What do you think of this motto save the planet?
For me its quite cynical because, at the end of the day, if we dont take care of the planet it will destroy us. But we put ourselves in a position that we are saving something and this may be good for our ego but it is ultimately unrealistic. If we dont care of the planet, we will be destroyed not the planet.
But this is my opinion and I look forward to hear yours.
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I think the right way to say is to take care of this planet that we live in…I think you opinion is right…the motto is just for human ego..to make them think that they “SAVE” something…but the truth is that they just saving themselves…because they made all that happened in the earth nowadays..
Fully Paulo! I think people underestimate how big the planet is. It’s us that need saving, not earth : )
Paulo your books are so refreshing and different, full of life and the search for the truth. Love em :)
Of course you are right, ultimately the planet can’t be destroyed, but it can be destroyed as a place for us to thrive comfortably. So yes it’s ourselves we are destroying. And like you said also the planetary awareness is also I’m sure a good factor in helping to release and grow up out of the ego. You say this idea of saving the planet is unrealistic. I Suppose technically it is, but saving the planet is we know it isn’t. And I think that’s more what is being referred to today. It’s also a gentle coaxing of the world into environmental awareness, rather than laying it down as, change quickly or you will perish soon. It’s the merging of our consciousness into world consciousness; it’s about beginning to see the world as part of us and something that must be looked after, instead of just looking after ourselves.. One of the many enlightened movements nowadays that are cumulatively pushing us together and bringing around the inevitable New Earth..? Thanx to Eckhart for coining that empowering term :)
” The Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth. “
i do think a lot of these “save the planet” good deeds are driven by ego, not all but some. It’s in fashion to go green. To be seen recycling or going to the local co-op is cool. But do we all have in our minds and our hearts to heal the planet and ourselves? It starts with us humans. inside. I think Earth is ascending to a higher vibrational frequency and she’s invited us to join her. she’ll evolve with or without us. If we do not rise to this frequency then we have not saved ourselves. Earth has the capacity to heal itself. Herself. We have that same capacity, but we are very much so, and sadly, ego driven. what will we do? Being aware isn’t enough. We must heal ourselves. We must know ourselves. and we must love one another. let go of fear.
To me there is no such thing called ‘saving the planet’. It’s about take and give. What you plant is what you get. In this case we haven’t ‘plant’ enough compare to what we have been taking upon. Thus, what we get is the ‘series of poor response’ from the mother earth.
I’d be more linear when it’s called ‘give back to nature’ than ‘saving the planet’.
Give back to nature by being just and fair to it. Love the nature unconditionally.
amor vincit omnia
I think in general we should learn and educate our children and society,we should try to take care of our suraunding, our life will look different if we care,,,,, and if we care and others care,,, not only the planet , and us, all our life would be with much more quality,,,, so one thing helps other… and 1st of all- us ,,,, know how to respect our every day around us,,, and all would be mmmuch more in our day life ,,,,,,,and also for the future.
Well, I think maybe it’s a question of saving the planet the way we know it nowadays. I agree with you when you say this world doesn’t need us, but human being is destroying it more than any other predator or natural disaster. So, if we are killing the world, that we’ve always known, shouldn’t we have at least the responsability to do something to preserve it? I don’t want to think it’s a matter of human ego but a sense of doing what’s right.
Bueno, yo creo que quizás es una cuestión de salvar el planeta que conocemos actualmente. Estoy de acuerdo contigo cuando dices que el mundo no nos necesita, pero el ser humano está destruyéndolo más que cualquier otro depredador o desastre natural. Así que, si estamos matando al mundo, que siempre hemos conocido, ¿no deberíamos al menos tener la responsabilidad de hacer algo para preservarlo? No creo que sea un problema de ego humano, sino de poseer el sentido de hacer lo correcto.
