Your Opinions on Environmental Problems -Free text 2. Your Opinions on Environmental Problems - Free text Feel free to write comments on any topic of environmental problems. If there are any items that relate to your opinion in the list of “Environmental issues to be taken into account” below, please tick the box next to the item. You may select multiple items. If you select “12. Others,” please write the details in the space below. Environmental issues to be taken into account 4. Pollution / 10. Environment 1. Climate Change 7. Food Contamination and Economy 11. Environment 2. Biodiversity 5. Water Resources 8. Lifestyles and Society 9. Global Warming 3. Land Use 6. Population 12. Others Measures “12. Others” ： Opinions： Note) The written statements of the answers posted below are opinions of the indi- vidual respondents; and they don’t necessary represent the views of our Foundation. We have included the name, country, and our identification number along with the comments, unless the respondent requested anonymity. Opinions The need is to shift the way people view the Earth, our beautiful blue planet. How can we help everyone see alive and full of beauty and that we must completely change the way we understand the gift we have been gi•beauty that we are living in and that it is the most sacred thing we have. As the world becomes covered in cot people endlessly shop for more stuff and we throw away mountains of trash and plastic each day -this is a pr heart and mind of people and this is what we must help change. It is not enough that we do carbon trades or I technology will save us or recycle our bottles. It is much deeper than that. I hope you will take a moment to watch this film that describes so well what I am saying. https://vimeo.com/1 18787240 It is not just about saving ourselves, WE, US, it is also about respecting all of life, the plants the animals all e what we can see and what we cannot see. We need to support and help those who are able to impart this message so beautifully- Llewellyn Vaughan-Dr. Suzuki, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Mrs. Hanne Strong and alternative communities such as Crestone, Findhorn, Em Vaughan-Lee of the Spiritual Ecology Fellowship http://www.spiritualecologyfcllowship.org/ This group of: can lead the way. Thich Naht Hanh, Joanna Macy of the Spiritual Ecology movement www.spiritualccology. The blog of Beltaine Cottage in Ireland and to see the work of one woman who transformed three acres of deamonoculture land into a garden of Eden with thousands of fruit trees, flowers for the birds and bees, berries. 1 self-sustaining and soul en- riching. Also, the work of Charles Eisenstein is well worth following. We also need and care for the indigenous people of the Earth, who are in danger of being wiped out. They still know how t Earth, to the natural world. To respect and show gratitude. Western civilization has forgotten how to live in grembrace consumerism and if we look around at the world we have created we will see that this cannot con tin dire consequences. Our physical bodies are poisoned from the food, the water, the air and we are plagued wit children, animals, young people. Our unnatural way of life has now led to our mental and emotional break do people around the world taking their own precious lives because there is no longer any deep meaning to life t have not taught them the real purpose of being human, of this celebration of life, of love for and from the Ea and from each other. We don't even know how to listen to the Earth. Many women that come to our meetings, women of deep spirhave told us clearly of their dreams, their visions and ability to hear the Earth crying ...yet, humans have forgot to her wisdom, to include her in this conversation. Even at COP21 in Paris it was all about US. How will WE what will happen to US if we don't. We think that we can do it by ourselves, even though we are the last to a ancient planet, and even though in our childish behavior and so arrogantly take put ourselves in the highest p we should control everything and be in charge of all the resources. We have destroyed almost every ecosystem we need to grow up and listen the our mother the Earth once more, if we are to survive and not kill off all the this planet that has a right to live. It is a spiritual dilemma and if we truly fell in love with and respected the E would never treat her as we do, and we would eat more simply, shop much less, stop throwing everything aw earth is a garbage dump, and stop emptying the oceans of every last fish, as if we have the right to have a gau each day. Something is so off balance and we have forgotten the true purpose of what it means to be human. Needs our love,To our be songs,continued our prayers and chants, that is what brings her happiness, and we need her, 3her cro her rivers of living clean water, the rain the sun. All is an interconnected dance that works so well when we r sacredness of it all, instead of thinking of ourselves at the center. There are small pockets of this new way of the world that I have witnessed and it may take 20 30 or more years before it is more 1 visible. We need to wa more people, more species will disappear and more of the Earths fragile and beautiful ecosystems will die. answer, but can only continue to try to wake people up to the magic that is all around us. Take time to be alo Use less, simplify life so that we have time to be with family and community and have time for art, music, re not be lost in the hectic life of a story that is only going to end. "It is through the heart that a real connection is made, even if we first make it in our feet and hands. Do we relf as a part of this beautiful and suffering planet, do we sense its need? Then this connection comes alive, athat flows from our heart as it embraces all of life. Then every step, every touch, will be a prayer for the Earth remembrance of what is sacred."_ Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee from the book Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth. [12. Other(If we are to restore the balance in our world, we need to go beneath the surface to heal the split between spin and help bring the sacred back into life."-Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee All our outward actions are having little effect. We need to again regard nature as sacred.)] Marianne Marstrand, USA, 001 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The pollution caused by war, plus the pollution caused by burning outdated armaments is significant. Global terrorism will keep military expenditures elevated, and will add significant CO2 to the atmosphere. [12. Other?(WAR/Global Terrorism)] David Schweidenback, USA, 002 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The biggest issue is getting the problem to be informed accurately when many vested interests fight to destroy or elude the truth about climate change. [-] Allan Dodds Frank, USA, 003 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are too many people living on a fragile planet. We are polluting our natural gift of clean air, water, soil, to the extent that they and the other living species they sustain are being impacted genetically, so biodiversity declines and any resultant new species lack the complexity and resilience of what went before. Perhaps most alarming at the plans of planetary scientists seeking to explore other worlds by using robots and missiles to penetrate their atmosphere and surfaces to find out about the origins of the universe – no problem with that. But what do they leave behind? Space debris, used equipment, and rubbish to permanently pollute another planet or star. Very, very wrong. Explore as science dictates but don’t leave waste and pollute other ecosystems. [2. Biodiversity, 4. Pollution /Contamination, 5. Water Resources, 6. Population, 10. Environment and Economy,12. Other] Diane Wiesner, AUSTRALIA, 006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Global warming and water availability are the two critical issues, and both are made much worse by climate change. [-] USA, 007 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The most pressing issue facing global security is that of wasteful and inefficient consumption. This is the root of many of the problems we face as human beings – from climate change to pollution of the seas. [-] CANADA, 011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taking a serious approach to climate change could make a real difference for future generations. Unlike other issues, there is no turning back for climate change. [-] USA, 012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Climate change is the single largest problem humankind has ever faced. We have entered the sixth mass extinction event, and we are the cause. As the result of runaway climate change, there exists even the possibility of human extinction. [-] Dahr Kelly Jamail, USA, 013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Climate issues extremely serious over next 50 years, with affected water resources also at high risk. Important to further strengthen Dec. 2015 Paris Agreement. Private sector continued and strengthened leadership critical. Next U.S. president also important to maintain current momentum. [-] USA, 014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overpumping of groundwater is affecting natural desert vegetation. 2 [-] USA, 015 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Political agendas: passing degrees of internal national agendas that act to invalidate desirable agendas within issues within issues 1 through 11. [-] Allen W Hatheway, USA, 016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Environment and Economy Unless we are willing to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and consumer convenience in general, our societies will fail.