the Earth.
http://journals.aol.co.uk/acoward15/andy-the-bastard

Anonymous said...

If everyone from the average Joe to the leaders and businessmen realized and remembered that we are stewards of all that is here.  Caretakers.  God made this remarkable environment for us to live in and turned it over to us to care for.  -  Barbara

Anonymous said...

Very pertinent in this day and age, Cathy.
Man is the custodian of this planet and will eventually be faced without choice the necessity of administering to its needs.
Some can ignore it but the day will come when they cannot and man will have not only failed the planet but his species as well.
We still have time so make it happen as the planet is unique and not so readily replenished.
So it is in our hands and our childrens' children. What legacy are we leaving them?

Anonymous said...

Hope your Earth Day was a good one.  Very thought provoking entry.
Pam

Anonymous said...

Its odd isnt it. There is so much wrong with the planet and the people that it drives you to sadness sometimes.
But get out of the towns and cities and spend a few hours in the countryside, amongst the nature and your entire view can change.

Spending the last few weeks in the countryside that surounds my town, I feel so relaxed and happy.
x

Anonymous said...

Wonderful entry!  I encourage all to do the little (or big) they can!  BRAVO!  Go to CARE2 and see what you can do... There are little things there.  I am sure there are lots of things you can do in your day to day life.  I go to click sites and plant trees.  That is such a simple thing.  Bless you for this!  Love, Val xox

Anonymous said...

I think it is a good idea to contemplate the state of the earth frequently.  I have been reading with alarm about all the ice melting under the glaciers.  Why is that happening.  But we used to get ice ages, and then they would recede so what made that happen.  We know whose to blame for global warming now, MAN.  We can mostly see the evidence for ourselves.  But maybe something else is a little tiny bit to blame.  Gerry  

Anonymous said...

I hope it's not to late for us. Sure we can do our little part. Someone in power is going to have to start initiating larger change.
Hope you had a nice Earth day and have a beautiful weekend.  Just don't go harrassing any butterflies. ;o)
Hugs, Barb  

Anonymous said...

Greed is our biggest enemy in the fight for our planet.  However, I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet.  There are more people now fighting to save our planet that ever before in history.  For the scientific world to finally accept the reality of global warming was a huge step.  It brought proof to governments that purposfully remainded blind to the fact that we are destroying our envoronment.  The United States if finally forced to admit that we need to change in order to survive.  Let us hope and learn and lead the battle to save our planet.  Yes, Happy Earth Day.  Let us celebrate a change in attitude and a renewed hope!
Sam

Anonymous said...

    A lot to think about.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay