Make Love To The Earth Today

A talk for Earth Day and for every day. Earth Day 1970 inspired major environmental protection laws across the world. In the decades that have followed, it has grown into the largest secular civic event in the world and continues to be an inspirational reminder of our responsibility to protect the planet—and each other. "What is the one small, beautiful act I can offer the Earth today?" Photo: -cordier-cxzn0V9Dty4-unsplash

Transcript

Dear friends,

Every year we celebrate Earth Day on the 22nd of April.

Earth Day was the idea of the late Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin.

Gaylord had long been concerned about the deteriorating state of the environment in the United States.

He wanted to harness the energy that had been demonstrated in the anti-war movement and to use that type of enthusiasm to raise public awareness about the problem of air and water pollution.

He had the idea of a national tea gin on the environment and he persuaded Pete McCluskey,

A conservation minded Republican congressman,

To serve as his co-chair.

To maximise the impact of what they had in mind,

They recruited Dennis Hayes,

A young activist,

To coordinate the event nationwide.

Demonstrating what we can do when we agree on the necessity for action,

It's calculated that on the 22nd of April 1970,

20 million Americans,

10% of the US population at the time,

Took part in rallies,

Tea gins,

Clean-ups and demonstrations,

All in support of the environment.

Earth Day 1970 inspired major environmental protection laws in the US and elsewhere across the world.

In the decades that have followed,

Earth Day has grown into the largest secular civic event in the world.

The day is observed by over a billion people in more than 190 countries.

It continues to be an inspirational reminder of our responsibility to protect the planet and each other.

We have only one planet Earth.

There is no planet B.

There are grandiose schemes which,

In time,

The extraordinary intelligence of humanity can be brought to bear to,

As is described,

Terraform Mars,

To turn the red planet into a place which might be more hospitable for visiting Earthlings.

Mars is known from our probes to be an incredibly inhospitable place,

Far more inhospitable than any environment that we can find here on Earth.

Terraforming Mars is an imaginative idea for the future,

But science fiction for now.

Here on Earth,

Despite the ravages which have been caused by humanity's activities over recent centuries,

We still have what could be described as a Garden of Eden.

Think of how much easier it will be for us to restore the Earth and preserve its environment.

And we must work together to do this now.

We see evidence of global warming all around us,

Increased and more frequent weather extremes,

Exceptional floods,

Periods of oppressive drought,

The loss of habitat,

The loss of species.

This deterioration can be stopped and the situation can be improved,

But for this to happen we need the cooperation of each and every one of us.

And so in and about the time of Earth Day,

And indeed every day,

We need to look again at the steps we might take to help preserve this extraordinary planet for the benefit of all who live on it and who will live on it in the future.

The question is who will take these steps?

This brings to mind the well-repeated story about four people named Everybody,

Somebody,

Anybody and Nobody.

I'm sure you've read the story.

There was an important job to be done,

And although everybody could do it,

Everybody left it to somebody else to do,

So the job was left undone.

My wife Fran is active in a group entitled Eco-Congregations Ireland and I was reminded of this story when she and I went to deliver a climate justice candle to a congregation who were preparing a service in preparation for Earth Day.

We were shown a poster which had been prepared by a child.

The words on the poster were a message for each and every one of us.

The children had been requested to give their opinions on what was the greatest threat to the environment.

The child whose poster was most admired by the two of us had come up with this.

The greatest threat to the planet is the idea that someone else will save it.

The greatest threat to the planet is the idea that someone else will save it.

And so in response to the challenge put to us by that young person,

Whose life and well-being is on the line because of the climate crisis,

Here are some suggestions for you and for me to put into effect today and every day.

Number one.

Consume less and share more.

Buy only what we really need.

Repair,

Reuse and donate instead of discarding.

Mahatma Gandhi tells us live simply so that others may simply live.

Point number two.

Eat with the earth in mind.

Could we shift towards a plant-based diet?

At least some of the time.

Reduce meat and dairy consumption.

We could support local organic and regenerative agriculture.

Waste less food.

Compost where possible.

Think of the food waste.

So much of the food that we produce at enormous cost to the environment is never eaten.

It goes in the bin.

What's on our plate affects the climate.

It affects water,

Forests,

Biodiversity.

It has an effect everywhere.

Point number three.

Let's rethink transportation.

Walk or bike or use public transport whenever we can.

Drive less.

And if we must drive,

What about carpooling or choosing fuel-efficient or electric vehicles?

We should promote public transport,

Advocate for better public transport and bike infrastructure in our communities.

