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Dear Heaven Maker:
There have been two major events recently about Our Environment.
One is The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report which says:
“It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.”
They recommend:
“limiting human-induced global warming to a specific level requires limiting cumulative CO2 emissions, reaching at least net zero CO2 emissions, along with strong reductions in other greenhouse gas emissions. Strong, rapid and sustained reductions in CH4 emissions would also limit the warming effect resulting from declining aerosol pollution and would improve air quality.”
The second is Ecocide, which is mass environmental destruction, and it would become an international crime similar to genocide and war crimes under a proposed new legal definition. Twelve lawyers from around the world spent six months coming up with a draft definition:
‘Ecocide’: “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.”
Ecocide would be the only crime in which human harm is not a prerequisite for prosecution. “There are elements of human harm that can be included (in the definition), but it also extends to damage, per se, to ecosystems,” said Jojo Mehta, chair and co-founder of the Stop Ecocide Foundation. “So effectively you’re looking at something that has, at least in part, potential to be a crime against nature, not just a crime against people.”
The IPCC report and ‘Ecocide’ point to the deeply worrying condition of Our Environment.
A non-healthy environment is a direct threat against you and humanity.
There are two possible responses:
Hell on Earth:
You can completely give up. “It’s overwhelming.” “There’s nothing I can do.” “What difference can I make?”
(Imagine all 7.8 billion people in the world thinking this way. That will only make things much worse!)
OR
Heaven on Earth:
You say, “OK, I get that’s the way it is now. I’m getting to work and turning this around starting today. I’m taking simple, concrete actions that I CAN TAKE to begin this process. I’m talking with my family, friends, and colleagues. I’m lobbying my politiicians!”
(Imagine all 7.8 billion people in the world thinking this way. That will only make things better!)
This is the time in the evolution of humanity to take a stand. This is the time in our unfolding collective story when you as an individual, and you as a member of humanity, need to use your power, your agency, to do your duty and begin our new story.
Be Heaven on Earth for Our Environment … an idea whose time has come.
Thank you!
Love,
Martin
Martin Rutte
