Check out my annual “State of Sustainability” conversation with the Planet Earth
Each year, I check in and see how things are going with the home planet. I provide a transcript of our conversation below:
Me: Well Earth, It’s been a year now, how are things?
Earth: I am still fine, but I can’t say the same for the human race
Me: Yes, I figured you would say that, but before we get to that, what about you? How are you doing?
Earth: I’ll be fine. I am 4 billion years old and I have 4 Billion years left to continue to grow and evolve. You humans are just a speed bump in my overall development. I can recover from 12,000 years of damage.
Me: Well that is good to hear. I’d like to think of us as more than just a speed bump. After all we made the Mona Lisa, the Angor Wat, and the Great Pyramids. I mean we are pretty cool right?
Earth: Yes you are “cool” but there is a darker side to your existence – you forgot that you were once on my team. At one time we used to work together to co-evolve. Instead you chose the path of self-interest and destruction.
Me: That’s a bit harsh. We needed to find our own path. We have a right to be comfortable and happy. We are just like any other animal – just scraping to get by and eek out a living.
Earth: Of course you have that right, but you also have self-awareness. remember that story of Eve and Adam?
Me: I remember the story, The Tree of Knowledge, the snake, the Garden of Eden. But before that we were naked and afraid.
Earth: Yes, but you were part of us, part of the team. We were co-evolving. (By the way, doesn’t it make more sense that Eve would have come first :)?
Me: That’s fine, but our life span was just 26 years back then. Life wasn’t really that great. Now we live longer and better.
Earth: Well, some of you live better. In any case, I am still here waiting
Me: Waiting for what?
Earth: I am waiting For your species to rejoin the team. To renew the partnership between me and you – to once again co-evolve to new levels of complexity, and happiness.
Me: That sounds great, but also really hard. How do we start?
Earth: You already have. You have already grown your own tree, eaten your own fruit and laid the seeds of a second Eden – a new era of enlightenment
Me: C’mon, now, you go too far
Earth: Yes, you know all that sustainability stuff you keep hearing about?
Me: I do, but most people don’t care.
Earth: They will, rest assured. As more people take a bite of out of this new tree of knowledge, they will start to see the light and begin to see a new direction for humanity
Me: Well that sounds very high and mighty – a bit of stretch don’t you think?
Earth: Not really, we’ve been through this before. Humanity has its own leaps in evolution, both physically and culturally – you are moving into a new world view
Me: I hope that is true. I like the idea of a new world view and a chance to start co-evolving with you, but I am really worried about climate change and lots of other stuff.
Earth: There is cause for worry, but jumps in evolution are usually preceded by a “down period” You will have to hit bottom. You can dig out. If you don’t, I have my eye on the next species to move forward 😉
Me: So maybe our work on resilience can help us ride out the storm?
Earth: Yep – exactly right, so get busy. But, let me say one more thing: Lately, you have made your job so much harder. You have allowed hate to re-enter your mindset. Now you have a double task: Fight hate in all forms and work to rejoin my team to build a new future for me and you.
Me: I feel really bad about the rise of hate. It also brings fear as well, especially if you are “different” from those wielding power.
Earth: You will get through this.
Me: I know we will but its not pretty right now.
Earth: Stay awake to all forms of hate and raise your voice
Me: Ok Earth, I’ll try. Thanks for the conversation. I’d like to say that I feel better, but I did learn a lot today. I’ll see you next year.
Earth: No problem. I’ll see you next year
Thanks for listening to this conversation. If you are reading this, please write “I am in” in the comment section and share this post with the hashtag. #TheFutureofSustainability
Or feel free to add a comment to the post with your own thoughts.
Thanks for listening,
Rob