Letters to the Editor

Earth Day a good time

to foster conscience

Earth Day was Friday, April 22. As I reflect on this Earth Day, I feel grateful for every breath of air, bite of food, glass of water and every moment of life the earth sustains. I feel wonder at the rich beauty the earth so generously and abundantly gives. I marvel at the complexity and miracle of creation. I am awed by the place the earth holds in this magnificent universe.

But also, as I reflect on Earth Day, I am heartbroken about the plight of our planet and feel an urgency for humans to develop a conscience about the treatment of the earth. For my own benefit and the benefit of the planet, I need to foster that conscience on a personal level. At the same time, implicit in the development of conscience are the roles of family, community and the institutions of education, religion, and government. How sorely all of these need to participate in the development of awareness and conscience about the treatment of the earth. Just as some conscience has been developed about slavery and the maltreatment of children, a conscience needs to be developed about how we relate to the earth. We need to recognize our dependence on this glorious planet and acknowledge its vulnerability.

Imperative to the development of that conscience is a realistic view of the state of the earth and its resources and an awareness of the consequences to the earth of our choices. I also remind myself that the development of that conscience needs not to be based on any self-righteous moralism, nationalism, political polarization or magical optimism. Crucial to this conscience is a foundation of compassion, love, joy, respect and truth. So, this Earth Day, I hope that every time I take a walk in nature, stare into the heart of a flower, plant a seed, recycle, compost, choose an energy-efficient vehicle or appliance, turn off a light, adjust the thermostat, learn some amazing fact about nature, perform an act of environmental stewardship or activism, inform myself about the state of the environment or skip meat at a meal, I do so in a spirit of love and gratitude to the earth. And I hope this Earth Day that in the coming year, I shall find ever more ways to return to the earth in small measure what it has so lovingly given to me.

Nancy Brown

Bella Vista

Editorial on 04/27/2016