Earth Gratitude: A Better Way to Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Gratitude is an online festival and year-round resource of solutions filled with inspiration for those truly concerned about the health of our planet. Gone are the days that we can afford to drown in terrifying climate-apocalypse narratives. Effective activism now requires a balanced approach between regenerative solutions, community action, self-care, and the sobering statistics about ecological collapse. With special messages from Jane Goodall, the Dalai Lama, Ed Begley Jr. an online film festival, panel discussions, and a kids corner the Earth Gratitude Festival offers a better way to celebrate Earth Day year-round!
We often hear the analogy of placing the oxygen mask on yourself first before attempting to help others on an airplane. The same is true when it comes to global challenges like climate change, water pollution, the destruction of the rainforests, and environmental injustice. We will need to integrate self-care practices and a positive mindset as we build a global community movement of people who are dedicated to healing our environment.
Earth Gratitude is a campaign rooted in love for one’s self, their community, our planet, and the future generations. It also recognizes that our well-being depends on the health of natural elements like the waters, the forests, the oceans, the animals, and the air. This year internationally-acclaimed musical artist, Sia resonated with this message and agreed to allow her song, “Miracle” to be used in the festival campaign video.
During the livestream on the weekend of April 22 Mark Robert Waldman will be presenting a talk called, “What Gratitude Does to the Brain”. Waldman is a neuroscientist, the author of 13 books, and also teaches executive communication, stress reduction, and mindfulness at Loyola Marymount University.
A new paradigm in earth stewardship begins with inner ecology and ripples out from there. This is why one of the panels is titled, Humans 2.0. Topics like cooperative governance, natural health, human potential, and consciousness will be woven together with real-world solutions like regenerative agriculture, emerging technology, economies for sustainability and more. Some of the presenters include John Perkins (Confessions of an Economic Hitman), Rollin McCraty (Founder of the Heartmath Institute and Global Coherence Initiative), Ervin Laszlo (the Laszlo Institute of New Paradigm Research), and others.
Practical home solutions are ways that average citizens can collectively make a huge impact. Ed Begley Jr. has prepared a short video for Earth Gratitude that shows multiple ways that he has made his home more sustainable with a backyard garden, composting, and energy efficiency.
In the Kids Corner you will also see presentations about community/school gardens, youth growing food to sell at local farmers markets, and educational projects that are raising a generation of conscious, earth-active children.
Organic local food security will prove to be invaluable in the future for many reasons and Earth Gratitude will present you with experts in the field. A central theme, in addition to gratitude, will be personal empowerment and accountability as we work together to create a better future.
Pachamama Alliance works with indigenous tribes in the Amazon to protect their culture, livelihood, and the health of the rainforest. The Amazon is a global treasure that sequesters huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, and indigenous people are great role models of natural stewardship. Pachamama Alliance Founders, Lynne and Bill Twist will be presenting a talk called, The Path Forward in 2022.
The event is in collaboration with many groups including Unify, who will be streaming throughout the weekend to their audience of 2 million people worldwide while also hosting a globally-synchronized meditation. In addition there will be an online film festival, various giveaways, free-downloads, an art auction, music, and various other opportunities to celebrate our shared love for the planet.
Earth Gratitude is a new paradigm in community engagement, personal well-being, and collective action to protect, enjoy, and regenerate the planet. The best way to stay in the loop, receive updates, resources, and other content is to visit the Earth Gratitude website where you can also download free e-zines or sign up for a series of inspiring emails called 14 Days of Beauty and Gratitude. We have heard the phrase that Earth Day is every day and now we are seeing an emerging movement that will keep this passion for healing our planet alive all year long!