My humble opinion is that it does matter what we as individuals do to be close to mother earth. It is quite sad that we cannot agree as a community full of individual to improve the quality of the air, the water and the food that we partake of by simple means of personal decisions. So it is unrealistic to think we can have one mind on this issue. Also it is quite egotistic to think we, little ants or specs of dust on this big universe, that we in our limited power can “save” something much bigger than ourselves, when we can’t even save ourselves. In fact, when I or anybody I know quotes that phrase is in a sense of mockery “yeah, right, we’re saving the planet when we recycle”, we get a couple of laughs. As an individual, though, I find it rewarding to live a simpler life closer to mother earth, further away from technology and artificial things… can’t stand processed food and I like to thank God for the bounty of the earth rather than the scientist that grew my slab of beef on a petrie dish. I like nature to take its course without interference and I grow amazed at how much I learn everyday when I try to make my own soaps, use less plastic containers and reduce my trash. I’m trying to grow a garden, with a compost pile and all the organic ingredients for nature to take its course, without chemicals and toxins and fertilizers, weed-killers that ammount to “life-killers”. And I want the opposite of that in my life… I want to grow life, I want God and the earth to decide which seed will grow rather than me making that decision utilizing unnatural tools.
Ok, I jumped in my soapbox for a bit. I do agree that if we keep this so called “killing the planet” process, the only ones harmed will be us.
I agree with you, Paulo. We think of ourselves as Superman or Wonderwoman and ‘above it all.’ As if we could save a planet! When we get so far out of step with the natural systems, humans will be sloughed off. It is sad that we may take so much with us in the process, however, but I am still optimistic that we can catch ourselves.
If you watch the documentary the “11th Hour”, a scientist specifically made emphasis on this. The Earth keeps on evolving. It will not be destroyed but it will destroy us. So rather than saying Save our Earth, we should be saying “Human survival”. If we want this race to survive, and if we want future generations to be able to enjoy the beauty of this Earth, we should make our move. The motivation is not in helping the Earth, it is in helping ourselves, our families, and loved ones.
Olá Paulo.
Concordo com sua opinião.
Ultimamente, o aquecimento global tem sido a mais grave preocupação de ambientalistas, pelo meu modo de ver. Existem várias propagandas sobre preservação do ambiente. A maioria diz que quer a conscientização da população para que as futuras gerações tenham um ambiente mais saudável, mas no fundo, queremos mesmo é um lugar seguro para morar agora, no presente.
O planeta é muito mais poderoso do que nós, e ele tem vida. Se nós simplesmente não cuidarmos dele, essa vida pode destruir a nossa. É como um círculo, o que fazemos volta para nós.
Acho que dizer que estamos “trabalhando intensamente pra salvar o planeta” parace ser uma maneira muito mais “nobre” ou até comercial de dizer o que realmente estamos fazendo. Parece quase “heróico” dizer que nos preocupamos com a Terra, ao invés de dizer que nos preocupamos com nós mesmos.
Um abraço, Beatriz :)
In my humble opinion both the Earth and humankind will survive however it is not a matter of surviving but our condition we live in.
The world needs to be improved and we can achieve this by all the actions we associate with the slogan “saving the planet”.
Hello Paulo,
I have never wondered about statement, that we are saving planet. But now, when I have read Your conclusion, I reflect that it is really very arrogant and cynic. We don’t care about nature but we are afraid about things, which would happen, if we won’t change our living style!
Thank You for this notice…
Greetings from Poland
i believe what destroys one destroys the other. the suffering we create for ouselves not only destroys us but effects the world. ripples, they start out few but grow. do we create this ripple effect using good or bad. it starts with each man, one ripple at a time…*
Es muy buena opinión aunque a veces nos llegamos a identificar tanto con el medio en que vivimos que sentimos esa dependencia con ese ser.
Somos inquilinos, necesitamos de lo que produce la Tierra para susistir si matamos el ecosistema no podremos vivir aquí, claro que la Tierra acabará con nosotros si nos comvertimos en una célula cancerígena, así reacciona nuestro cuerpo con nuestras defensas cuando nota que algo se ha convertido en dañino. Claro está que la Tierra tardará bastantes años en recuperarse. Salvar al Planeta es salvarnos a nosotros mismos. Y ahora viene la pregunta: ¿Para qué estamos aquí Paulo?
Un beso.
I agree with you, that the term “Save the Planet” is perhaps another way of amassing people to a cause and I also agree that we are the ones who will ultimately suffer in the end for not having taken better care of our home.
