We need to wake up and fall in love with the earth.
Thich Nhat Hanh
We act like we have all the time in the world. But climate change is already showing its deadly effects. And it will only get worse.
Have a look at some of what we have done to the world so far.
“Without collective awakening the catastrophe will come,” warns Buddhist monk and Nobel Peace Prize winner Thich Nhat Hanh. “Civilisations have been destroyed many times and this civilisation is no different. It can be destroyed.”
But he is hopeful. “If we can produce a collective awakening we can solve the problem of global warming. Together we have to provoke that type of awakening.”
With the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris meeting coming up (COP21), it’s time to wake up, to fall in love with the earth and commit to doing everything we can to turn things around. We will have to make sacrifices — yes — and we need to make a leap.
Small steps will no longer get us to where we need to go. So we need to leap.
I, for one, have signed the Leap Manifesto. This is a vision for how Canada can tackle climate change in a way that changes our country for the better.
The Leap Manifesto is a non-partisan social and political initiative. Those who have signed include supporters of all parties, and some who support none. All share the belief that now is the moment for a transformative agenda to come from outside electoral politics. History tells us that this kind of outside pressure is the best gift any new government can receive.
Will you join us? Make your support your gift to your children, grandchildren and all future generations.
Sherrygaley.com 
gosh, bravo for such an important post on this issue of world wide vital importance. Wow and thank you.
I know what you mean Dotti. I do feel quite discouraged sometimes too. But I am reminded by recent events that our voices and votes can make a difference and that we can all try to get the message out in whatever small ways we can.
I am thankful to people like Naomi Klein for leading the way in describing what this kind of Canada could look like. So agree, Kim.
I have to believe that it is not too late, Sandra. I too wonder what life will be like for future generations. I think we have to get past our addiction to consumption and waste if there is to be any real, positive change though.
You have been in the forefront of this movement for so long now, Laurie. You have paved the way for so many of us and have raised awareness of key environmental issues for many years. I do hope more and more people wake up to the huge risks posed by climate change and participate however they can in being part of the solution.
This is such an important post. I do wish more in the US would wake up to the reality that is right there in front of us. Very discouraging.
I’ve signed it too, Sherry. Definitely a big collective leap is needed. Thanks for this post – your message is a vital one and you’ve expressed it really clearly and well. And I love the image! Who could not fall in love with an earth that is so beautiful, eh?
Is leaping enough now? I often wonder what sort of planet we have prepared for our children and our grandchildren. We need to awaken, for sure. We are lucky to have people like Thich Nhat Hahn, whose whole purpose in life is to help the awakening process in all of us who care to listen.
Beautifully expressed, Sherry. I’ve signed The Leap Manifesto. It describes a Canada I want to live in.