How I get inspired and hopeful about the Environmental Crisis and the Humanity

I hope you didn't miss the fantastic news a few days ago: Outdoor clothing company Patagonia announced that 98% of the company will be now owned by The Holdfast Collective, a charity committed to combating climate change! "Despite its enormity, the Earth's resources are not infinite, and it is clear that we have exceeded its limits. Instead of extracting value from nature and turning it into wealth, we use the wealth that Patagonia creates to protect nature", said Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. Nature is now a stakeholder in this company!

This reminded me of an important insight by James Gustave Speth, American environmental lawyer and advocate, co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and US advisor on Climate Change. He said: “I used to think that top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that thirty years of good science could address these problems. I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that.”

My thoughts went further. I have recently learnt that Sydney Banks, the Enlightened Scottish welder, said that greed comes from people being out of touch with what they already have but when they look within themselves, they realize they have everything they need, and then they are naturally compassionate and generous: Greed disappears, and with it, the excess demands on the environment.

Through my work, I want to draw attention to the opposite of greed and to what we already have.

I recently have conversations with some of you visiting my studio. Given it has just been climate week, I am wondering if you would like to have another studio conversation (in person or on zoom). I would love to hear what this understanding and eliminating greed means for you and for the climate. Would it be beneficial to you?

I am always open to set a mutually convenient time to have this type of wonderful and enriching conversations. While visiting, I can also show you my latest works… Just contact me here!

Lastly, i3C Artists Group’s “Meditations on Climate Crisis: Inspiring Change 2022” is coming back to honeyjones Gallery (Cambridge MA) from Oct 21 to Nov 27. Opening reception: Fri Oct 21 (6 to 8 pm). More info in the i3C artists website.

Until next time!

Image: “On the Edge (of Land and Ocean)”, acrylic, acrylic & ink pen, and water-soluble crayons on repurposed cardboard, 12 x 6 inches, available. If you have comments or questions about this artwork or others on my website, please contact me here.