Sunday, April 7, 2013

Tribute to Earth Day (Part II)



 “Earth Day” (April 22),  although not a national holiday, is a day on which events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment.  It was designated as International Mother Earth Day by the United Nations in 2009 ~  now celebrated in more than 175 countries yearly.

The SUN with its family of 8 planets (now that the distant ice-covered Pluto is no more a planet) make our Galaxy...the Milky Way.  Earth turned out to be the luckiest!  It is the only planet where life became possible, at least as far as our knowledge goes.  Life in its beautiful forms developed here...be it humans, animals and birds, plants or marine life.

The one thing that made Earth unique was the presence of the superb form of intelligent  life called the human race.  But somewhere along the way, the human race lost its humanity, forgot to acknowledge the planet that gave it life...and used its resources ruthlessly. 

The world now marks Earth Day to make the human race realize the importance of the Mother Earth: it is usually celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform arts of service to Earth....including planting trees, picking up roadside and park trash, embarking on various programs for recycling and conservation.  It is a time to call for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction.

Words of Awareness:

Someone is sitting in the shade today
because someone planted a tree here 20 years ago!
(author unknown)

Four Seasons ~
(How blessed we are!)

The fields are rich with daffodils,
A coat of clover cloaks the hills,
And I must dance, and I must sing
To see the beauty of the Spring.

The earth is warm, the sun's ablaze,
It is a time of carefree days;
And bees abuzz that chance to pass
May see me snoozing in the grass.

The leaves are yellow, red and brown,
A shower sprinkles softly down;
The air is fragrant, crisp and cool,
And once again I'm stuck in school.

The birds are gone, the world is white,
The winds are wild, they chill and bite;
The ground is thick with slush and sleet,
And I can barely feel my feet.

The last is done, the next is here,
The same as it is every  year;
Spring ~ then sunshine ~ autumn ~ snow,
That is how each year must go.

(Lindemberg Pareira da Silva ~ a Brazilian poet)

American Indian Philosophies

American Indians  generally foster a special relationship with Earth as being “one with Mother Earth.”  This means that the Earth nourishes, sustains, and provides life for all found upon it.  All plants, animals, birds, fish, soil and water are recognized as interdependent  and necessary to sustain life.  Indian people also recognize that it is important …to respect, to love and to care for all found upon the Earth so that a future generation of people will be sustained.

Do not judge your neighbour until you walk 2 moons in his moccasins.
Our first teacher is our own heart. Judge not by the eye, but by the heart.  (Cheyenne)

We are made by Mother Earth and we go back to Mother Earth.
It is no longer good enough to cry peace;  we must act peace, live peace
and live in peace.  (Shenandoah ~ Daughter of the Sky and Daughter of the Stars)

I was warmed by the sun, rocked by the winds and sheltered by the trees
as other Indian babes.  (Geronimo, Apache Indian Tribe)

We must protect the forests for our children,
 grandchildren and children yet to be born.
We must protect the forests for those who can’t speak for themselves
such as the birds, animals, fish, trees and plants.  (Qwatsinas)

Crafted by Merle Baird-Kerr…March 3, 2013
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