We are the Earth

Every year on April 22, Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the planet we call home. Yet, in the face of intensifying climate crises, environmental degradation, and systemic injustices, it has become clear: symbolic gestures and hashtags are no longer enough. Honoring the Earth requires a radical reimagining of our relationships with nature, one another, and the systems that shape our world. We must imagine: We are the Earth.

8 billion humans, 2.2 million animal species, and more than 400,000 plant species inhabit this planet (UNEP, 2023). Too often, we treat the planet as an endless supply depot—something to be mined, exploited, and consumed.

But the Earth is not a commodity; it is a living, breathing organism—interconnected, sacred, and finite. We are not separate from nature, but an extension of it.

Climate change does not affect everyone equally. Across the globe, environmental harms often fall heaviest on those who have contributed the least to the crisis—Indigenous communities, low-income families, and nations in the Global South. From resource-driven conflicts in the Global South (Global Witness, 2022) to Indigenous resistance against extractive industries and marginalized communities facing food insecurity and destabilizing climates in Peel Region, the same systems that exploit the Earth are also exploiting people.

To truly honor Earth Day, we must challenge the systems that prioritize profit over life, dismantle the structures of ecological exploitation, embrace sustainable, community-led solutions, and fight for social and environmental justice.

Our relationship with Earth is a part of our spirituality. Our ancestors’ knowledge about ecology played a key to the evolution of homo sapiens from hominids, and even modern ecological thought reminds us that nature is not separate from us—it is a part of us. When we walk through a forest, breathe in the ocean air, or witness the resilience of a tiny sprout breaking through concrete, we are reminded that life is sacred.

Earth Day should be a time of reconnection, our spirituality must be transformed from individuality to complementarity with nature. We must learn to listen to the rhythms of our natural world—trust me, it is hard, but we can take baby steps by:

• Cultivating gratitude for the ecosystems that sustain us.
• Recognizing nature as a teacher and protector, we move beyond mere conservation and into a deeper, more meaningful stewardship of our planet.
• Planting trees and flowers for the new season.
• Taking a walk through the forest.
• Appreciating the ancestors for their knowledge that has made us survive.
• Understanding the deeply important social problems that affect our planet.

Earth Day is beyond individual responsibility, we should hold systems accountable for any damage they cause to our climate and environment. While recycling and planting trees are commendable, which I believe everyone should be part of, they do not address the root causes of ecological and environmental devastation. We need policies that protect biodiversity, ensure clean water and air for all, and transition to sustainable energy.

So, what can you do? You can join us on May 31 at the Grow Green Festival in Brampton to learn more about local climate action. It's a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, discover how you can get involved, and explore the efforts being made right here in our community. We’d love to see you there!

Happy Earth Day from The CCC!

References

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2023). Global Biodiversity Outlook.
• Global Witness. (2022). Defending Tomorrow: The Climate Crisis and Threats Against Land and Environmental Defenders.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2023). Sixth Assessment Report – Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability.
• Bullard, R. D. (2000). Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality.
• Shiva, V. (2005). Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace.