A Pledge for the Planet

As a time of initiation and new beginnings, one activity we do at Candlemas / Imbolc is the making of pledges.  One for ourselves, one for our community (however we define it) and one for the planet.  This year, more than ever, it's important to make a pledge for the planet. A couple of years ago I heard Bobby Kennedy Jr speak in Seattle about environmental issues and one thing he said has become part of my personal truth:  it's not enough to just make changes on a personal, local level.  Lasting change won't come until the laws change at the federal level.  And that means supporting organizations like NRDC who are on the front lines of that work. 

Now along comes Bill McKibben with a plan for the biggest demonstration against global warming our planet has ever seen, Step It Up 2007. ("Step It Up, Congress!  Cut carbon 80% by 2050!")  On April 14, there will demonstrations all over the country.  There's one planned for here in Bellingham, but we'll be in Portland, Maine visiting my son and daughter-in-law.  When they ask me what I want to do that day, guess what I'll say? 

I hope some of you will join the demonstrations that day.  And you might want to join Laurie David's Virtual March Against Global Warming, too.

And David Suzuki (one of my heroes) has a wealth of suggestions, most of them painless and easy, for reducing our personal and household contributions to global warming.  Here's the ten points of his "Nature Challenge":

1. Reduce home energy by 10%
2. Eat meat-free meals once a week
3. Buy a fuel efficient, low-polluting car
4. Choose an energy efficient home and appliances
5. Stop using pesticides
6. Walk, bike or take transit to regular destinations
7. Prepare your meals with locally produced food
8. Choose a home close to regular destinations
9. Support alternatives to the car
10. Get involved, stay informed

The only ones on the list I'm not doing regularly is #6 and #8. And since Craig and I both work from home, I guess you could say we are doing #8. That's not to brag, that's just say:  it's not so hard to do these things!

So this Candlemas, consider making a pledge for the healing of Mama Gaia.

Comments

[Elaine]

Right on my sister!!!!! Thank you for this.

[Patricia (a/k/a Roswila)]

Signed up for the virutal march against global warming, and will forward the link to others. Thanks for this info.