Gratitude for the first Earth Day in 1970 which mobilized 20 million Americans (at the time, 10% of the population) to take to the streets, parks, and universities to protest against the destructive power of the industrial system. Today, nearly 200 countries and over 1 billion people engage in Earth Day events. We might also envision the disappearance of Earth Day – when our nature-consciousness is so vast and intimate that “Earth Day” as we know it will no longer be needed.
Gratitude for world leaders gathering today at the Virtual Summit with the intent to take bold action against Climate Change – and the US administration committing to slashing US emissions by half by the end of this decade (and funding poor countries to follow suit).
Gratitude to nature for healing broken hearts during this devastating pandemic. Here in the US, national parks had record numbers of visitors and people all around the world renewed their appreciation for the beauty, healing power, and wonders of nature. What a breath of fresh air! (pun intended!)
That which is untouched is unloved.
—Emma Marris
The future of environmentalism lies on reawakening our innate reverence for nature. That which is untouched is indeed unloved. And quoting Rumi, “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth.” I like to add “there are a million ways to be kissed by the earth.”
This Earth Day (and everyday), may you kiss as well as be kissed.
Happy Earth Day!
Sylvie Rokab
Filmmaker and Certified Nature Therapy guide
Related Resources
- Every Day Is Earth Day, by Kristin Barker (One Earth Sangha)
- Walking Meditation, poem by Thich Nhat Hanh (Plum Village)
- Walter Cronkite’s 1970 Earth Day Broadcast (YouTube)