WELCOME ABOARD SPACESHIP EARTH

 

Earth Day

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Spaceship Earth

On April 22nd International Earth Day will be celebrated around the globe by people of all backgrounds and faiths.

It is an annual event dedicated to the recognition of the magnificence of our planet and our role as caretakers of its future. While it often seems that the world’s people
struggle to find common ground, there is no denying that we all share this planet as well as the huge task of its rejuvenation.

Our interconnectedness is undeniable. As Marshall McLuhan, a great educator and philosopher said, “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.”

Possibly the first step in becoming dedicated passionate caretakers of the earth is to spend more time in nature and truly reconnect with our environment on an emotional level.

The fact that right now we have within us carbon atoms that inhabited wild animals, ancient mystics and forests of long ago does create an amazing sense of wonder. And who can help but be moved by the appearance of a famous Kincardine sunset or the smell of spring in the air?

But all too often we allow ourselves to run on “autopilot” and are just too busy to take in the wonder of it all. Maybe it’s time for us to slow down and honestly acknowledge the fullness of what is at stake if we continue with our present mindset and practices.

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13/04/2009 10:31 PM

 As participants of Earth Hour last month, many in Kincardine and around the globe experienced an hour of “conscious living”. If we continue to make even more conscious choices to reduce excess consumption and treat our environment with the respect that it deserves, then there is indeed hope.

We can choose to sit down as families and communities and commit to making the necessary changes. This involves sacrifices and dedication, but the process can be educational, extremely rewarding and maybe even fun.

Have you ever wondered, “What would the world look like if everyone lived like me?” Well, there is an opportunity to find out. By visiting “Consumer Consequences”  and playing the family friendly interactive game of sustainability, the shocking answer to the question can be found.

After choosing an avatar and answering a series of lifestyle questions, the players are shown how many “Earths” of natural resources it would take to sustain all 6.8 billion
humans if our present lifestyle continues. The game results reflect the waste produced, the infrastructure required, the energy consumed and the impact on the surrounding land.

Despite the obvious variables in the game, the results provide a jolt of reality, and better yet, the players are offered a range of suggestions on how to improve their score in this “game of life”.

Deep down we know that we are not only talking about environmental issues here, but issues of humanity because everything is so intricately interconnected. We are talking about fairness and about correcting the imbalances of the world through more conscious choices so that the needs of the entire global community can be met.

In the days ahead let’s commit to changing our ways so that we are more compassionate players in the game of life. Let’s sign on as active caring crew members of “Spaceship
Earth”.

Let’s do our part. Let’s make a difference.
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