'Extinction and the Revolution of Love' Charles Eisenstein

Charles Eisenstein’s article asking for a paradigm shift, has had a massive impact on all of us at The Beacon. I have posted and emailed it to friends and family and it is a constant reference point in conversations here.

Eisenstein sees that CO2 emissions are not the headline issue of the environmental disaster. But, if we look at our planet as a living entity, something we want to love and protect, as we would our family and friends, then our response can be different and so much more powerful. Extinction Rebellion are making demands that the government cannot fulfil.

Eisenstein suggests that the first priority should be to protect all undamaged ecosystems, as they are precious treasures which ‘hold the deep intelligence of the earth’. Secondly, repair and regenerate damaged ecosystems, paying particular attention to local conditions. Thirdly ‘stop poisoning the world with pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, plastics, toxic waste, heavy metals, antibiotics, electromagnetic pollution, chemical fertilizers, pharmaceutical residues, radioactive waste, and other industrial pollutants’

He puts reducing greenhouses gases in fourth place, because it is a consequence of the other priorities. ‘Paradoxically, we do not need to deploy the greenhouse argument to reduce greenhouse gases. The priorities listed above suggest a myriad of concrete, achievable goals of protection and regeneration that, added together, could surpass what the climate movement is calling for, but from different motivation.’

What is most fascinating for me about his view, is that humans are an essential part of a Living Planet, having an evolutionary purpose. Not only that, when we destroy the planet, something of us is destroyed too.

If you read one thing this week, I urge you to take the time to read this..

Sophie 3/4/2020

https://charleseisenstein.org/essays/extinction-and-the-revolution-of-love/