Earth Planet Universe

John Muir, EARTH, PLANET, UNIVERSE. “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe”. My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir, 1911. “When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty”. Travels in Alaska by John Muir, 1915
Those forest reserves are not merely for the convenience and benefit of the people near them, but they are the property of the nation and for its greatest good. It is unreasonable to suppose that they should be destroyed or imperiled for any local convenience, as a mere present to men engaged in one local industry.  THEODORE ROOSEVELT
'I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion Has broken Nature’s social union, An’ justifies that ill opinion Which makes thee startle At me, thy poor, earth-born companion An’ fellow-mortal! ' From To a Mouse, Robert Burns
Muir was part of a continuum – he was inspired by those before him and went on to influence many others to value and protect the natural environment and to understand its crucial role in our survival. His story together with that of his forerunners and those who followed illustrate how social, political and economic issues are closely connected to environmental devastation and climate crisis. We can look to John Muir and others to create a new story for our future and for our communities.
The previous 2 images of the Muir Glacier, in Alaska show the extent in August 13 1941 and August 31 2004, emphasising the staggering ice retreat.
“The moment of crisis has come, we can no longer prevaricate...every year that passes makes the steps we have to take more and more difficult to achieve” Sir David Attenborough: 2019
“We are now at a time in history where everyone with any insight of the climate crisis that threatens our civilisation and the entire biosphere must speak out. In clear language. No matter how uncomfortable and unprofitable that may be” No one is too small to make a difference Greta Thunberg: 2019
We must act now
PANEL 2 – JOHN MUIR, A GUDE FECHTER