Earth Day-Remember the Connection
Earth Day began in 1970 as a protest. It was students, teachers, farm workers and frontline communities who demanded clean air, clean water and accountability from industries and governments that were poisoning the planet. These protests paved the way for the creation of key environmental protections.
Every year, on April 22, we remember that the Earth is the place where we live, create, are and are. The Earth that constantly gives life, nature, water, science and magical processes; that feeds and nourishes us. When thinking about the earth and all that it encompasses, it is difficult to concretize all that it means to commemorate a day towards it. Specifically, I am struck by the most direct connection we have with the earth in our daily lives: food. This leads me to reflect; do we know where our food comes from? What is the much talked about Food Sovereignty? What is the difference between Food Security or Food Sovereignty? What is the influence of consumerism habits as a factor? As we begin to put these questions on the table, it is clear that the price that the Earth and we ourselves are paying for the way we consume is very high. It is increasingly undeniable that our food has and will continue to have an irreversible negative impact on our planet if we do not change our consumption habits.
Lately I have noticed that we are in a time of disconnection with the processes involved in where our food comes from. In general, not just talking about food, we don't know the origin of many products or what is involved in their manufacture. It is very common that when we talk about the Earth, the topic of climate change comes up, but when we start linking climate change to food, people start to lose the thread. In general, we are still unclear about the relationship between our plate and the impact this has on the planet. For example, in the article, “Consumers horrified to learn that cow's milk is sourced from cows,” I was surprised to learn that we have reached the point where many people were shocked to learn that milk came from cows. And I'm sure this is not the only example. We need to ask: Why has the climate changed so much in the last decade and how does it affect food production?
Sometimes I think about how overwhelming it can be to feel that “it's just me” or to believe that “my small actions have no real impact on a large scale”. Other times, we just don't know where to start, and in those moments it's invaluable to find people with more experience or advice who can guide us along the way. From my perspective, finding a community at Plant Futures has been a deeply enriching experience. Surrounding myself with people who are looking for ways to act consciously in their daily lives has inspired me and taught me a lot; it has been a fundamental support in my own process.
When we talk about the earth, it is essential to remember that we are part of it, and that our health is intrinsically linked to the health of the planet. What we choose to eat impacts not only our environment, but also our mood and overall well-being. Taking care of our food is therefore a way to nourish both our body and our mind.
On the other hand, let's remember that eating is, although it may not seem like it, a political act. Our food choices impact much more than we can imagine. Since ancestral times there has always been much connection to the land from our roots. This sentence from “Indigenous Food and Tradition” really resonates with me:
"...There was a culture of respect for bodies of water, habitats of many fish, as well as the preservation of forests filled with deer, rabbits and a significant diversity of wildlife. It was a unique society in the world that ate everything from insects to flowers; a place teeming with birds.
We are heirs of a great, autonomous culture, which developed an original and different system from the Eurasian civilization, with its own, original and different worldview, with an impressive development of architecture, engineering, urban planning, agriculture, mathematics, astronomy and botany. It had its own worldview, original and different, with an impressive development of architecture, engineering, urban planning, agriculture, mathematics, astronomy and botany, as well as a system of education and health.the basic ingredients of indigenous cuisine include: beans, chiles, nopales, a great variety of herbs, flowers, spices and, of course, corn. Corn is considered sacred in the indigenous tradition. Likewise, it is fundamental to our diet in tortillas, tamales and atole, etc..."
Being heirs to a culture as rich as the one mentioned in the article, I am especially concerned about what is happening in Latin America, where mealtime has traditionally been much more than an act of eating: it is a social, cultural event, a moment in which we nourish not only the body, but also the soul together with our loved ones. However, I observe with concern how this practice is being transformed into a hurried activity, losing part of its deep meaning. This reflection invites us to question not only what we are consuming, but also how ethical and nutritious is what we choose, the importance of supporting the local and ensuring the safety of the food we bring to our table.
Let us take care of the Earth from which we feed. Let us remember that care is a communal act, not just an individual one, and that every action counts! From what we choose to eat to how we relate to our environment, every decision can be a small gesture of healing for the planet.
We invite you to reflect on your consumption habits: from Plant Futures we have created a brief activity to accompany you in this process. In addition, we share with you 7 (daily) actions in favor of the planet, based on recommendations from National Geographic, that you can start incorporating today.
Every day is a new opportunity to honor and protect the Earth. Let's not wait for special dates: every day is Earth Day.