In nature, there is the concept of survival of the fittest, which although does help to advance a species, is not the only concept or theory out there. There is also the concept of survival through adaptation which requires that one approach being in this world in a more balanced and respectful way.
I believe it is our species that is out of control, not Nature. To me, it feels as if she is always trying to adjust and adapt, to find her perfect balance. We are making it very difficult for her to do so.
I think that the Earth is like a lively being, an organism. When a virus enters in our body, our body fights to remove the threat. The Earth is going to do the same thing. The Earth is the organism, and we are the virus.
Acho que a Terra é como um ser vivo, um organismo. Quando um virus entra no nosso corpo, o corpo combate para eliminar a ameaça. A Terra vai fazer a mesma coisa. A Terra é o organismo, nòs somos o virus.
Yes, great distinction. . and one that might cause some to do it for themselves for many are cut off from Nature as Mother. . .and have lost the reciprocal nature of creature and creator. .
Paulo, i heard something this weekend and thought of you being at the world economical related conference. . .It was suggested the greatest monetary batter item of our future could well be vegetable gardening seeds. . .For me that says alot about what man has created and our grandiosity of saving the Mother.
Your beautiful, hugs
marci
Olá Paulo, é um prazer poder partilhar a minha opinião neste espaço maravilhoso…
Salvar o planeta é importante, mas aquela coisa de irmos todos atrás de um ideal só porque alguém diz que deve de ser assim e que se assim não for iremos sofrer as consequências é muito mau!! Cada um tenta fazer o melhor possivel por si e pelo outro, mas sem esperar arrastar milhões de pessoas, achando que essa é a verdade absoluta.
Há que agir com o coração, de coração, mas também com os pés assentes na terra, já que o nosso espirito assumiu uma forma humana, temos que viver o melhor possivel o tempo que aqui estamos.
Com carinho, de uma fã…
Ther was an ant in a huge ant-hill. He behaved very nicely to his home environment, because he knew this is only the way to survive…
very truly said.
the ancient indian theory holds that the earth undergoes four ages of evolution( golden to iron age) and according to the calculation we are now in iron age i.e the age of human destruction.after iron age golden age starts in which each and every human being realizes his innate nature and lives a life of innocence in bliss and peace . it might take place in 2432 a.d . is it possible to save this planet till that time?
in osho’s ” psychology of the esoteric” , he narrates that if awareness from the senses is carried beyond the mind , then it is possible to be aware of the world’s past and also it’s future. that, it is possible to transcend time. well, i haven’t transcended time yet. but i believe that , with the present in our hands we… only us …. can do something to save this planet.
as vivekananda said, do whatever is possible by each and everyone of you to save this planet of ours and if we fail let no one raise his voice or point fingers , for we are reponsible for our own destruction.
if we humans ( each and everyone) take responsibility and stop our materialistic endeavours to have everything for ourselves then , maybe we can live peacefully for a little longer.
We didn’t get this planet like a present from our forefathers to spend it all, but we borrowed it from our grandchildren. We are just a visitors here and should live like this.
Our relationship to this planet is just refleksion from ourselves.
So i belive we are still in position to choose today for tomorrow and change our reflection…
V.
I think that humanity has lost the battle for survival on this planet by developing in wrong direction – free markets, globalization, competition in every segment of human existance including spiritual or religious segment. Major religions are in the strugle to control as much as posible of human population. Human societies are dehumanized completely by definition because of favouring richest and strongest, who in return, instead of being force to lead and examples to follow, are showing true nature of greed and carelessnes whit little or no compassion for others. I might sound as to pesimistic but a pesimists are just well informed optimists those days.
I hope I’m completely wrong…
Salvar el planata…pero bueno en que cabeza cabe que el planeta desea ser salvado.
El planeta esta vivo y todo lo que esta vivo se transformara tarde o temprano en otras formas de energias, asi que bueno es mejor dejar de ser tan infantiles y dedicar mas tiempo a las verdaderas razones de la existencia humana.
El planeta es solo una parte pequeña del todo y quien lo creo lo esta sumiendo en un vertedero de personas incapaces de obrar con amor.