Suggestion number four.

Protect and restore nature.

We can support or we can volunteer with conservation projects.

We can create wildlife-friendly spaces,

Even in a small place like a yard,

A balcony,

A rooftop.

Number five.

The wise use of energy.

Switch to renewable energy wherever possible.

Insulate our homes.

Switch off lights in rooms that we're not in.

Unplug devices.

And choose energy-efficient appliances and lighting.

These may be small actions,

But when they're multiplied by millions,

Think of the vast amounts of energy they save.

Point number six.

Vote green.

We should support leaders and policies that prioritise climate action.

It doesn't have to be the Green Party.

Every party should be a Green Party in the sense that we have to promote social equity and ecological care.

The future of the world depends on it.

We can join campaigns.

We can write letters.

We must spread the word that we all need to work to preserve this good earth.

We want to speak gently,

But clearly.

And we speak with hope,

Not fear.

Saying nothing doesn't help.

Silence only supports the status quo.

Our voice matters.

Let's speak up whenever we can.

Point number seven.

A reminder to use water wisely.

Fix leaks.

Use low-flow fixtures.

Water plants efficiently.

Only use the water we need.

Be mindful of the water we use.

Don't allow taps to run unnecessarily.

Use showers instead of baths.

Keep showers reasonably short.

Just long enough to do the necessary.

Suggestion number eight.

Avoid single-use plastics.

There is,

Thankfully,

A growing campaign against the use of single-use plastics.

So let's carry a reusable bottle.

Carry a bag when we go shopping.

Some years ago here in Ireland,

We introduced a plastic bag tax.

It had a huge effect on the number of bags that were being given out so freely in the shops.

Plastics pollute our oceans,

They poison wildlife,

And plastic persists for centuries.

So we must use less of it.

Point number nine.

Let's see if we can have a spiritual connection to the earth.

Cultivate a spiritual practice that includes the earth through meditation,

Ceremony,

Walking in nature,

Silent gratitude.

I mentioned Fran and Eco-Congregations Ireland.

That organisation helps organise events in churches up and down the country,

Where people come together to hear about the environment,

To pray for the environment,

And to take active steps that will all help the situation.

We have to learn to walk gently and lovingly on the earth.

And a final thought.

As you rise in gratitude to greet the light of each new day,

Please make a vow.

This is not a promise born of pressure.

It's a commitment made out of love.

Ask yourself this question.

What is the one small,

Beautiful act that I can offer the earth today?

And the good news.

You are not alone.

I'm not alone.

There are eight billion of us.

And remember,

This is not a job for somebody.

This is a job for everybody.

So let's pass on the word,

So that everybody won't leave it to somebody else.

Namaste.

Reviews

Thank you teacher Tony for this instructional, informative talk. Much appreciated! 🙏❤️🙏❗️

Thanks Tony for the list of ways we all need to contribute🤍🌎

Grma Tony 🙏🏼
Such wonderful suggestions on the list of 10 and I love what that child wrote as there is such truth in those words.,
Enjoyed hearing about Eco Congregation Ireland 🇮🇪 and the fabulous idea of a plastic bag tax.
Action has stepped up here Down Under and single use plastic has been banned.
May this concern to respect and care for our beautiful Máthair Domhain grow and multiply.
🌿💚🌿

To me “earthing” walking barefoot on the grass, in the sand, Even in the woods brings so much joy. Thank you for this meditation. With much gratitude, Bonnie-kate.

Wonderful. “The earth does not belong to man. Man belongs to the earth.” Something we need to remember!

A beautiful message and much needed, thank you Tony 🌍🌳🙏🏻

What an important reminder Tony!
Yes we do our part, can we do better, absolutely.
You actually gave some great advice.
We all need to work together now and teach the future to continue to do better.
Thank you 🙏🏻💕

I had not heard the somebody everybody nobody….. thanks for sharing and encouraging us all

Thank you for your convincing and realistic plea to personally care for our Earth, instead of leaving it to someone else. For my dear wife and I every day is Earth Day. Namaste 🤓🙏🏻

Thank you.
That first Earth Day in 1970 had a huge impact upon my entire way of living my life. In New Zealand, my birth place the ethos was adopted with great vigour and I have livied my life pretty much guided by those 10 points you listed. But I admit that I now struggle to maintain the buoyant hope you radiate and this post today does feel like a reminder. I have always been that “somebody” doing everything I can but the shape of global insanity at the moment just makes me feel so tired and so concerned for my grandchild.
I hope to rediscover my hope. 🌻