Earthways’ purpose is
to find a deeper understanding of our relationship to the
natural world in order to bring additional light to the wisdom
of our ancestors, the elders that have come before us. This
awareness will help us address some of the problems that face
the entire community of life with whom we share our planet.
Upon realizing the interrelationship of all living things
and becoming conscious of the destructive potential of local
and planetary problems, such as ozone holes and global warming,
it seems clear that action is needed to restore an appropriate
balance.
Misunderstanding our circumstance within this global community
has imposed a huge burden on the community. Humans’ sense
of self importance, of standing outside the larger community,
is the very thing that gives us license to exploit the planet:
by eliminating habitat, by over-consumption, by not paying
attention to what we are all doing.
Economics can not come first. Economic decisions must be woven
with ecological wisdom. To paraphrase Gary Snyder from his
book, Earth House Hold, the word "ecology" means
the planet as a "house and home" . This context
should be the underlying essence of all economic decisions.
We have polluted our home out of ignorance. Will we continue
to spoil our nest? How will we be truly nurtured? The children
of the planet are suffering.
"Developing world" children are dying of malnutrition
and preventable diseases at the rate of 40,000 per day, while
in our society, wealth, fame and influence are compelling
distractions that frequently consume our precious gift of
life. Young people in our country have enough to eat but suffer
deprivation from lack of connection to family, to Nature,
to Spirit; and yet, these are the very things manifested when
we understand the nature of interconnectedness.
So, what are we doing at EarthWays? Again and again I’m
drawn to a poetic phrase from a Kate Wolf song: "We are
crying for a vision that all living things can share".
We are crying within from the anguish of the destruction,
crying tears. We are crying out to bring attention to the
devastation and to find that vision for the Whales and Dolphins,
for the two thousand year old Redwoods being brutally taken
at Headwaters, and for the children dying daily. From this
inward crying comes personal awareness that gives direction
to our desire to take action. Personal transformation is the
first step to global change. From "crying out" comes
an action to contribute, in however small a fashion, to making
things a little better.
We can help to save endangered species and stop destroying
wildlife habitat, and we can reduce pollution in our cities.
We can also change our perception and encourage our friends
to awaken to a new understanding of Human’s relationship
to Nature. Are we, at EarthWays, improving things for the
community of life that Mother Earth has so generously created
to accompany us on our short adventure here? I think that
we are, at least a little. And I also believe that as more
of us become involved things really will improve noticeably.
As more of us become aware that happiness can come from appropriate
relationship to plants and animals and people, the growing
planetary problems will subside. A vision that all living
things can share is complicated. But doing something to help
is simple. Lets all just start there. What is EarthWays? We’re
a group of people trying to do something to help.
Please join us by becoming a member of EarthWays.
Andrew Beath, Founder
(For an expanded explication
of our mission and philosophy please refer to Andrew's book:
Consciousness In Action, the Power of Beauty, Love and Courage
in a Violent Time at www.consciousnessinaction.com )
info@earthways.org
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