Earth Week Compassion Games 2017: Mission 5 and 6

Reflect On Yesterday's Mission Before moving on to Mission #6, reflect on yesterday's mission, Love Wisdom. Was it difficult to view yourself as an already whole, valuable human being, despite what you might or might not own? Yes and No.  Easy to see it hard to practice it.  Do you think this shift in thinking makes a difference for the planet? YES How might you continue to connect more with those around you to get what you need, and also help others? Listen to the opportunities around me.  Share your wonderful reflections and stories on the Compassion Report Map! Agents, our sixth mission is to RSVP for a local event or activity that supports the protection and regeneration of our Mother Earth! "UNLESS Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”  ― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax In Dr. Seuss's story The Lorax, a single seed in the hands of someone who truly cared was all it took to regrow an entire forest. This, amazingly, is not far from the truth! Human beings are a lot like seeds.Even if we’ve been hurt or neglected - like a seed that has not been planted in a long time, or a plant that has begun to wither - given the right conditions, we can still recover and grow and find new life. As we act with compassion on behalf of the Earth and all her creatures, we can begin to feel new life stir within us, and then SPRING into being as we join our place as good caretakers in the web of life. It begins with each of us! Our mission today, Agents, is to discover an activity or event taking place near your home that is celebrating Earth Month by giving back to the Earth in some way. It may be an ecosystem recovery project, a tree planting event, a beach or park clean up, or even a gardening event. Identify an event in your community that is helping to regenerate the Earth, RSVP to it, and then go to that event tomorrow for Earth Day or over the weekend in honor of Earth Day! (See resources for finding an event below!) Invite your friends to go with you! There’s enough life-affirming, regenerative fun to go around for everyone! Find an Earth Month Event! Use the Earth Day Network global event map to find an event in your area! Literally thousands of events are taking place around the world, so there is bound to be one near you. Are you organizing an event? You can add it to the map, too. Find an Event Here! Each day during Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. For Day 6 of the Earth Week, we are thrilled to pass the Compassion Torch from Unify to Earth Gratitude!   Read Our Featured Story About Earth Gratitude Here! View Past Missions! Previously released Serve the Earth Week missions are available to be viewed here. It's never too late to revisit past or missed missions to find inspiration for igniting compassion for Mother Earth! Reflect On Yesterday's Mission Before moving on to Mission #5, take a moment to reflect on yesterday's mission. What was it like to be mindful of how we use energy every day in ways that often go unnoticed?  I was ashamed of how much energy I waste, especially photon energy.  Were you surprised? Yes  Do you feel inspired to reduce your carbon footprint and implement green energies in your home? Yes How might you help your community transition to clean, renewable energy that goes beyond coal and oil? I need to become more inform before I try to have a plan of action.   Report and share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map!

Our fifth mission, Agents, is to live wisely by reducing our consumption and dramatically lightening our impact on planet Earth. “Each of us in the U.S. is targeted with over 3,000 advertisements a day. We see more advertisements in one year than people 50 years ago saw in a lifetime. And if you think about it, what’s the point of an ad except to make us unhappy with what we have? So 3,000 times a day we are told our hair is wrong, our skin is wrong, our clothes are wrong, our furniture is wrong, our cars are wrong - we are wrong - but it can all be made right if we just go shopping.” -Annie Leonard, The Story of Stuff In the Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard explains how our material economy has come to be what it is today, and the disastrous consequences it has had on our environment and lives. Since about the 1950s, the national happiness of the United States has steadily been going down as rates of consumption and house size have been increasing. Could there be a connection here? Today’s mission is really about going from being considered a consumer back to our natural birthrights as brilliant and whole human beings! When we recognize that we are already whole, just the way we are, we don’t need the latest products to give us an external sense of worth. As a result, we buy less, have a lighter footprint on the planet, and focus on the things that truly make us happy... Things like friends and family, learning new skills, giving back to the world, and appreciating meaningful experiences. Here are some ways to reduce our waste while increasing our connection with others: Join a gifting community for free like “Buy Nothing”, NextDoor, or Freecycle to begin sharing things you no longer need with others instead of throwing them away! Instead of buying something new, see if you can buy it used! Gifting communities are often great places to ask for something, and often times, you will be given what you need for free. Start a community “tool library” where members contribute the tools they have so that together everyone has what they need. (It makes little sense for every house to have a shovel when you only need it once every 3 years!) Recycle and compost whenever you can! Encourage your family and friends to do the same! Relabel your garbage can with a sign that says “landfill” as a reminder that nothing can really be thrown “away”. If you don’t have a compost bin, start one! Or, if your community picks up yard waste make certain you use it for food and yard waste. When you go to the grocery store, bring reusable bags to avoid one more plastic or paper bag from going home with you. (If everybody did this, think of how many bags would be saved!) Use a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic water bottles that leach toxins into the water. Recycle old electronics (“e-waste”) responsibly by giving them to e-waste facilities. Transition from paper billing to online billing! Invite your friends and family to join with you. And Agents, remember... As you fulfill your mission, share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map! Your report inspires others, amplifying the power of your compassion and generosity! Going Deeper: Mission #5 was inspired by "The Story of Stuff" with Annie Leonard, an amazingly insightful, fascinating, and accessible short-story for people of all ages. Story Description: "From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever." Watch the Story of Stuff Here! Each day during Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. For Day 5 of the Earth Week, we are honored to pass the Compassion Torch from the Pachamama Alliance to the global mobilizer, Unify! Read Our Featured Story About Unify Here!

