Activism

Profile: Bill Devall

Bill Devall (1938-2009) was an American sociologist who co-authored Deep Ecology: Living as if Nature Mattered (1985) with George Sessions. The book introduced deep ecology philosophy to North …

Profile: Bayo Akomolafe

Bayo Akomolafe is a Nigerian psychologist, author, and philosopher who offers decolonial perspectives on mental health, spirituality, and environmental activism. Trained in Western psychology but …

Profile: Helena Norberg-Hodge

Helena Norberg-Hodge is a Swedish author, filmmaker, and activist who promotes economic localization as an alternative to industrial globalization. Through Local Futures, the organization she …

Profile: Mohandas Gandhi

Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948), known as Mahatma (“Great Soul”), developed the concept of satyagraha - nonviolent resistance - during the Indian independence movement. His philosophy of …

Profile: Sulak Sivaraksa

Sulak Sivaraksa is Thailand’s most prominent Buddhist social critic and one of the founders of the international Engaged Buddhism movement. For over five decades, he has articulated a Buddhist …

I believe that if you just do your little bit without thinking of the bigness of what you stand against, if you turn to the enlargement of your own capacities, just that itself creates new potential

“I believe that if you just do your little bit without thinking of the bigness of what you stand against, if you turn to the enlargement of your own capacities, just that itself creates new …

A temperature rise of more than two degrees C risks altering the Earth system irreversibly.

“A temperature rise of more than two degrees C risks altering the Earth system irreversibly.” — James Lovelock Source: The Vanishing Face of Gaia (2009)

Climate change is real, and it is here, and we either change or we suffer.

“Climate change is real, and it is here, and we either change or we suffer.” — James Lovelock Source: Interviews / Essays

Earth does not need people. People need Earth.

“Earth does not need people. People need Earth.” — James Lovelock Source: Interviews / Talks

Gaia is a very simple idea: that the Earth works as a single, complex, self-regulating system.

“Gaia is a very simple idea: that the Earth works as a single, complex, self-regulating system.” — James Lovelock Source: The Ages of Gaia (1988)

Humanity is not separate from Gaia; we are a part of her body. To harm her is to harm ourselves.

“Humanity is not separate from Gaia; we are a part of her body. To harm her is to harm ourselves.” — James Lovelock Source: Gaia: The Practical Science of Planetary Medicine (1991)

If we go on wrecking the biosphere, our technical and moral loftiness will count for nothing.

“If we go on wrecking the biosphere, our technical and moral loftiness will count for nothing.” — James Lovelock Source: The Vanishing Face of Gaia (2009)

Let us hope that humanity will see through science that it must live in harmony with all life, not just exploit it.

“Let us hope that humanity will see through science that it must live in harmony with all life, not just exploit it.” — James Lovelock Source: The Vanishing Face of Gaia (2009)

Our task is not to save the Earth. She will endure. It is our civilization, our children, who are at risk.

“Our task is not to save the Earth. She will endure. It is our civilization, our children, who are at risk.” — James Lovelock Source: The Vanishing Face of Gaia (2009)

Quote: Joanna Macy; "Despair and gratitude can coexist; embracing both expands our capacity to act."

“Despair and gratitude can coexist; embracing both expands our capacity to act.” – Joanna Macy Source: Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age (1983)

Quote: Joanna Macy; "If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people..."

“If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people…” – Joanna Macy Source: Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without …

Quote: Joanna Macy; "The work that reconnects helps us transform despair into constructive action."

“The work that reconnects helps us transform despair into constructive action.” – Joanna Macy Source: Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy (with Chris …

Quote: Joanna Macy; "When you look at what is happening to our world and it is hard to look at whats happening..."

“When you look at what is happening to our world-and it is hard to look at what’s happening to our water, our air, our trees, our fellow species-it becomes clear that unless you have some …

Science taught us that change is inevitable; wisdom teaches us to change with it.

“Science taught us that change is inevitable; wisdom teaches us to change with it.” — James Lovelock Source: Late Interviews

The future depends on whether we can act on respect for Gaia rather than on fear.

“The future depends on whether we can act on respect for Gaia rather than on fear.” — James Lovelock Source: Interviews

The Gaia hypothesis tells us that life and the Earth are inseparable, two sides of one great process.

