The Earth: Big Mama Needs Our Love

Happy Earth Day, 2009! OK, we did the perfunctory observance, like good citizens. Now, is it back to business as usual? Back to polluting and trashing the Earth till next April 22nd?

Since 1970 when the first Earth Day was observed, we may have become more environmentally aware, but have we really accomplished much in the way of affecting significant change in the way we relate to our Mother? Seems like we've gone on trashing her just as badly, if not more, as we did before we gave her her own special day. Shouldn't every day be Earth Day?

We may have more awareness about the plight of Big Mama, we may feel good about recycling and using environmentally friendly products, but when it comes right down to it, we're still the source of Mama's biggest problem. Her children just can't seem to get along.

This sibling rivalry theme we've been acting out for thousands of years -- aren't we long overdue to give that one up? How can we ever expect to live harmoniously with the Earth if we can't get it together to live in harmony with each other?

If Earth is our Mama then we're all her children and if we're all her children, then we must be family. Yet the vast majority of us walk the earth, as foreigners to the planet, like tourists who've arrived from some other land. We're strangers to our Mother, ourselves, and each other; separated from knowing our true nature.

In survival, we descend to our lowest common denominators: aggression, competition, greed, scarcity, suspicion of those who don't look or sound like us. Remember the cowboys and the Indians? We're still at it. The outcome is what we've got; war, climate crisis, poverty, hunger and disease, conflict.

Or as the Buddha called it: suffering. We suffer here. We suffer because we've forgotten who we are. We treat each other, our family members, as enemies. We treat our Mother like she's our slave.

Is that any way to treat the one who has protected us, and with the true loyalty of a mother, has always been here for us? With great love, she has held us, given us our home, our food, our water, our place to unfold and become who we came here to be.

But today, our Mama weeps. She weeps because she knows the hour is late and her health is deteriorating rapidly. She's developed severe hot flashes, asthma, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome and congestive heart disease. You try thriving under those conditions!

Let's face it, we've been brats. We've been disrespectful and abusive. We've been out of control addicts with no regard for the consequences of our actions, taken at her expense. Like most spoiled children, we've taken Big Mama for granted.

Poor Mama has been trying hard to get our attention for centuries. Up until now, we haven't cared much about her problems. Many still doubt the scientific evidence of her decline, so we've acted like a bunch of drunken pirates, robbing her of her dwindling resources, polluting her skies and her seas, and overpopulating the land, securing our dominion at the expense of our own futures.

Alas! It is questionable whether we're going to pull off turning things around in time to save our Mama. Looks like she might to save herself. But to save herself, will it require her to destroy us?

What is that strange instinct some animals have to eat their own babies? Research has shown that adult animals cannibalize their young if their own survival is threatened. Has Big Mama reached this point with us?

Consider the plight of the polar bear, our most endangered animal. Conservationists say the polar bear will become extinct in a little over 40 years if action is not taken now to tackle climate change.

Global warming is destroying the polar bears' main habitat at such an increasing rate; the U.S. National Geological Survey predicts 2/3 of their habitat in Alaska will be destroyed by 2050. As the sea ice melts and their food sources decline, polar bears are forced to swim further and further to distant ice floes, the arduous swim causing many to drown in the process. Some may reach a disconnected floe and be trapped, unable to return.

According to Polar Bear SOS, a campaign of the National Defense Resources Council:

Some polar bears have even been recorded cannibalizing other bears, including a female polar bear in her maternal den. This extreme behavior has never been observed in decades of polar bear study.

Is the polar bear Big Mama's messenger? Are we the ultimate polar bears on the food chain? Is it already too late for them and for us? Not if we focus our awareness and get committed to making major changes in how we live, starting now.

With the Obama administration in place, we are poised to begin taking action in the direction of tackling our climate crisis. But each of us must do our part, right where we are. Yes, we must expand the development of Mama-friendly technologies, break our dependence on foreign oil, drive less and in fuel efficient cars and use earth friendly products. But there's more. We must also come together as her children, see ourselves as family and unite as one.