Earth Week Compassion Games Missions 3 and 4

REFLECT ON YESTERDAY'S MISSION Before moving on to Mission #4, take a moment to reflect on yesterday's mission. How did yesterday's mission shift your ideas about food and your connection to the Earth? It was not difficult to realize how connected we are to the people and places where we shared some of our favorite meals.  It is difficult to be mindful of where food comes from.  In religious traditions, we thank God for the meal we are about to receive, but what about being intentional about all the helpers that allow that meal to be at our table, when do we really take the time to think about the farmer, the crop picker, the transporting agents from the farm to the market, to our tables.  What was it like to offer food to another person with a compassionate intention? The service council at my school created bags with fruit snacks carefully selected to thank our young donors during National Volunteer Week for their help throughout the year.  It felt good being the connection between the hands that made the thank you traced hands and the principal who distributed our small token of appreciation through a treat the children told me they really liked How might you bring more mindfulness toward food in your everyday life, and why might this be good for the planet? The intentional actions not only make a person feel good and connected, they also help be more mindful and appreciative.  At the end, I hope I will recycle and reuse more as well as pollute less and help clean-up my surroundings more.  My choices of what I eat and drink will probably change a bit too, as well as my portions.  Report and share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map!

Our fourth mission, Agents, is to be like plants so we can minimize the impact of our energy use on the Earth. “The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson All energy comes from the stars.  The cleverness and wisdom of plants allow them to absorb the energy of our nearest star, the Sun, turning this directly into food for them to grow. But animals, like us, depend upon these great plants so we can access the energy of the sun to live and grow as well. When we look around us, we can see that the modern world is totally dependent upon massive amounts of energy to operate. Where does this energy come from? Our electronics, our lights, our heat, our cars, our entire way of life requires the energy of the sun to power them. The unsustainable energy sources of coal, natural gas, and fossil fuel oil are simply very crude forms of sun-energy that have been left in the Earth and transformed into something more distant than the clean, direct energy of the sun. The great challenge of humanity now is to mimic the plant world and utilize the ever-flowing free, clean energy of the sun to power our lives. Agents, our mission today is to consider all of the ways we can conserve energy, to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels while we transition to clean and renewable energy as quickly as possible. Here are some places to get started and even save money in the process: Eat local food! Local food uses very little carbon to get from the farm onto your plate! Food grown in other countries must travel thousands of miles to get to your plate. When something is plugged in, it is still pulling energy from the outlet and ultimately wasting it. When you no longer need your phone charger or other electronics, unplug them from the wall to stop this flow. If you are going to leave a room for more than 5 minutes, turn off the lights to save energy. During the day whenever possible, open the blinds and curtains to let free, natural light into the room instead! It’s better for your eyes, and will lift your spirit to boost. Replace wasteful and outdated incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent, halogen or LED lights. These bulbs use just a fraction of the older light bulbs and put out just as much light. You’ll even save money in the long run to recover the costs of buying them, as an LED light can last between 10-17 years without burning out! Hate traffic? Consider setting up a carpool with friends or coworkers who live nearby to dramatically cut down on energy consumption, alleviate traffic, and even use the carpool lane! If carpooling isn’t possible, consider taking the bus. It may take a bit longer to get there, but the gained time of not having to drive can be an unexpected gift. Walk and bike more! Not only are you saving energy, but you are getting the much needed movement your body craves! Is it cold outside? Before cranking up the heat, consider this: the most efficient way to warm yourself up is by wearing warmer clothes! Join a solar program or install solar on your house! Over time the cost of installation will be offset by the energy you produce all on your own. Inspire your friends and family to join you on this mission! Challenge your household to save as much energy as possible as we transition to clean, renewable resources, together! Agents, remember... As you fulfill your mission, share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map! Your report inspires others, amplifying the power of your compassion and generosity! Each day during Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. For Day 4 of the Earth Week, we are humbled to pass the Compassion Torch from the People's Climate March to the Pachamama Alliance! Read Our Featured Story About the Pachamama Alliance Here!