Mi teoria no lo es tanto, es una corazonada que dirian los viejos yo lo llamo de otra manera , pero eso no importa.
En los proximos meses el mundo reconocera lo que lleva siglos negando, asi que solo tenemos que esperar y ver y vivirlo.
El tiempo se acabo y los ensayos de ser mejores tambien, ahora viene la verdadera presentación de lo que llevamos muchos años `preparando…la obra mas grande jamas vista la obra de Dios muy pero que muy enfadado.
Un abrazo paulo.
Yesterday, a strange thing occured, the skies turned black and it started to snow across England. Within 24 hours London was covered in a white blanket of crystals.
No trains, buses or cars were running today, schools were shut, supermarkets ran out of food, within 24 hours of the sky turning black, London came to a virtual standstill. All due to an unprecedented high level of water turned to crystal falling through the skies. Simple.
Some people awoke, and blamed public transport, some cursed that they couldn’t get to their office and of the business that was being lost (because people believe still that money rules the world) but some adults and many children (us included) looked out of the windows with delight and ran to the parks, smiled at strangers and felt overjoyed.
24 hours is all it took, for Mother Nature to try teach us another lesson.
When will we learn.
We are not the Host
We are here at invitation not by right.
We are thieving from our Mother’s house, what sort of person does that?
Something or someone always has some worth to another thing/being, and as time goes by, some relationships become very intimate that that something could be replaced by the other. Since man’s realization of his intelligence over other creatures in this world, we needed the planet and it didn’t need us to take care of it (putting aside the man-as-stewards-of-God idea). The motto was even created because we’re the ones who caused the imbalance in nature’s order, if there is such a thing. So people say we should “save the planet” not only because it feeds our ego as the superior species in this world, but also because we really meant saving ourselves. the motto exudes our unity with our home. i dunno, i’m just drunk. =)
It is almost impossible to turn around the effects of how we have been destroying the planet. We can stop, but it needs care from the whole world and every person. People need to stop being so selfish.
When we think of saving the planet, here in 2009 we think of global warming. A few years ago it was the ozone layer, and I’m glad that I researched this only a few days ago! Maybe the icecaps’ melting is a good thing!! The icecaps were not always there, they are a reminder of the last ice age which begun 20,000 years ago. By the time all the ice melts we will be left in a much more tropical climate and new lands will be made abundant. Imagine a whole continent (Antarctica) undiscovered. It could be man kinds chance to begin again. And for those of you who wish to give out to me, it has already begun, we cannot stop the process of the melt. But what we can do is to prepare for a new coming age. The first step is to dare to be different and the world has done this with Obama at the front.
Olá, eu sou uma fã de Portugal. Sou sua fã desde o primeiro parágrafo que li num dos seus livros aos 16 anos. Ainda não li todos, mas adorei os que li (11 minutos, Veronica Decide Morrer, A Bruxa de Portobello e neste momento estou a ler O Alquimista) e posso afirmar que me tocaram imenso. A sua escrita é mágica, e quero ler todos os outros que me faltam. É sem duvida o meu escritor favorito.
Creio que, infelizmente, o nosso planeta já está demasiado danificado e que sofreu algumas feridas irremediaveis. Os Homens estão a acelerar o fim do seu lar, e nem pensam nisso. O que nos resta fazer? Talvez tentar desacelerar o processo.
Beijo.
I agree with Paul from Austria. All change starts from within. I watched a program on TV that explained how if all human and animal life were wiped out by another ice age, life would still exist, but not as we know it. Nature is very capable of looking after herself.
I must agree. We are a parasite to the earth! Who do we think we are that we can actually save the earth?
When the earth gets tired of us polluting it and destroying it from the inside out it will simply get rid of us. Poof! Mankind is erradicated and will finally quite making a mess of the earth. The earth will then heal it self once it shakes us off.
I really don’t fear for the earth. I fear for, we as people. How long will we suffer due to our own actions????
I think “To save the planet” is what makes sense to the majority. It is a common phrase that can get many people on board for a good purpose. To say, “Respect the planet”, I think would bring a lot of questions about humans, nature, our role in destroying the planet, what is life form. Maybe once people start taking steps for the planet that is when their knowledge and view will change.
