Our goal is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human creatures and for all living creatures. . .The battle to restore a proper relationship between man and his environment, between man and other living creatures will require a long, sustained, political, moral, ethical, and financial commitment- -far beyond any effort made before. ~ Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson , founder of Earth Day
If we don’t have certain outer experiences, we don’t have certain inner experiences or at least we don’t have them in such a profound way. We need the sun, the moon, the stars, the rivers and the mountains and the trees, the flowers, the birds, the song of the birds, the fish in the sea. All of this evokes something in our inner world, evokes a world of mystery. It evokes a world of the Sacred and gives us that sense of awe and mystery. ~ Thomas Berry
The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and biodiversity… that’s all there is. That’s the whole economy. That’s where all the economic activity and jobs come from. These biological systems are the sustaining wealth of the world. ~ Gaylord Nelson
Practices for Earth Day to feed the spirit.
Happy Earth Day, and for tomorrow: Happy Shakespeare’s Birthday!
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THE DAILY ROUND 
Dear Kitty,
Your love for our Earth and all that is contained within it is palpable. The pictures you have shared here with us, is like a mother proudly showing us moments and captures of those precious little ones in her life. We run a little neighbourhood children’s class once a week in our home and part of what we hope to impart to the children is a love and wonderment for all creatures great and small. All things wise and wonderful. May we infuse them with this same reverence and magic you have in your heart. Sharon
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Thank you, Sharon…yes, I’ve been in love with the earth and have deeply felt our kinship all of my life. Glad you like the “family photos.” What a great gift you are offering the children who come to you each week! 🙂
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Happy earth day, Kitty. I enjoyed your post. The pictures, and the quotes added much to the message, and I’m sure that most of your readers and probably most of the people of the world would like to see a world with less pressures, and more regard for all the living creatures on this earth. But I have to take issue with Gaylord Nelson, on his claim that the sustaining wealth of the world, and in fact the whole economy is built on natural resources. Let’s not forget that the richest man in the world these days, Bill Gates, made his fortune by way of intellectual development. And so too, we have seen the world become easier and more comfortable for many of the poor and the disadvantaged as a result of continuous technological and intellectual progress. We will be able to do so much more if we look at the world around us objectively, without always trying to push a specific agenda.
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Thank you, Shimon; I appreciate your visit and views, but support Nelson’s understanding, which I don’t believe precluded other riches, but only affirmed that without a healthy earth, none are possible. Hard to be financially, intellectually, or artistically creative and productive without food and water.
I also believe agendas are necessary for human evolution to occur. Jesus had an agenda; so did Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Moses, King, and everyone known and unknown whose life changed the world…which, for me, is the invitation to all of us. “Not having an agenda” is an agenda. Without pursuing a specific agenda, slavery would be accepted, women would be property without a vote, children would be laborers in unsafe factories, scientific and artistic advancements would be nonexistent…for me, an “agenda” is that to which one dedicates one’s life. When agendas are destructive, they need to be named and transformed. Currently, our world has an agenda more in favor of exploitation of the earth than in co-creating planetary sustenance, which I will always favor and support.
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Beautiful, Kitty! I am so glad to see your river restored after last year’s drought. Happy Earth Day to you as well. As always, your photos reflect your love of nature and all its beauty.
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Thank you, Lynn. Glad you enjoyed your visit and the photos…no secret that I love the earth passionately, is it? 🙂
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What a good and necessary post Kitty, I couldn’t agree more. I think we have to learn all over again to respect and our planet and all it’s inhabitants. Collectively we need to be less greedy and wasteful. We could learn much from the native Americans and others who only took what they absolutely needed…..most of us are like foxes in a chicken coop, killing needlessly.
Your pics are wonderful, I LOVE the Cormorant, how amazing that you have such stunning wildlife to enjoy.
I’m thrilled your river is high, long may that continue. Here’s to your spring finally arriving!!!
Happy earth day to you and yours.xxxx
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Thank you, Snow Bird; it feels like we’re soul-sisters when it comes to the earth and her well-being…isn’t that cormorant beautiful? It stops here in spring and then moves on, so I’m happy I saw the pair when I had my camera! The blue herons are back, too, which always lifts my spirit.
Yes, we’re so happy the river is up again; here’s hoping for a peaceful summer and greater balance to our rainfall! 🙂
Joy to your week!
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Love the pix….Always wonderful to look at. I just love the ducks that sit on your roof like guards…Happy little campers…All your wee creatures look very at home. Glad to see spring arriving and soon the color will follow. Yea!!! Thanks for sharing. Be at peace within despite the insanity. Blessings….VK
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Almost here: snow may fly Thursday, but in the 70’s this weekend: joy to us! Ducks are so dear; hope they’ll not conflict with our fox, who has proven himself a wonderful hunter. We shall see. Oh, for a peaceable kin-dom! 🙂
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Nature blessed us with another 7 inches of snow last night but we supposedly will experience 50s, 60s and maybe even 70s by Sunday! Can’t wait to climb out of my cave and end this hibernation. By the way, have you had flocks of robins? We have seen well over 50 at a time in the trees. They supposedly have been hesitant to go any further north and they are in full mating stage/rampage so they have been a nervous group of animals. Here’s hoping they find relief in more ways than one this weekend!
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Not flocks, no, though they are plentiful and seem happy. I do love snow but am ready to see more green, and it’s coming. I suppose ALL AT ONCE it will be summer. 😛
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Awesome photos. Another beautiful tribute to this wonderful planet. Thank you!
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She is a beautiful home, isn’t she? Strong and able to heal herself despite our mistreatment, though I believe the time’s come for us to, finally, live more wisely or lose her forever…thank you for your visit and kind comments.
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