I couldn't have picked a more appropriate video to share with you than the one you're about to see. It comes from The Global Oneness Project. This is the shortened version. I encourage you to take the time to view the 20-minute version on their web site. Its story is both beautiful and alarming.

We live on the most glorious piece of real estate in the universe. Shouldn't we be willing to pay any price to make it right with Mama? In the end, it is our own hides we're saving.

Here are 3 things you can do everyday, to help take care of Mama and unite the family:

1) Treat yourself with love, kindness and respect and let that be the way you treat the rest of Big Mama's children.

2) Let every day be your Earth Day observation. When you honor your own mother this Mother's Day, let's also honor our Earth Mama. Remember her on Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, etc. Use any excuse to celebrate our Mother.

3) Wake up each day and let gratitude be your first thought. Let it be the wings that carry you through your day. Gratitude banishes darkness and opens the door to loving life fully. Walking in gratitude automatically places you in skillful thinking and skillful actions. Extend that gratitude to the rest of Big Mama's children wherever you go.

We don't have to wait for the government to legislate change in order for us to change how we think and act. Big Mama now has 6.7 billion children and our family is expected to reach 9 billion by the year 2040. If we think we have problems now, imagine what it'll be like for those who come after us?

The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.

Imagine those words of thanks coming from the future and do the right thing today.
Let us hear from you. How will you make it right with Big Mama today? Please leave your thoughts and comments below. Your voice matters!

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Now, go love your Mama!

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Comments

[Min421]

Global warming is one of the most popular topic among people. Although we have found some ways to save our environment, there are still so many problems exist. that's why I really agree with you that everyday should be the Earth Day. if everyone could pay attention to it, then our earth would have less burden. i felt very sad when it comes to the polar bears. especially when you mentioned that some polar bears cannibalize other bears, which was an unusual record. this made me think about Darwin's Evolution. I am thinking that maybe one day same thing would happen among our people if we did not take any action. our earth gave us food and a beautiful place to live. however, more and more species were extinct. the balance has been destroyed. since we are all living in the same world, it is important to protect our nature and animals. if everyone can do a little bit more, it will make a huge difference. in order to give our next generation a nice place, we should take it serious. thank you for sharing your thoughs which make me think a lot.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Min421,

Yes, and thank you for this thoughtful comment. Evolutionary biologists tell us we're in the 7th major extinction period. The hour is late. I don't say this to scare people, just to raise awareness.

Thank you for doing what you can to pay it forward and make a difference for our future generations.

All the best to you,
Judith

[Dave24]

The planet is fine: It is we humans and many of our biological kin who are screwed. There is a difference.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dave 24,

Is there a difference? The Gaia principle says the Earth is a single living organism. We're like fleas on an elephant in relationship to her. If we destroy the atmosphere, we're all screwed, aren't we?

She'll probably flick us off to save herself. Serves us right. I do agree that we are the guilty parties, but our "sins" have not taken place without consequence to Mama. Perhaps you're saying that she is capable of overcoming our transgressions against her and can bounce back. I hope that's the case, but it doesn't look good at the moment.

Thanks for your comment. I appreciate your stopping by.

Best,
Judith

[Dave24]

There are many species that will thrive under warmer conditions; certainly extremophiles won't have any care about what's going on at the surface. The planet is always active, though it seems influenced by Man's industrial output of the last century. However, my point is that *our* survival is threatened: the planet itself is not in peril.

And the Gaia principle is more a hypothesis than a concrete theory. Thanks to you as well.

- Dave

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

Love it sistah!
I just got here now and what a great article. It made me laugh, made me think and made my heart both heavy and light at the same time.

I love the playful images of the earth's children being the brats who can't get along, and mother deciding to eat her children as ultimate punishment.
I loved the video clip as well. Very moving and powerful.
You were right on with Robert Redford who also wrote about every day is Earth Day
SUPER JOB!
Kari

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Sistah!

Read KCFreedom's comment below. He points out that the bears are cute until they eat us. Like Big Mama is going to eat us if we don't get it together.

Funny and frightenin­g.........

