Article 2

In relation to the survival of humanity why is it that the vast majority of us are allowing the few to lead us all to extinction? Surely, this is the most fundamental dilemma confronting not only humanity but the rest of the Living Earth. The Living Earth sustains us. We can’t just ask the shallow questions any more. Our questions ought to go to the core of the damage we are doing to the natural world. We ought to set about changing the way see and think about nature itself.

We need to reinvent or recapture our connections with the natural world. The future of all life on this planet, including human life, requires us to become effective stewards of the Living Earth — the climate, land, ocean, freshwater, forests, soils, and rich diversity of life. The rich diversity of life on Earth combines to create a unique and harmonious life-support system. There is now an existential need to build economies and societies that support the Living Earth, rather than disrupt it

We must learn to live in an ever-changing environment where we aim to reduce the Living Earth’s exposure to the risk of catastrophe. Doing so without believing it is in our power to forever prevent it from happening if only a global cap on emissions is agreed. More is needed. In relation to protecting the Living Earth, having a positive approach to people is a more realistic reflection of the true nature of human beings in general. Those in authority would be wise to ask themselves: What positive differences would be gained if we acknowledge that the majority of people are motivated by helping each other and the natural world rather than motivated by greed or gaining power over others?

All too many people are caught up in their own busyness leaving little, or no, time to reflect on the complexity and beauty of the world we all share and depend upon. Appreciating the natural world brings us closer to understanding the nature of the Living Earth. It is quite simply a fact that the current ways of life and economic activity have a comprehensive and negative impact on various ecosystems. If we do not change, the Living Earth faces drastic and irreversible disadvantages.

Andy Purvis, a professor at the Natural History Museum London in a response to a recent detailed and extensive planetary health check says that the take-home message is that we should have gone to the doctor sooner. In other words the Living Earth is in a bad way. Professor Purvis added that the society we would like our children and grandchildren to live in is in real jeopardy. “I cannot overstate it,” he said. “If we leave it to later generations to try to clear up the mess, I don’t think they will forgive us.”

If you listen to the sounds of nature it can serve as a portal to the natural world—it can act as a source of connection, nourishment and interdependence, with the Living Earth and with one another. To help survive the current climate crisis, we must somehow learn about the knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors the Hunter-Gatherers. We must do this not only for present generations but also for future generations, and the long-term well-being of the Living Earth.

Our current worldview, along with our industrial, agricultural and mining systems have for some time now encountered a finite Living Earth. We know that the vitality of the Earth is declining every day. It simply cannot continue. At the same time, we know that we are part of a global awakening, a grassroots movement for change that is unprecedented in human history. So now that we know, the question is: “What part must we play in this unfolding story?” Where do we go from here?