Photo:  Cathy O’Keeffe pbvm

Life adapts.  Life remembers.  Life learns.  (Journey of the Universe, Brian Swimme, Mary Evelyn Tucker p.61 2011).  There are moments, mostly unanticipated, which break through our everyday patterns of activity and thought processes: the angle of golden light on golden grasses, the survival of a reptile in harsh environments, the soft fog moistening my face, the mutual influence between predator and prey.   Life’s creativity, honed over billions of years, holds patterns and processes which we humans are only just beginning to see and understand. Thus we can only have a glimmer of the significance of our actions for the future.  Since we have become a planetary presence our challenge is to adapt to Earth’s patterns, to remember Earth’s creativity, to learn from the wisdom of the process which long precedes us and will continue beyond our existence.

We seek to learn new ways

The Gifts of the Universe: living into gratefulness.  A few places remain for this event made possible by Dr Larry Edwards’ first visit to Australia, jointly sponsored by EarthSong, The Centre for Ecology and Spirituality Glenburn, and Edmund Rice Centre ‘Amberley’.  Click here for details:  The Gifts of the Universe

EarthSong Annual Symposium: Celebrating the Antarctic.  Keynote speaker Bernadette Hince  travelled to Antarctica in the summer of 03/04. Bernadette is based in Canberra where she works as a natural history writer and science editor.   Other presenters and workshop leaders include Mark O’Loughlin and Melanie Mackenzie, and we’ll hear recordings of the natural sounds of this amazing continent from the work of Philip Samartzis, Coordinator of Sound in the School of Art RMIT University.  Join us.

We are being called into a new place

‘Turning the Titanic’ Public forum, 7.30 p.m. Tuesday 15th May, 699 Doncaster Rd Doncaster.   Guest Facilitator: David Spratt.  Sponsored by A Grand Stand for the Environment Inc.

 Every choice matters:   Fairtrade fortnight 5 – 20 May  Learn more and find out how to be part of Fair Trade Fortnight at facebook.com/fairtradeau and facebook.com/fairtrademovement Fair Trade Fortnight is Australia and New Zealand’s biggest annual celebration of all things fair trade. With events, activities and promotions happening across both countries, fairtrade fortnight gives each of us the opportunity to celebrate the life-changing difference our Fairtrade Certified choices make for millions of developing country farmers, producers, their families and communities.

Are you a bigfoot?  Measure your Footprint:  http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/people_and_the_environment/human_footprint/footprint_calculator/  It’s sobering to think that Australians have one of the largest environmental footprints per capita in the world. In fact, we’re consuming more than three times our fair share of the planet’s natural resources. How many planets does it take to support your lifestyle? Find out how your lifestyle is impacting on the environment and what you can do to reduce your impact. Click here

Towards Earth Literacy

Active Hope:  How to face the mess we’re in without going crazy.  Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, Finch, Sydney, 2012.  Renowned for her skill in working with communities to bring healing, hope and reconnection in the midst of devastating realities, Joanna Macy’s latest book co-authored with Chris Johnstone, medical doctor and addiction specialist, builds on, synthesizes and clarifies processes articulated in previous works. Paths of ‘right action’ and ‘right relationships’ provide a simply expressed, deeply moving framework for living with integrity in the midst of crisis.  For those searching for a way to participate in Earth’s next manifestation this book holds deep wisdom.