Today is Earth Day. Since 1970, this day has served as a wake-up call for environmental protection. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the word "protection". It suggests that we are something else from the environment, while I firmly believe we are the environment. As philosopher Bayo Akomolafe says, "We can no longer distinguish ourselves from the environment; we are not separated from the world that we claim to be part of. We are the environment; we are part of the world."
Moreover, the notion of 'protecting' the Earth can be seen as a human-centric perspective. The Earth has been orbiting the sun long before our existence and will likely continue to do so long after we're gone. She has all the time in the universe.
We don't.
So, let this day serve as a reminder that when we take care of this tiny dot in the universe we call home, we are also taking care of ourselves. Our actions have a direct impact on our environment and, by extension, on our own well-being. This powerful realisation should motivate and empower us to make a difference.
Everyday. Everywhere.
To love Earth is to love yourself.