Mother Earth’s #MeToo Moment: How Social Change Leads to Hope
April 22 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. And normally, we would celebrate Earth Day with community gatherings, street fairs, and public art installations. Nope, not this year. But, social distancing doesn’t have to mean collective disengagement.
The coronavirus demonstrates that we are all in this together, and that collective action is essential to keep us all safe.
Because the coronavirus is a global problem, I believe this is the perfect time to think of ourselves as connected global citizens who are rising up together.
We’ve seen the results of this massive rising up with the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements.
The “Time’s Up” speech that Oprah gave at the Golden Globes was meant as a wake up call for women to know that their time laying dormant is up.
Time’s up for the patriarch to dominate and time’s up for women to stay silent about the abuses they’ve endured at the hands of men.
Time’s also up for Mother Earth.
Time is up for us as inhabitants of the earth to stop denying our role in climate change. Time is up for us humanoids abusing and mistreating our original womb that is this planet.
I’ve been so inspired and motivated by the primal rally call women have screamed into the open: “We are not going to take it anymore.”
If we stand strong and united we can cause a major shift, a major sea change — to use an appropriate expression.
The young generation of planet earth is having its own Time’s Up rally call. We’ve witnessed the school children striking on behalf of our planet, looking at the older generation saying accusingly: “How dare you?” “What legacy are you leaving us?” “Where is the outrage?” “Where is the sense of urgency?” “Our planet is suffering and we have the power to stop it, so why are we not?”
When we see the injustice caused by a few unscrupulous characters we have a right to call it out. It’s necessary to address it and to demand change.
It’s no mystery that both of these movements are happening in tandem.
We are living in a moment where we are finally able to unite as a global nation and we are connected in a way we haven’t been connected ever before in history.
And this connection is fostering innovation and a demand for justice… and most of all: HOPE!!!
I, personally, am inspired and hopeful by what I am seeing and witnessing. It’s easy to look at a seemingly hopeless situation and feel despondent and inactive.
But I choose hope.
I choose to believe in the limitless capacity of the human mind, and innovative spirit to find a way to bring our planet back into alignment.
The parallels between the way we are demanding respect for women the way we are demanding respect for Mother Earth is no coincidence. It’s empowering.
The time is now.
If you want to join my rally cry for Mother Earth, here are some organizations and initiatives that bring me HOPE. I strongly encourage you to check them out and get involved:
Natural Resource Defense Council
Behind the scenes I’ve been hard at work creating a movement to become a green certified business.
In 2020 I reached a major milestone and became certified through the California Green Business Network
(I was THE very first business in North County San Diego to reach this achievement. Yes, humble brag!!)
I went through a comprehensive process — you can follow along with my Green Business journey here:
If YOU are interested in learning more about being green (both in your home life and in business) please feel free to reach out to me, I am happy to share my resources with you.
Yes woman! I am with you in this! Mother Nature is done whispering the message. Sea Legacy is another one to add to the list. Thank you for all you’ve done and are doing to support these causes.
thanks for the insight Laura!!