Saving everything

It seems that everything needs saving now - whales, blue fin tuna, sharks, orang utangs, sun bears, the list is endless and that is before you start on rainforests, rivers, wetlands and other natural habitats. It is overwhelming and much as I dip in my pocket, it never seems to be enough. I am almost at the point of saying I don't care, simply because the statistics are so daunting and the task so great.

I went to a Transition Town workshop recently where we did an exercise initiated by Joanna Macy. One person (the future) listened whilst the other (the present) talked about what it was like to participate in saving the world (well not quite, but being part of a movement to bring change to a long-suffering world). Another exercise was to look at someone intently (not easy) and imagine their ancestors standing behind them. Afterwards I wondered whether the American Indians might have done this exercise when looking at the white invaders but in reverse - wondering what the future generations of this people would be like, and what world they would get from their ancestors.

I feel sorrowful that the creatures that least deserve it are suffering first, and the creatures that have brought on this world of turmoil and change are suffering least and will definitely suffer last. Why should it be this way? My neighbour apologised the other day for the inconvenience building next door had caused me. Nice as it was, I keep thinking of the people in Africa who have to walk miles each day... and for what? Brackish water. To survive.

My sole consolation in this world of shifting events is the Buddhist saying: Maybe good. Maybe bad. This great turning (Joanna Macy) may go either way, for better or for worse, and that is what we take on when we are born into this world. But now the world is Eaarth rather than Earth, less friendly than friendly, and we know not what we do or where we are headed.