Earth Day 2020
It feels like we are at the negotiation table with the planet. Both sides are in the process of revealing their stance. On the one hand, humanity is exhibiting its spectrum of wants - from the bare minimum we must do for survival to the way we wish to live. On the other side, the planet always shows us the consequences of our actions. As nice as it would be for the planet to be neutral in regards to what we do in our day to day decisions about consumption, we know this isn’t the case. And as nice as it would be for the planet to “be on our side” or “want to see us succeed”, let’s not be afraid to acknowledge that it doesn’t have a preference about the outcome. The planet will continue to orbit the sun with or without us - whether it’s habitable or not. The only one that stands to gain or lose a future is we ourselves.
The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has effectively frozen any economic activity outside of that which is “necessary to sustain life”. It has forced us to reflect on things we’ve taken for granted: Freedom of movement. Freedom to gather. Freedom to shake hands. This new reality has reduced our week to three days: yesterday, today, and tomorrow because anything beyond those limits is deflating to think about. As a result, it feels appropriate to ask, “How can I be mindful of my environmental impact when entire grocery store aisles lay bare and I’m forced to buy what’s available?” And more poignantly, “Why do my actions matter in a future that I cannot imagine?”.
So what are we to do? The most immediate answer is to survive. But for those of us surviving and simply “waiting for the economy to open back up”, it would be a missed opportunity not to reflect further. So, what do we stand to gain from reflecting on our circumstances and the earth itself? Why is something like that worth our time and energy? To begin with, just as we benefit and flourish from the deep thought and reflection done by previous generations, the generations that follow us will be able to use the fruit of our pondering to enrich their life experience.
In addition, today is Earth Day, after all, and it is through such reflection that we will deepen our understanding of the situation we are in right now and, perhaps, what we might do once the pandemic is over.
So, if the planet is telling us our current approach to consumption has flaws, and we are able to identify and reflect on the consequences of our approach, how should we adapt? How are we willing to adapt? As a community? As individuals? What changes are we willing to make? Life doesn’t close a door without opening another, so what new idea or opportunity could a change lead to? We’ve been given the gifts of consciousness and free will to pursue these questions and handle these moments. We should not be afraid to change our habits if our motivation is to break away from that which we know will continue to harm us. We must envision the outcome we want and make agreements with one another about how to proceed if the goal of change is to get to a place where we all thrive on this planet.
The Blu-nit Organization would be naïve not to acknowledge the correlation between one’s socio-economic standing and the ability to pivot. The stark reality is that the closer a person is to the poverty line the more that person will likely be stuck in survival mode throughout the year. It’s also true that the more financial resources a person has, the more likely their consumption practices can, and often do, grow. The truth is that while we have a collective responsibility to care for a planet we share, those with more financial resources have a greater responsibility as well as opportunity to weigh every consumption decision in relationship to its contribution to the total carbon footprint of the human community.
So as our collective negotiation with the planet moves forward, The Blu-nit Organization is encouraging you to get to know yourself better. Put all your cards on the table. Know where your line of survival is, and then reflect on any abundance you may have beyond that and how you spend it. If for no other reason than to bring clarity to your personal negotiation with the planet.
We hope this message finds you and your loved ones doing well, staying safe, and in good spirits. Talk soon.
Mitchell Cetuk
Founder The Blu-nit Organization