Walking Softly on the Earth

This has been the sort of week that puts us in mind of why we need to continue to care deeply about the Earth and the environment. With a major earthquake and Tsunami on the West Coast and a devastating hurricane wreaking havoc on the East, it was difficult in the last few days not to at least cast a thought to the worst possible outcomes. But it’s hard for me not to think that, at least on a certain level, that’s a bit of a cop out. I mean, sure: there is such a thing as force of nature. There are elements and matters over which we can have no control. But there is evidence at hand that indicates that Hurricane Sandy may have been, to quote the Guardian newspaper, “supersized by climate change.” That is, while the hurricane itself was not attributable to climate change, some of the more devastating effects we saw over the last few days probably were. Sea surface temperatures are higher as is the overlying atmospheric temperature and the results were sad to see.

There is much debate on whether or not our actions could have at least minimized the intensity of the hurricane. On a personal level, though, the message seems very clear: though it’s easy to see our environment as robust, self-contained and untouchable, we need to stay cognizant of the delicate balances at play and, more importantly, the places where we can impact those balances in both negative and positive ways.

We try to do that every day at Dancing Deer Farm and the Center for ReUniting Families. Not only on a personal level, but in the widest way we can, in the form of various educational and community outreach programs. Laura Albers, the Education Director at the Center for ReUniting Families is deeply immersed in all aspects of both our programs and the various goings on at Dancing Deer Farm. Laura will be making occasional reports from Dancing Deer and CRF in this space. Her voice is warm and her vision clear and we look forward to her contributions.

Meanwhile, think forward from this eventful week. If we’re to take away one thing, remember that the Earth is delicate and requires our careful and conscious stewardship. Walk softly as you move ever forward.

“Teach your children that we have taught our children that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of earth...  This we know, the earth does belong to man: man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected…" -- Chief Seattle, 1851