“As I gazed on the impressive scene, all the so called ruin of the storm was forgotten, and never before did these noble woods appear so fresh, so joyous, so immortal” — John Muir

The world is in tumult and ecological, biological and one could argue social overshoot is upon us — but we still have wild places. Places where the Brown Bear hunts and rests, places where the Loon nests, places where the Sockeye run, places where the the Whip-Poor-Will still enchants and catches souls, where the wolf runs free, where the wolverine and lynx hunt unabated.

My thanks go out to every human who has fought to conserve and preserve our global wild lands.  In the US, Muir and Roosevelt, joined by legions of you; I remember you — dedicated Student Conservation Association Volunteers (now theSCA), rangers, trailcrew, conservation biologists, wanderers, backpackers, philanthropists, companies, presidents.

Never before have our wild lands appeared so “fresh, so joyous, so immortal”.

As Thich Nhat Hanh has written, “the dandelion has your smile”….. I would add that the wild has your core. Please, on this Earthday be aware, act and in everyday live…..live knowing that as John Muir knew: “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”. Listen to the birds, yes, stop and smell the flowers, backpack a wilderness area, kayak a coast and if you can–contribute to the conservation and preservation of our last wild lands. You have my gratitude, thanks and comraderie.

Words to live by: http://lisa.steelemaley.io/words-to-live-by/

And an easy way to contribute: http://www.patagonia.com/vote-our-planet.html

Happy Earth Day.

 

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