Naomi Newman and James Baraz close the day with a Kabbalist creation story, and guided meditation.

Stories celebrating our experience as Earthlings. Earth days (and Earth Care days) are not just a call to “do something” to heal our damaged eco-systems, but more of a spiritual exercise, a time to celebrate all life, regardless of kingdom, phyla, or species: regardless of color of skin, feathers, fur, flowers, leaves or bark. This is a time to reflect on our connection to this planet, and to embrace our basic identity as "earthlings.”

A determined reproductive physiologist is intimately involved with her recalcitrant subject—a Hawaiian crow. An event occurs that leaves them both wondering who is rescuing whom.

At the core of our climate crisis, is the dualistic mind that continually generates an ‘other’ that is ‘out there,’ distorting the reality of deep inter-being. From economic systems founded in colonialism, slavery, and servitude, the mindset of ‘less important lives’ fuels a process of abuse that is now killing our living planet. How can our practice inform us as we stop the madness, and enter the journey of reclamation, healing, resistance and activism.

It is through taking action together that we wield power and experience relief, especially as we expand our notion of sangha beyond the usual boundaries, to all faiths, to all people taking action in accordance with our shared values of compassion, justice and peace. And we bring our own quintessential flavor, our Buddhist practice, our confidence in the Dharma and our commitment to face the way things actually are.

Wise effort includes developing and maintaining and increasing wholesome states. When anger and outrage are the source of our action we’re headed towards burnout and despair. When we come from caring and love, our actions are not only energizing for us but magnetizing for others.

It is through taking small action steps that we are able to keep heading into the wind of the climate crisis, not trying to take on too much, but not giving up either. Kerry introduces seven Bay Area Buddhist climate action groups that share their work and stories. Co-presenters are Helga Kauffman, Sean Munding, Betsy Griffith, Susan Orr, Ayya Santussika, Devi Peri. Groups represented: Green Sangha, the Staff Green Group at Spirit Rock, Community Green Group at Spirit Rock, the Ecosattvas at Green Gulch, Green Sangha IMCB, Sacramento Climate Sangha, and the Buddhist Climate Action Network.

Ruthie, a sensitive teen-ager, does something extreme to shock people into paying attention to what is happening to the planet. Her family is outraged. She needs her grandmother, more than anyone, to understand and support her.

Throughout the world, we are living in cultures of domination and the legacy of colonialism and slavery. The beliefs we have inherited living within these cultures have caused a deep disconnection within our souls and with all that we consider “other.” Drawing from Indigenous cultures and our Buddhist practice, we will be exploring ways to expand our perspective and open possibilities of greater understanding, connection and intimacy with our dear Earth and all the Beings that share this precious home.