Show, Don't Tell: The Golden Rule For Restoring Our Planet
“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
Anton Chekhov
In today’s information-packed world, it is little wonder that there is a new contingent of mental health professionals raising the alarm that people are increasingly feeling overwhelmed with climate anxiety. Every morning, many of us open up our smartphones to news of the continued rollercoaster of jumps and falls in new cases of the Covid-19 virus, depending on where you are in the world. More deaths, fewer deaths, schools closed, schools reopening, flights cancelled, holidays resuming, businesses struggling, new businesses founded… the list goes on. There is little point in wishing for a disease-free world but there is a new-found hope that Covid-19 will teach us to rebalance our delicate relationship with nature to avoid zoonotic diseases from rampaging human existence on our precious planet.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration runs from 2021 through 2030, which is also the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals and the timeline scientists have identified as the last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change. A decade may sound like a long time but scientists say that these next 10 years will count most in the fight to avert climate change and the loss of millions of species. As we embark on these next ten critical years, how can we avoid the inaction effect from taking hold in the current climate of fear?
With so much uncertainty and anxiety in the world, it is important to offer hope to the surviving humans on this planet entrusted with being the custodians of the environment for future generations. To find hope in uncertainty, there are three things that we can do:
First, we must be aware of and accept the current state of our world before we can reflect on some of the changes that we must make to achieve the sustainable development of people and our planet. Instead of viewing such changes with apprehension, we must consider that they may actually end up being positive. Having more plant-based meals could enhance your overall health; remembering to turn off the lights will reduce your electricity bills; taking part in a clothing swap could introduce you to new friends you haven’t met yet. Actions for the planet need not be viewed as a burden but an opportunity for positive change.
Second, we need to think about our identities and priorities in life and focus on what matters most. Caring for yourself so you can care for the planet is so important and often forgotten. It can be easy to dismiss the importance of caring for ourselves amid pressing threats to people and our planet, but prioritising self-care is actually an investment in your activism.
Finally, we should try to focus on coping and adapting through activities that give life meaning. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with the multitude of actions that need to be taken by individuals, NGOs, companies and governments to heal our planet, focus on the everyday things that are within your reach that can lead to a life lived more consciously. We can all live sustainably and help build a better world for everyone. But this means taking a look at how we live and understanding how our lifestyle choices impact the world around us. We make hundreds of thousands of decisions during the course of our lives. The choices we make and the lifestyles we live have a profound impact on our planet.
In the end, hope is the acceptance of what is, and the cautious aspiration for something even better. As we build back better, that is surely a good recipe in these times of uncertainty.
How can we nurture hope when life starts getting really tough? Show, don't tell is a technique used in storytelling by allowing experiences through action, words, thoughts, senses, and feelings rather than through the author's exposition, summarization, and description.
This World Environment Day, it’s not enough simply to tell you to have hope for the planet. Working with the United Nations Environment Programme, MeshMinds, a creative technology studio, has developed a set of three augmented reality experiences using Spark AR from Facebook for UN Goodwill Ambassadors, Dia Mirza; Alex Rendell; and Antoinette Taus that show the effects of human-caused degradation of the Mountains of India, the Mangroves of Thailand and the Coral Reefs of the Philippines. By interacting with the environment, you learn about the problem and an individual action to help combat the triple threat of climate change, loss of nature and pollution that these ecosystems are facing. Thereafter, you bear witness to the environments reimagined, recreated and restored before being invited to make your pledge to join #GenerationRestoration and show the world what you will do to heal nature.
Ecosphere AR hosted by Dia Mirza, Alex Rendell, and Antoinette Taus
Ecosphere AR hosted by Dia Mirza, Alex Rendell, and Antoinette Taus
Head to Instagram to find Ecosphere AR hosted by Dia Mirza, Alex Rendell, and Antoinette Taus under their Effects tab. Follow these three simple steps to activate Ecosphere AR:
- Using your back-facing camera, start by tapping on the sphere. You will be transported to the Mountains of India, Mangroves of Thailand, or Coral Reefs of The Philippines. Explore the degraded environment and look out for the #GenerationRestoration logo labelled 'TAP HERE'. Through the magic of augmented reality, you will see the environment reimagined, recreated and restored.
- Whilst recording a video, try swapping to the front-facing camera by tapping on the camera icon on the bottom right of your screen with your other hand and say: "Join Generation Restoration". Or, simply snap a photo.
- Add your video or photo to your Story and tag three friends to join #GenerationRestoration".
Together, we can raise our voices and inspire action to prevent climate catastrophe; stem the growing tide of pollution and waste, and halt biodiversity loss. Everyone must play a part. Act now.
Activate ECOSPHERE AR with these links:
Mangroves of Thailand: http://l.ead.me/WED21_Mangroves
Mountains of India: http://l.ead.me/WED21_Mountains
Coral Reefs of the Philippines: http://l.ead.me/WED21_CoralReefs
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- Kay Vasey is Chief Connecting Officer and Founder at MeshMinds - a creative technology studio partnered with the UN Environment Programme.