Hello, thanks for the new blog
I also think the planet will survive, it’s humans that won’t survive when we keep going like this.
There have always been ice-ages etc so it is pretty normal that some areas get hotter and others get colder over the years…just part of nature.
I think in order for the human kind to survive we have to do something.
My believe is that the universe consists out of a perfect balance between the masculine and the feminine. And every human being also consists out of that same perfect balance. Planet earth is balanced out perfectly with 50% man and 50% woman. In order for humans to survive we must make sure that the ones that rule our planet, our so called world leaders, also consist out of that same perfect balance.
And at the moment it doesn’t… so that’s why things go wrong according to my humble opinion.
Lots of love,
Marielle
Paul from Austria – well said!
Of corse Paulo, we all will bee gone long time before the planet, but, we can all do a little to help the planet stay alive, for that is what I think. I beliwe the whole planet is a living , breething organism, and it will always try to fix things we destroi.Big disasters and storms, may be some way to get in balanse again.Sorry for my bad english, a bit (big bit) rusty here,
Love your books, read the Alcymist 2-3 times. The first time I had to start all over again, got so surprised over the end, and also happy, had a difficult time in life then, and this book made me understand myselves and life more.Thanks!!Love from Toril
I agree with Sido and Paul.
It’s a positive thing that people keep in their mind that there is a planet to respect, anyway.
Have a nice day
I do really believe we still have hope.Lets keep this fire burning!
-The solution is to follow how our ancestors lived comfortably without hurting the environment, using eco-friendly ways of dealing with their clothes,food and shelter
-Plastics and plastic bags a too many! But I have heard in some parts of Kerala they use the used plastics and bags to make roads, and other make oil.There are many innovative ideas but they’re not commercialized
-Same way as how hybrid cars are not commercialized
-Afforestation is taking place but the space of land is getting lesser and lesser as every human tries to grab every cent of it.
Soon there wont be space to put stick a foot out.
-Vegetarianism has proved to be reducing green house gases incredibly.
The top most crisis is that we multiplying ourselves rapidly, desperately trying to fit into the rat race.Why dont we father children who are motherless?
And everyone is too messed with their personal worlds to realize the demise in the real world is coming soon, if not waken up already.
i couldn’t agree more…
in fact, was just myself contemplating the almost naievity of the world to think otherwise.
after millions of years of evolution… and we think a few changes in economics can resolve…
it saddens me that society has opted for this route, when the potential in evolution offered/promised so much..
instead we play games of risk and take decades to change.
but it shows where the soul of humankind has been for a long time now… not earth centred – but rather frontier/boundary thinking.
i dont think to criticise those who use the slogan.. for we all descend onto this planet at our own time/space and there is always room to be reminding people that this is indeed a planet, living…. not some backyard/living room.
i think that was the essence of the slogan at its onset : putting the spotlight in politics onto environmental awareness – but now, its campaign effect is dwindling.
the interface of action/reaction has dulled to its cause and there needs to be a new call… [but thats a tangent issue.].
Modern lives are now so complex – living on different levels. from the UK to Ghana, youth identities (in particular) are not holding up under the chaos…
the old discourse of man as seperate to the environment: mind and body are seperate… is illogical and unreasonable – and yet this exactly is how our elders have been leading life. i am personally about to take a turning in my crossroads of life; my P.L.. ;o) through a change of career direction – still environmental.. but more holistic.
In long term, yes, I agree, but I guess we kill each other until we are few enough to not damage the planet enymore, before the planet destroy us – so it will not be needed to destroy us for the planet – we are exxelent to do that uorselves….
I would like so much that the planet could be saved,but it seems that a process has been set a long time ago and I don’t know if we could reverse this.I do hope everyone will really do something for the planet,I mean really everyone,but still will it be enough?
It has been said that in few years time,the poles are going to reverse and imagine what’s going to happen.I don’t know if it’s true or not but still what I think is nothing stays the same,evrything changes,us,the Earth,everything and it’s a fact.
