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Care for
the Earth
Metastudies show that 90 percent of scientists worldwide agree that accelerated global warming is caused by humans. This percentage is higher among scientists whose field of expertise is climate than among scientists who are only indirectly involved. Our climate is warming, not without disastrous consequences for both humans and nature.
Globally, the risk of droughts, heatwaves, and floods has increased. This is already causing damage to ecosystems, more crop failures, and major, far-reaching health problems such as the coronavirus pandemic. Nature is a delicate and dynamic system, extremely sensitive, constantly changing and competing for resources such as food and territory. This dance is inherent to nature; everyone takes their place and fulfills a function that will not disrupt the overall balance in the long run.
Humans, on the other hand, have evolved mentally to such an extent that they are capable of placing their own interests above those of others, and of pursuing them on a scale so vast that they surpass every other living being on the planet. But on the other side of this scenario, we can argue that precisely because of this development of our consciousness, we humans also have the freedom, the moral consideration, to avoid harming or causing suffering to our fellow human beings and species (animals, nature, and other people). This means that we can respect the physical, mental, and spiritual integrity of others, whether they are a person, an animal, a plant, or a tree.
I say "can" because this moral awareness is still insufficiently developed in our current societies, especially here in the West. This ignorance, crudeness, or carelessness has led and continues to lead to the disruption of entire ecosystems, the extinction of animal species, the threat to the very existence of population groups, the significant impoverishment of our Dutch natural environment, the nitrogen problem, inequality among people, declining biodiversity, and the felling of entire forests to make way for paving stones and houses.
The argument I often hear when it comes to climate measures is that citizens should pay, and they're already struggling so much. It's a shame that these opinions are often not based on facts and remain stuck in the short-term behavior that has gotten us into such trouble in the first place.
In the long run, the climate problem will cost us more than the measures themselves. We will indeed have to make some sacrifices, but I don't think this has to be that much for ordinary citizens, and I'm certainly not someone who hates farmers and wants to see them left out in the cold.
Ten companies are responsible for a very large portion of all emissions, and I think this should be emphasized alongside a review of our Dutch agriculture and livestock farming practices. Livestock numbers need to be reduced; almost everyone agrees on that now. Farmers shouldn't be ruined for this. Experts have come up with excellent alternatives for livestock farming, such as EU subsidies for transitioning to sustainable agriculture, investing in healthy meat substitutes that don't compromise on taste, and supplying more locally instead of being the slaughterhouse of the world with our 90% export of meat. Growing food for our own population instead of supporting the world's extreme meat consumption. Moreover, it's shameful that the Netherlands is clearing forests in countries like Brazil to grow soy exclusively for livestock farming, at the expense of the local population.
Healthy, sustainable, fair, and organically grown food should be the cornerstone of your health policy. We don't want genetic engineering, hormones in our food, genetically modified animals, cloning, human rights violations, or the destruction of forests essential for the survival of traditional, indigenous peoples for our children, do we?
Not only is there a lack of appreciation for nature as an essential part of our well-being and human existence, but there is also widespread "ecocide". "the extensive damage, destruction, or loss of ecosystems, widespread, severe, or systematic harm to nature." Wikipedia definition, or by Polly Higgins: “The extensive damage to, destruction of, or loss of ecosystems of a given territory, whether by human agency or by any other causes, to such an extent that peaceful enjoyment by the inhabitants of that territory has been severely diminished.”
Personally, I find this morally and spiritually unacceptable.
I cannot stand by and do nothing while my beautiful Low Countries are soon largely flooded, and we lose tangible and intangible heritage, a monoculture develops, flower fields disappear, bees become extinct, harvests fail, and there are significant risks of other, much deadlier pandemics such as bird flu and Q fever, which have already emerged in Dutch livestock farming, and large numbers of climate refugees will be on the move, with all the ensuing consequences.
There are too many things that so seriously disrupt nature, our ecological balance, that I see it as my moral duty to speak out about this and see what I can do practically and exert influence to achieve this on a larger scale. To make a difference in this area.
Moreover, I believe you can expect the same from me. When I say my work is based on the desire to connect harmoniously with nature, I put my money where my mouth is. Furthermore, I'm no saint, and I'm always open to improvement in this area.
What I do:
- I try to live and work as sustainably as possible
- I try to use as few environmentally harmful products as possible
- I eat a largely plant-based diet
- I occasionally adopt a piece of nature at Mijnnatuur.nl
- For every coaching session, I plant two trees at Trees For All
- I donate and am an Earth Protector with Stop Ecocide.NL
- The electricity in my practice comes from solar panels
- The tea and food served during my women's circles, courses, and coaching sessions are plant-based, ecologically sound, organic, and fairly sourced as much as possible
- I'm a member of Natuurmonumenten (Dutch Society for Nature Conservation)
- My practice is located at home, so I don't need a car for my daily work