Thanks for checking in, dear friend. Love to you,
Judith

[KCFreedom]

Those polar bears look pretty cute until they're eating you.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

KCFreedom,

Interesting comment. I assume you're referring to the woman who fell over the fence into the polar bear area at some zoo, I forget where. Yes?

So consider this, how many people do you think stray out on to the ice floes in the middle of the Arctic , and get eaten by polar bears? Aren't we the ones who cage them in unnatural habitats?
Polar bears don't expect to find people in their territory. People are food to them.

Like I suggested in the post, maybe Big Mama is talking to us through these cute bears, telling us
we too, will be canabalized if we don't get our act together.

Just a question..­... what do you think about this?

Blessings,
Judith

[KCFreedom]

I was only trying to bring some humor to the thread, although what I said is true.

If I was a polar bear, I'd eat any living thing I came across on my ice, too. No natural predators except humans.

I fear for our earth just like you. We are running out of clean air, water and earth. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

[KCFreedom]

Judith,

I forgot to mention that I think the Native Americans had it right.

Hunt for only what you can eat, and don't waste any part of the animal that can be used for something. Also, don't pollute the "Great Spirit's" land or he will get angry. I think the "Great Spirit" is getting angry. Perhaps we will see "his/her" wrath sooner rather than later and goes right along with what you're saying.

Peace,

KC (Jim)

[mick7191]

And some day the girl will give us the boot, regardless of what we do.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

mick7191,

At some point, yes she will. Meanwhile, until then, what we do matters. Let's hope our eviction papers come later, rather than sooner. The way we've been going, it looks like Big Mama is getting the papers ready as we speak. We've been "bad" tenants on the property. Best we clean up our act, don't you think?

Blessings to you and thanks for your comment,
Judith

[mick7191]

Thanks for answering.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Judith This so wonderful and appropriate - wonderful wonderful- and thank you-

I love polar bears - so also thank you frostpaw

Great message for Earth Day

Judith you are a winner

Big Love,

Ed

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Big Eddy,

You're the poster child for what Big Mama loves! She loves it when her children walk in grace and gratitude and champion their family.

You're a wonderful example of what we need more of here in Mama's land.

Big Mama Love,
Judith

[Akat1973]

What a Beautiful and inspiring post!! My Native American relatives and friends have long held these beliefs, tried to express them, and live as one with Our Mother Earth. You are so right,EVERY DAY SHOULD BE EARTH DAY!! We must repect and protect Mother Earth's life giving forces,or it will be taken away. Wonderful article,thank you

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank YOU Akat1973, for affirming that every day should be Earth Day!

I was so amazed yesterday, April 22nd, at the number of people I encountered who had "forgotten" it was Earth Day. A woman was standing behind me in the check out line at Trader Joe's, wearing all green. I asked if she was celebrating Earth Day by wearing green. She said "Oh, right, I'd forgotten it's today. I just like green". The grocery checker and bagger both exclaimed they'd forgotten and this is at Trader Joe's, an earth friendly store! I went to the gym, same thing.

We have a LOT of work to do just to raise awareness and this is after nearly 40 years of formally honoring the Earth on April 22nd.

Thank you so much for being an aware child of Big Mama.

She loves you and so do I,
Judith

[Dr. Cara Barker - Huffpost Blogger]

Not only do I love what you've written, including the three things we can do that are really doable, but, once again, your video is so powerful. I can feel your fierce passion behind the message, and I could not be more aligned.

Thanks, as always, Judith, for stepping out and reminding us all of the importance of working together as One. Our future rides on our resolve to do better, together.

Love to you and Our Big Mama,
Cara

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Cara,

I know how you align with our Big Mama. She's the Girl!

Yes, fierce passion is a good way to put it. Thanks for putting those words on it.

Congrats to you on a fabulous post today. Big Mama is smiling.

Love to you,
Judith

[sfdcubfan]

As a relatively new vegan, not only have I changed my dietary lifestyle, but I dumped all animal product from my wardrobe as well. I have learned that my methane footprint is far greater than my carbon footprint (insert joke here), because the factory farms are far more destructive to Mama's air and waterways than the coal producing plants (to the tune of 130 times).

For those who are pro-life, understand that you have failed Creation as much as any pro-choice person when you choose to only put a value (and control) on human life. You can hold signs of aborted fetuses and then in the same breath complain about the PETA "whack jobs" and the work the volunteers do. It makes no sense.

By not valuing all of Mama's children as precious, we will continue to fail Creation and fail Mama Earth.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear sfdcubfan,

I'm chuckling at the (insert joke here) part, what with the methane "footprint" and all. You're right, our inconsistent values in this domain do not make sense.

I've never understood how pro-lifers can defend the unborn fetus yet not value human life once we're born. Writing this post, I so felt Mama's sadness at our neglect of one another.

The question is: will we wake up in time?

Thanks for caring enough about this issue to leave your comment.

Many blessings to a fine and thoughtful child of Mama,
Judith

[athenasword]

"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard". When I read this I thought of the tribal peoples who make decisions by looking ahead 7 generations - considering the future effects of their actions in the present. As a culture, we need to become able to think and respond in this way. Caring for our Big Mama, each other and our children's children is one and the same.

Thanks for a great post, Judith.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Good to see you here, athenasword,

Thanks so much for bringing forward the awareness of the indigenous consciousness of 7 generations. Actually, I think they look 7 generations in both directions, so it's really 14 generatons that are impacted by what we do. According to this tradition as I understand it, our choices, well made, reach back 7 generations to heal the lineage that came before and extend out 7 generations to set the context for those who follow.

It's a powerful context to be sure! We absolutely need to think and respond this way.

May the blessings of 14 generations be with you,
Judith

[JFaye]

Let every day be earth day ... what a wonderful spirit. Absolutely, Big Mama needs our love; more importantly we need to love ourselves more and our children as we walk this earth.... to do so would raise our consciousness for what we bring collectively to life: healing and wholeness and do our part for the benefit of the whole.

Found a good deal on re-useable water bottles; https://www.tappening.com/

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Great web resource for re-useable water bottles! Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving something behind.

Big Mama love,
Judith

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Judith,
What an incredible post. The Earth is our Big Mama. Thank you so much for making that wonderful analogy.
Bless you for giving us practical tools to love Big Mama. We are a family.

We need to love ourselves and embrace Big Mama with that same caring,

Love,
Eli Davidson

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Sister in Big Mama's family,

It's good to know she has daughters such as you! You're one of her more stellar offspring!

Keep on shining, you're brilliant!

Big Mama Love,
Judith

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Hello Judith,

Lovely post - thank you! As I look out to a quite calm sea and clear blue sky, I feel enormous gratitude for being here. I sense the immense power of the sea, deceptively "innocent" to look out upon. But the depths, the life contained by it, the currents and the sheer vastness of it to the horizon and beyond fill me with awe.

I ask that God's blessings extend all over our Dear Planet, to all peoples, life forms and inanimate objects - that we may grow to appreciate them more and more. That is my Earth Day observation for today!

I really appreciate the awareness you are raising here.

With much love to you,
Anne

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Anne,

Thank you for the beautiful blessing you left here. I feel the love and the gratitude that holds your words. I too, am filled with awe just reading what you wrote.

Big Mama is smiling, knowing that you, her child, are doing your part to honor her.

Love from her and me,
Judith

[Frostpaw]

The Endangered Species Act is our most important tool for protecting the polar bear and other animals and plants on the brink of extinction. Yet one of President Bush’s last acts in office was to issue regulations weakening the protections the polar bear and other listed species receive. On the campaign trail, President Obama pledged to revoke Bush’s Endangered Species Act regulations, and Congress then granted his Interior Secretary Ken Salazar a golden opportunity to rescind the rules entirely with no more than the stroke of a pen, but this special authority extends only until May 9th. Ask him to protect the polar bear and other species by rescinding the Bush rules at www.savethepolarbear.org.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Frostpaw,

Thank you, thank you for sharing your thoughts here and raising awareness around the plight of the polar bear. We need to take action on this immediately. I hope our readers will click on the link you included and let our voices be heard.

Many blessings,
Judith