Sustainability – Art In Coexistence

(revised)

This article is is written in reaction to a news-article posted by Dailymail. “Microplastics are contaminating the fruit and vegetables we eat including apples, carrots and lettuces after being absorbed through their roots, studies show.”

“For quite a while now, we have known that our oceans are About 8 million tonnes of plastic enters the sea every year, and if business continues as usual we face a future with more plastic in the Ocean than fish by 2050. Our plastic addiction and waste mismanagement is condemning countless marine birds and animals to death by entanglement or poisoning, and even leading to chemical contamination of the fish we eat.” says Ocean Unite, on their “key issues” segment.

Knowing this, I was not surprised when Dailymail announced that our fruit and vegetables are now polluted with microplastics through the rainwater. All because we don’t clean up our mess and choose the least sustainable option for our global basic packing material, and basic building blocks for all of our stuff.

Think about it, when rain falls down on us, we are showering in our own garbage. Hopefully we will find better options in the near future so our food remains safe to eat.

The rocky relationship between Man and Rain
The clouds above were never my friend
because they would break off the fun we had
when everybody would run to seek shelter
from the raindrops pouring down

While I would wait to see it through
and let the drops fall on my fingers
which would turn cold and tingle a little
and the downpour would sound like singers

Now that I am older and see the parks
turn brown in the sun, while kids are playing
soccer on a square that once was a field
and hearing that life under the surface
is again exposed. when it’s not even healed

It makes me want to rain dance for the clouds
to come back. and sing down on us
feeding all life on earth purifying water
from which all life blooms

–Let’s priorities the condition of the Oceans.

Dear Reader,

The image below is an artwork created by Garry McMillan, who’s sent in some very impressive pieces of art! I will definitely be sharing more of his work throughout this project. Furthermore, we’ll be collaborating on an artist portrait later on.

He’s submitted his artwork with the caption ” “Be good to her and she will be good to you” – Taking care of the earth like we should.”

Now, on poetry. I wrote this poem somewhere in the second week of the dutch (partial) lock-down. I had this strong feeling we were being corrected by the Earth as a mother, sending her children to their rooms.

Mother Earth

We were all sent to our rooms
to overthink what we’ve been doing
Some of it was clever, gold-hearted and pure
but with most of what we’ve been building
we did not consider the damage
Mother Earth has had to endure

At some point, we don’t know when
we’ll open up our doors, facing a brand new chance
and some day we’ll be back in the theaters
together, to join hands and dance
but first we have to accept that we are not in charge
we’ll have to make amends

In some ways our population equals a teenager,
constantly testing just how far we can go
but it’s time to level to our true power
Counting up our combined ages
We’ll reach maturity as we grow

Mother Earth will always be above us
but like any other parent, She wants us to live
We’ll have to realize, like any other being
there is only so much she can give

–Let’s not take our precious Earth for granted.