"The Earth we share is not just a rock tossed through space, but a living, nurturing being.
She cares for us, she deserves our care in return"
Michael Jackson
The tree is a symbols that appears in most cultures (if not all). Life, love, family, growth, wisdom, protection, beauty, redemption, abundance, strength, God's grace, knowledge, regeneration, immortality are all meanings we associate with the tree. It's even considered as a symbol of true self and its image converted into a psychological test. Forests are part of our childhood stories and always a source of magic and wonder. Forests have been home for people and animals alike.
Forests have been given us shelter, nurture, nourish, energy, they clean up about 30 % of the CO2 emissions.
Yet, we seam to be unable to see the destruction we are bringing to our forests. We are quick to look away, to justify our actions and non-actions with our "right" to survive and use whatever is in our way, we are slow in understanding that there are sustainable solutions and alternatives.
We don't see that we cutting the branch right from under our feet.
We need forests to survive.
Forests cover about 1/3of Earth's land mass. We need that to keep being true.
1.6 billion people's livelihoods depend on forests.
50% of terrestrial biodiversity is found within our forests.
Forests are essential in supplying water for 50% of our biggest cities.
13 million hectares are destroyed every year.
Deforestation and forest degradation account for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions
“What we are doing to the forests of the world
is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”
Mahatma Gandhi
"I respect the secrets and magic of nature. That's why it makes me so angry when I see these things that are happening, that every second, I hear, the size of a football field is torn down in the Amazon. I mean, that kind of stuff really bothers me. That's why I write these kinds of songs, you know. It gives some sense of awareness and awakening and hope to people. I love the Planet, I love the trees. I have this thing for trees - the colors and changing of leaves. I love it. I respect those kind of things. I really feel that nature is trying so hard to compensate for man's mismanagement of the planet. Because the planet is sick, like a fever. If we don't fix it now, it's at the point of no return. This is our last chance to fix this problem that we have, where it's like a runway train. And the times has come, This Is It. People are always saying,'They'll take care of it. The government will--Don't worry, they'll--' 'They' who? It starts with us. It's us. Or else it'll never be done... We have four years to get it right. After that it would be irreversible. Let's take care of the planet."
Michael Jackson
