World, One Day One Year

MANILA: Date, 05 June 2015; the image says there are "10 Things You Can Do On This Environment Day" (timesofindia.indiatimes.com). Yes, but those who conceptualized that logo were thinking parts and not wholes; "10 Things You Can Do..." is atomistic and not holistic thinking. It tells me that the United Nations itself has a bad attitude towards the world's environment – it recommends what you can do today, tomorrow is your problem.

And the exhortation is insufficient: "Celebrate World Environment Day this 5 June! Every Year. Everywhere. Everyone." One day once a year. Then you can forget about the environment the rest of the year.

Even the theme this year speaks of separate lives: "Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume With Care" (unep.org). There is no community, only separate imaginings. 7 billion environments.

Anyway, let's give them the benefit of the doubt; what again are the 10 things you can do today for the environment?

(1)     Eat vegetarian food once a week. You save on energy for producing meat.

(2)     Fly with an e-ticket. You save on paper.

(3)     Change your light. You save on electricity.

(4)     Fix leaky pipes. You save on water.

(5)     Dine in. You save on plastic.

(6)     Recycle aluminum & glass. You save on manufacture.

(7)     Rethink bottled water. You save on plastic bottles.

(8)     Telecommute. You save on fuel.

(9)     Recycle old devices. You save on trash.

(10) Bike to work. You save on gas.

So, what did you do on World Environment Day?

Since I was in the boondocks and had no WiFi connection, I forgot about the day. So, I didn't know that I was working my ass off conceptualizing The New Organic exactly during World Environment Day!

What I did on Friday, 05 June 2015, was to coalesce my thoughts on "water for life" and ultimately came up with the concept of The New Organic. Late afternoon of Friday, I was done and ready to upload my New Organic essay, but there was a brownout and so I had to postpone uploading to my new blog (The New Organic) yesterday, Saturday.

In my search for a simple solution for drought in the fields, El Niño or not El Niño, what The New Organic essentially has done is to bring back modern agriculture to its neglected roots – the organic that is found in the soil, that which because of clean-culture agriculture we have lost. (See my previous essays in my blog, The New Organic, blogspot.com.) I call it The New Organic to point out 3 things: one, that it is a new assertion of the primeval value of organic matter; two, that it is a new technique in building the soil naturally, and three, that the better kind is value-recognizing agriculture than value-adding agriculture. I call it ground-generated agriculture; you begin with the soil, with nature. There are so many values in nature; know them first before you attempt to add a man-made value. That would be man showing respect for the environment, not man showing disdain.

In 1972, the UN General Assembly declared every 5th of June as World Environment Day (Jane Engelsiepen, 05 June 2015, Ecology Global Network, ecology.com). The United Nations Environment Program describes World Environment Day as its "principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment." And so we are told that more than 100 countries will be involved this year in celebrating the day, their activities including marathons, music, education, and clean-ups.

What?! Is that you, UNEP? You make billions of people aware of the environment only once a year?

You cannot ignore the environment 364 out of 365 days; you are a factor in it, whether you are a manager sitting pretty in an air-conditioned office or you are a farmer sweating it out in the farm. Whatever you do affects the environment.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says, "Although individual decisions may seem small in the face of global threats and trends, when billions of people join forces in common purpose, we can make a tremendous difference" (ANN, 05 June 2015, unep.org). Sir, but not with separate dreams, separate lives.

That's why I say, every single day should be World Environment Day. And farmers can begin with their cultivated fields, flooded or baked.

And yes, UNEP, what have you done about Australia, one of the biggest country-deniers of climate change? "Australia one of the four major offenders, with Canada, Japan and Russia, accused of appearing to have withdrawn from attempts to tackle climate change" (AP, 06 June 2015, The Guardian, theguardian.com).

Ah, there is redeeming grace from Down Under (unaavictoria.org.au):

Each year, in support of United Nations World Environment Day (June 5), the United Nations Association of Australia recognizes innovative and outstanding environmental programs and initiatives from across Australia and the important work of Australian environmental leaders through its World Environment Day Awards.

The preeminent national awards play an important role in raising awareness about key environmental issues and challenges, and inspiring and motivating individuals, organizations and businesses to take positive steps towards sustainability and environmental excellence in their homes, schools, communities and workplaces.

UNEP says, "Consuming with care means living within planetary boundaries to ensure a healthy future where our dreams can be realized. Human prosperity need not cost the Earth." Rules, not boundaries. I say that The New Organic calls for living with planetary rules like the cycle of life and death to ensure a healthy future for mankind. Human prosperity must cost the Earth, but it must also return it.

UNEP also says, "Living sustainably is about doing more and better with less." The New Organic calls for doing less for more and better.

Ah, and there is also redeeming grace in the UNEP. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, has invited "everyone to imagine what the world would be like if each of the seven billion people made one change towards a more responsible consumption of resources" (ANN, 05 June 2015, un.org). Like? Like refusing to buy single-use plastic bags, like riding a bike to work or go places. One small change for man, a giant step for mankind. And, I insist, every single day.

And like the farmer practicing The New Organic. Like the farmer starting by junking his plow and his match.