Earth Day 2024

For those of you who have been following my work for the past decades, you already know how focused I've been on the ever more urgent need to address anthropocene climate change and prevent the irreversible loss of countless species and ecosystems. This Earth Day, let us focus on the critical role peace has to play when it comes to protecting our planet, biodiversity, food security, immigration, vulnerable populations and even national security. In 2017, Secretary of Defense James Mattis noted that "climate change is real, and a threat to American interests abroad and the Pentagon's assets everywhere" (https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-s-defense-chief-cites-climate-change-national-security-challenge) This was a bold statement but we MUST hold our military industrial complex accountable for it is not enough to acknowledge the risk ,especially when the USA's MIC plays such a big role in terms of global emissions. (https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2022/10/pentagon-climate-change-neta-crawford-book/) . More recently, the ongoing and devastating events in the middle east are having a catastrophic effect on our planet in two ways; how the inexcusable apparent indifference by many when it comes to the ongoing genocide of Palestinians that has laid bare our leaders' lack of humanity but also for the catastrophic environmental impact the annihilation of the Gaza strip and infrastructure has had (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/09/emissions-gaza-israel-hamas-war-climate-change)

On this Earth Day, let us renew our commitment to saving the planet and acknowledge that to do so we must increase humanitarian efforts and decrease military intervention. The wars we start may accelerate the end for many of us and the only way to prevent that is to start fewer wars.

I've included several links above. Please take a moment to read the articles those links bring you to

There are reports that Israel may be bombing nuclear facilities in Iran at this very moment...i hope they are not true

I am heartbroken for all who will be affected and the planet

If the US had suspended all weapons supplies and sales, in accordance with the law, perhaps it wouldn't have come to this