As a biologist and commons activist, and an avid meditator with a universalist bent, i always look forward to the Spring Festivals, Holidays, and Holy Days of celebration and renewal. I tend to think of April (Passover – Earth Day – Easter), May (Beltane – International Workers Day – The Buddhist Festival of Wesak) and June (The Great Journey of Muhammad - Solstice – World Invocation Day) as a time of spiritual reinvigoration on the planet.
Much as Hindus see divinity in a multitude of forms, and Taoists in all paths, i hold the dream that someday a critical mass of humanity will treat the Earth and all her children — minerals, plants, animals, humans… including all Earth’s systems and cultures — as treasured spiritual teachers. We will then begin to appreciate what it means to have unity in diversity, interconnected global citizens.
Stop Tar Sands: A Carbon Bomb equal in destructive power to an atomic bomb
So when i received these creative messages of upcoming action from a fellow Earth Activist, i felt moved to share it … he astutely perceives that there will be myriad paths towards building the comprehensive global movement for justice and sustainability that many of us wish to foster.
His writing from Down Under helps us to honor yet another perspective (and seasonal cycle!), and he celebrates the fact that we will have many approaches to address our global crises. I wrote from a similar angle recently about the varied and complementary means for system shift of the World Social Forum, Occupy and the Commons Movement.
My friend, Derek, gives an overview of the major happenings across movements: Occupy (May 1-12), the Climate Impacts Day (May 5), and the Freedom Train of the First Nations (April 28-May 9) drawing attention to the tragedy he has dedicated his life to stopping — the exploitation of the Canadian Tar Sands (ISTSD, May 5). The Tar Sands development is considered by many to be an international crime of Ecoside.
Derek and his partner Cheree have spared no effort, and like so many young people i have met in Occupy and other environmental and social movements of today, they have dedicated their lives to transitioning this broken global system towards one of greater justice, sustainability and unity. Who knows what dreams May come of these high aspirations and earnest efforts, but one thing is sure, all can contribute to this global transformation… And i’m betting it will be bigger than anyone imagines!
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