“The Gaia hypothesis tells us that life and the Earth are inseparable, two sides of one great process.” — James Lovelock Source: Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth (1979)

The planet we abuse will find ways to restore balance, but not necessarily in ways that are kind to us.

“The planet we abuse will find ways to restore balance, but not necessarily in ways that are kind to us.” — James Lovelock Source: The Revenge of Gaia (2006)

We are part of Gaia’s experiment. Whether we remain part of her future depends on how we live now.

“We are part of Gaia’s experiment. Whether we remain part of her future depends on how we live now.” — James Lovelock Source: The Ages of Gaia (1988)

We have to accept that we are modest parts of the functioning of Earth, not its masters.

“We have to accept that we are modest parts of the functioning of Earth, not its masters.” — James Lovelock Source: Healing Gaia (1991)

We need to recognise the fragility of our existence and the need to conserve the balance.

“We need to recognise the fragility of our existence and the need to conserve the balance.” — James Lovelock Source: Lectures

We need to see ourselves not as stewards of nature, but as participants in a vast, living system.

“We need to see ourselves not as stewards of nature, but as participants in a vast, living system.” — James Lovelock Source: The Ages of Gaia (1988)

Profile: John Seed

John Seed is an Australian environmental activist who co-created the Council of All Beings practice and founded the Rainforest Information Centre. His work connects direct action rainforest …

Profile: Pat Fleming

Pat Fleming is a deep ecology facilitator who co-authored Thinking Like a Mountain (1988) with John Seed, Joanna Macy, and Arne Naess. She has conducted experiential deep ecology workshops for over …

Quote: Joanna Macy; "Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an active engagement."

“Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an active engagement.” – Joanna Macy Source: Active Hope, 2007

Quote: Joanna Macy; "We dont have to surrender our individuality to be part of a collective movement."

“We don’t have to surrender our individuality to be part of a collective movement.” – Joanna Macy Source: Active Hope, 2007

Quote: Thich Nhat Hanh; "It is possible to be joyful and peaceful even while we work for change. Hope is important, but it is not enough. We must also be peace and joy in every moment."

“It is possible to be joyful and peaceful even while we work for change. Hope is important, but it is not enough. We must also be peace and joy in every moment.” Thich Nhat Hanh Source: …

Quote: Thich Nhat Hanh; "Real change will only happen when we fall in love with the Earth. Falling in love means to see her beauty, to touch her deeply and to rejoice in her."

“Real change will only happen when we fall in love with the Earth. Falling in love means to see her beauty, to touch her deeply and to rejoice in her.” Thich Nhat Hanh Source: Love Letter …

Quote: Thich Nhat Hanh; "The Earth is not just our environment. We are the Earth and we are always carrying her within us. We need to wake up and realize that the Earth and we are one."

“The Earth is not just our environment. We are the Earth and we are always carrying her within us. We need to wake up and realize that the Earth and we are one.” Thich Nhat Hanh Source: …

Quote: Thich Nhat Hanh; "The next Buddha may take the form of a community, a community practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community showing the way to collective awakening."

“The next Buddha may take the form of a community, a community practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community showing the way to collective awakening.” Thich Nhat Hanh Source: …

Quote: Thich Nhat Hanh; "We need to consume in such a way that keeps our compassion alive. Reducing consumption is the way to reduce violence toward ourselves and the Earth."

“We need to consume in such a way that keeps our compassion alive. Reducing consumption is the way to reduce violence toward ourselves and the Earth.” Thich Nhat Hanh Source: The World We …

Film: On The Brink

https://youtu.be/_e_liXJf5aQ A tale of endangered species featuring David Attenborough, David Suzuki, David Bellamy, Jack Thompson, Olivia Newton John, Koala, Owl, Quoll & Glider. For the young at …

Gandhi, Non-Violence & the Rainforest Movement

From the Rainforest Information Centre archives — a letter exchange between Harsh Prabhu and John Seed on the influence of Mohandas Gandhi on the Australian rainforest movement. Reproduced with …

Profile: Vimala Thakar

Vimala Thakar (1921-2009) was an Indian philosopher, social activist, and spiritual teacher who pioneered the integration of meditative inquiry with social justice work. A woman who challenged the …