……otherwise compassion and healthy living is simply something to endure, during the “crisis” …until it is over and we can go back to our own destructive ways.

Destructive over-consuming living feeds the Ego and starves the World

xhenry

We are stewards of our planet, not owners. So, the question should be “are we being good stewards?” And actually, I am going to put a positive spin on this discussion and say that from what I see, we are really starting to get it.

Examples from my part of the world, in Eastern Canada:
1. plastic bags are pretty much obsolete. Most stores refuse to even supply bags. We all carry our own reusable bags.
2. our municipal recycling program is extensive and we have HUGE blue bins which we all roll to the curb
3. we are all getting ‘wet garbage’ bins which we will fill and roll to the curb for municipal composting
4. we separate our garbage in our offices
5. a lot of the coffee shops will fill up our ceramic mugs
6. both Ontario and Quebec have banned chemical fertilizers

Personally, our household uses baking soda instead of commercial shampoos and cider vinegar for conditioner. We are getting rid of a car and becoming a single car family. Small things, but I see more and more people doing the same.

We aren’t at war with Mother Earth, so it’s not a question of survival. We are in partnership with her. And from what I see in my little neck of the woods, we are honouring that partnership.

Robin Replies:
Dear Eliza, what a lovely comment. I agree that many people the world over are making astounding changes in their lives. My sweetheart and I do many of the things on your list here and various other things as well. we went to one car a few years ago and do as much as we can to make a difference. I have to say that what is going on in your area is much more than what is going in my area and much of the USA. Most stores here still give out plastic bags, accept for one or two health food stores. We do have a few cities that have gone plastic free, and that’s it. And recycle bins for the curb were only issued a couple of years ago. I love the compost idea. We do not have that here yet, but my husband and I use it all for our garden. And I applaud the ban on chem fertilizers. THAT is HUUUUUGE!! Hope that Chem pesticides are next and GMO food. Here in the USA we have a long way to go to catch up to your Canadian standards. BUT that said, things are changing.

My other thought was this: I totally agree with you. We most definitely are NOT at war with Mother Earth. If we are at war at all, it is with ourselves. We are in no way threatened by Mother Earth, I lived many years in the wild and personally know Earth ONLY as love…no matter what we humans do. If we are threatened by anything, it is ourselves. I also have found that our natural state of being is one of living in partnership WITH Earth, but I also feel that many have forgotten this connection, this relationship or partnership. But MANY are also reawakening to it once again, which is a life giving thing for all beings. Thank you for your wise and inspiring comment. It is a joy to see you here.

Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com

As I read this part of your comment “..there are underlying social issues – particularly poverty, hunger, homelessness – that make it nearly impossible for many people in the world to take action to do anything.” I had these thoughts. For me it is for this very reason that I, someone who is not going hungry, homeless, or living in poverty, must do as much as I can. Because there are so many who as you say are not in a place where they can do much. The mere fact that these conditions exist in other countries and even for people in my country USA, is my reason for doing whatever I can.

Maybe if we switch our focus from how much “headway” we are making to just doing whatever we can when we can, at the very least we improve our own lives and the lives of those beings around us. Even if we improve the life of one other being we have made a difference…right now. There are so many ways we can do this even without money. Maybe I will have to do a post sometime that looks at ways we can each make the world a better place. I highly value your heartfelt expressions. It’s what makes you YOU! Thank you dear one.