So now have we accelerated the process?Yeah,sure.What is happening with climate changes,we are for something.But was it a matter of time?We are destroying nature,yeah,sure but maybe is it the nature of nature(lol)to destroy us at the end?Look in the past,the ice age ect..big changes have already happened.I don’t think it’s only our fault.I think it just is.We could perhaps gain some more time,but still,things won’t never be the same,it’s just like that.
I think the planet is changing as we are changing too.Perhaps we need to accept that as not a fatality but a way towards freedom.If we don’t live anymore here,I think we can live somewhere else.
It’s hard to let go of the past and to say goodbye and accept that everything and everyone die,everything mutes…
For the moment,we could do little things to help each other,animals ect..not only for our ego,like Mr Coelho said,but because this is what we have to do to join and develop harmony between us and all living things to prepare what’s going to come next and develop love,yeah,love always.
Well,I am innate nature lover.I love a lot that planet,I love pure environments,plants,flowers,animals.I cant understand why not everybody feel that way.All little gestures are important,using less platic,turning off light if not used,turning off water,walking as much as possible instead of driving the car,or sharing it with family.I see that sharing car is used now because of the financial crises.People who work in same office agree that one of them take other coleagues who lives on his way to home.I have since years a big problem,a shame for my country.My neighbour use to dye cars,but all the toxic vapours fill the air around his house.Nobody stop him.He pay police and controlors.He even use little teenager ,almost kids to work there.I was thinking,if that is possible,I mean in a small scale,corruption,than ,how possible if we talk about big industries?
We have to save the home for our children. We have to start to think not only about ourselves but about others. We have to understand that our actions effect not only us but also others who share this home with us. Where is all this plastic going that we throw away everyday? Why do we need so many things in our life? Why do we so rarely think where these things we buy are coming from and where they are made? Personally I think that the main reason we don’t care for our planet is because we have so little consideration for others, for their welfare and their happiness. The main reason for this horrible devastation that is going on is our own selfishness and to save our home this must be addressed.
Realmente, creio que existem alguns ativistas da atitude “Salvar o Planeta”, mais preocupado em se auto promover, satisfazer as suas vaidades pessoais, fazer pose de super-herói e alguns até mesmo tentando ter lucros financeiros com esta idéia. Mas mesmo assim, se resultar em uma conscientização da população e principalmente uma mudança de atitude em relação ao meio ambiente, creio que vale a pena enfrentar esta hipocrisia, ou seja; melhor fazer algo pelo bem, mesmo que com outras intenções, do que não fazer nada.
Do jeito que esta indo, realmente não dá. Algo precisa ser feito e com urgência. Sinceramente, é o que eu penso!
Putz Paulo, esse pensamento seu é genial, concordo plenamente. Temos que nos salvar de nós mesmos…
Abraços grandes!
LOVE
THERE IS NO BRIDGE THAT GOD CANNOT BUILD.
Planting the right seed starts with us first.We are “walking on sacred grounds” PCoelho
The melting has already started.
Dear Paulo Koelo! Very much I hope that you will read my message. Your books have very strongly changed my attitude. Probably, it sounds as flattery, but in another way I am not able (when I want something pleasant to tell, from this leaves nothing also all think that I exaggerate. It because of strongly pronounced realism, romanticism in me gramme). I from Russia and your book have bought for the first time in the summer 2008 of “11 minutes”. Earlier, more likely, thought of trifles more, without noticing necessary (and it in 18 those years!) . After perusal of “Alchemist”, somehow already after some time, felt such pacified. I not so, probably, am religious, as you (in at one time was in general the atheist), but such desire how to make a pilgrim campaign, in a shower have hidden. It actually is class. Many my contemporaries do not understand me, at us the big difference in interests, despite age. But owing to the character I cannot live in constant monotony, to me the empty, identical everyday life is fresh, one entertainments do not suffice me. At that point in time, when I have bought the first your book, there was such moment when a variety was necessary. Though (excuse, of course, for criticism), every day I could not read your books. Well it besides because of my character. Thanks you huge for your invaluable contribution, at least in my life. Come to us to Novosibirsk. The truth here it is terribly cold!
PS: language I know badly, excuse for grammar
The answer is in each of us
La réponse est en chacun de nous
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