HARMONY WITH NATURE: GRASS ROOTS PRACTICES TO ENLIGHTEN INDIVIDUALS TOWARDS ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND ACTIONS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE. As an artist I would like to put my energy into a grassroots strategy intending to reach the general public who don’t have the opportunity or the exposure to understand or give much thought to The Rights of Nature and the health of our mother earth. I have the opportunity to work on projects at a nature reserve in a tropical rainforest where nature abounds and through my surroundings and exposure to the natural environment I can clearly see the necessity of maintaining rights for the natural environment. When I return to a more economic based environment within my home city and interact with my friends and family I see busy lives working and carrying on with activities of consumerism, entertainment, and the need for becoming financially successful. It is easy to see how one can become disconnected with the growing concern of our environment. When you are not exposed to something on a regular basis it is easy to not give much thought to it. It is only on those rare occasions when they might give pause to this through some outside stimulus such as a moving documentary, a song by a well know singer, or even an art exhibition that can provoke thought through its beauty and message. The message has to get through to populations who live in urban economy based locations, or even rural areas where there is a more conservative outlook and often negative attitude towards ‘tree huggers’, or ‘environmentalists’. Often it seems that there needs to be a pipeline to information and a stimulus to plant a seed for the care and rights of our living, vibrant environment. Therefore the need for more people to take up the cause in a grassroots fashion will help to raise awareness from the bottom up. Often people become interested but don’t know where to start, or how to make a difference. There is a need to set up strategies through a self-start program for individuals who want to join in and take up the cause in their own way and with the talents, and resources that they possess. “With the right amount of determination, anyone can change everything” – I have this line embedded in one of my paintings and it has been a factor in my continuation to work towards the rights of nature through art. But the truth is there are so many avenues that can be used as tools to promote the rights or nature through sustainable living. People that have backgrounds in computer and digital work, communications, health sciences, social sciences, animal rights, acting, singing, painting, or even culinary ….can join in the movement to promote climate discussion and earth rights. It is all related and will be affected in some way or other. A strategy program to help individuals get started would be beneficial for the contribution of ordinary people to voice their concerns from all over the world. Governments need the pressure from their own populous before they will be fully HARMONY WITH NATURE: GRASS ROOTS PRACTICES TO ENLIGHTEN INDIVIDUALS TOWARDS ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND ACTIONS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE. invested. WE need to shift the way of thinking from economic based to more collaborative sustainable activities that will provide a balance for all. CONCLUSION; I know that exposure to nature and world issues whether it be through travel, community discussion and presentations, through the arts, or from the development of education programs actually works. At the Cloudbridge Nature reserve great experiences happen with people from many backgrounds and cultures who come to volunteer or visit. We have had plumbers, gap year students, computer analysts, entertainers, and many others who went away with a sense of concern and a need to help work towards the rights of nature. When this happens we know that there is hope to reach more people and that it is possible for each person to gain a better understanding of the urgency and to go out and make a difference themselves. The truth being that there is an interconnectivity and reliance with all living beings – each with the right to exist in their own given space. Enlightenment of individuals to work and live more sustainably is part of the solution. The other part is for governments to ensure good policy and law to protect the rights of nature, not just set limits on our rights. Thank you to the UN General Assembly for their insightful concern for living in harmony with nature through an interactive dialogue that might lead towards more sustainable practices and a healthier economy. Linda Moskalyk Cloudbridge Nature Reserve Costa Rica [email protected] www.cloudbridge.org www.prairieartist.com