September 3, 2022 I recently read a book entitled A Book of Hope, a Survival Guide for Trying Times written by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams that I highly recommend. I needed the inspiration and hope for our future that was expressed by Jane in dialogue with Doug. Very briefly, the four reasons she gave to have hope are as follows: (1) The amazing human intellect which includes creativity and inventiveness, and when put to good use can come up with innovative solutions to problems we face, particularly when a “new universal moral code” is applied to benefit all living creatures. (2) The resilience of nature that enables nature as a whole or its parts to heal even in the face of human destruction or natural disasters. (3) The power of young people when they are educated and given opportunities with support to take action. (4) The indomitable human spirit to persevere with “grit and determination” to overcome problems, calling upon our inner strength and courage. This book contains the many pearls of wisdom including the following: * A close connection to the natural world is essential for true wisdom and for healing to occur. * She talks about the term “eco-grief” or “eco-anxiety”, which refers to the “whole range of feelings…including helplessness, depression, fear, fatalism, resignation” people may have while witnessing the human devastation of natural systems. * In addition to having hope, Jane states that we also “need to respond with fear and anger about what is happening,” and take action. Community action is necessary to effect change. Everyone has a contribution to make and can make a difference. “Millions of drops make an ocean.” We need each other. Jane quotes a famous saying, “We have not inherited the Earth from our ancestors but borrowed it from our children.” She further states, “And yet we have not borrowed it from our children (and all future generations). We have stolen it! When you borrow something, the expectation is that you will repay.” * Social justice and environmental justice go together and cannot be addressed in isolation.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Wendy Kanter, Nature-based Educator, MusicianArchives
December 2022
Categories |