Nonviolence on Earth Day
I pledge allegiance to the earth and to the flora, fauna, and human life that it supports; one planet, indivisible, with safe air, water, and soil, economic justice, equal rights, and peace for all.
Did you know that Earth Day is a nonviolent holiday?
The first Earth Day was a day of protest in 1970. Among other considerations to galvanize actions to bridge environmentalism with the anti-war movement energy, organizers strategically chose April 22, which fell during Spring Break, so that massive numbers of students could participate, and they did.
20 million people across the US, which was 10 percent of the population at the time, took part in protests, teach-ins, marches, and constructive actions.
It united Republicans and Democrats and gave common cause and vision for the first time to those working on individualized environmental issues. Great legislation for the environment ensued, including the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and more.
Even better, what started as a protest day then became a movement. In the '90s, over 200 million people participated in a global day of action and protest, and today, the organizers claim over 1 billion people worldwide participate in an effort to collectively address through action and education climate disruption and the Earth's rights.
Let's keep it going.
Peace on Earth,
Stephanie for the Metta Team
An Urgent Message for Humanity
This short animation was created with ages 12-18 in mind to facilitate discussions around nonviolence and the challenges faced by climate disruption. Includes a set of inspiring climate action stories as well as teacher resources!
Dr. Vandana Shiva on the need to build a nonviolent movement to resist a growing threat to our ecological systems
Listen to this interview from Nonviolence Radio or read the transcript.
The Third Harmony: Nonviolence and the New Story of Human Nature
Explore the inner and outer dimensions of nonviolence with Michael Nagler in his urgent book, The Third Harmony: Nonviolence and the New Story of Human Nature.