REFLECT ON YESTERDAY'S MISSION Before moving on to Mission #3, reflect on yesterday's mission. How did it feel to consider how much our lives depended on water, and that our bodies are mostly made of water? As a young teacher with a heavy teaching assignment, I learned not to drink too much water to avoid having to leave my classroom to use the facilities. As I grow older and I read how water is needed for brain functioning, I still cannot break the habit, but I am trying.    Was it difficult to be mindful of saving water? Yes, because we are creatures of convenience and the shower habits and being mindful of turning off faucets not to waste water are difficult habits to create Why do you think this is? Guilty How did it feel to appreciate water more fully for its many gifts? Connected in my actions to others and the future Did you feel more connected and present? Somewhat, the question is will this connection become a habit.  If you haven't already done so, shares your experiences on the Compassion Report Map to inspire others!

Our third mission, Agents, is to love food by preparing a healthy and nourishing meal for those you love. “Is there any practice less selfish, any time less wasted, than preparing something delicious and nourishing for the people you love?” - Michael Pollan, Cooked To love our family and friends is to wish for them to have the vital things that make life possible and worthwhile. Food, without a doubt, is life. All living beings require good, healthy food to grow, have strength, and make life worth living. This nourishment grows abundantly from the generous bounty of Mother Earth, and when we take this bounty into ourselves, it becomes our very bodies. Cooking food and sharing a meal together makes us more human. The experience of coming together, around a fire and a good meal, lies deep within our ancestral memories. When we eat a healthy meal that we made ourselves - not only are we connecting with this ancient tradition - we are nourishing ourselves in an act of compassion that extends to those we dearly love. Agents, our third mission is to love food by making or sharing a healthy meal for someone you care about. If you don’t cook, don’t worry! It isn’t as difficult as it first appears. Try teaming up with someone who knows how to cook to fulfill this mission. Think about where your ingredients are coming from, and make an effort to select from the most local and sustainable options if you are able to. You can even invite many people to cook for each other by having a potluck, and having a discussion about the importance of food, human connection, and our relationship to the Earth. Every act of eating symbolizes our innate bond to the living world around us. How incredible is that?! Share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map to inspire others and amplify the power of your compassion for Mother Earth! Good luck, Agents! GOING DEEPER: This mission was inspired by award winning author and food activist Michael Pollan. If you have an inkling to deepen your appreciation for food in any way, check out his newest documentary called "Cooked". Watch a meaningful and heart-provoking clip of "Cooked" below. Each day during Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. For Day 3 of the Earth Week, we are thrilled to pass the Compassion Torch from the Amy Walker to the People's Climate March. Read Our Featured Story About the People's Climate March Here!

Water is Life, Earth Week Games 2017: Missions 1 and 2

Reflect On Yesterday's Mission Before moving on to Mission #2, reflect on yesterday's mission. What was it like to imagine your special place in one thousand years from now? A combination of enthusiasm and fear  Enthusiasm because of the good thinks kind compassionate people will do to keep our earth healthy.  It was especially empowering to hear the ladies who started the March on Science. Fear because of the consumer, me first attitude humans have that could continue to damage the health of our planet.  How did you feel spending time there? Did you feel calm, peaceful, or more present? What might you do to care for this place so that future generations of life can enjoy it the way you do now? Stop my personal pollution and consumerism.  Recycle more. Conserve energy and water. If you haven't already done so, shares your experiences on the Compassion Report Map to elevate good in the world!

Our second mission, Agents, is to become acutely aware of water’s role in our lives and then develop habits to save as much of it as possible. “In the end it does not matter who you are... for we all drink from the same world-wide well. There is a beauty in every drop of water, and when water flows together it is powerful, capable of creating amazing change. We are water. And together, we create change.” -Takaiya Blaney, Sliammon First Nation Water connects us to all life, present, past, and future. The water that makes up our bodies was once a glacier, the ocean, the falling rain. Each droplet once composed a leaf, an ancient species, another human being. And one day, it shall be these things again in new ways. Human beings are 65% water. Water is what protects us in our mother’s womb, and water is the most vital resource for life to exist. A human being can live for more than three weeks without food but only 3 days without water. And yet, just a tiny fraction of water on Mother Earth is fresh and drinkable - less than 1% of the water on our planet! In the modern world, however, the reality of how precious water is can be easy to forget. Water surges through our sinks and bathtubs with the flick of a hand. Because of this privilege, it can be easy to allow so much good water to drain away without ever being used or fully appreciated. Agents, our second mission is to love water for its many gifts, learning where our water comes from, and then saving as much of it as possible. In every activity we engage in today with water, let’s be mindful of how precious water is to life! First, identify which watershed you live within. Where does your water come from? (You can quickly find which watershed you live within here!) Then, identify ways you can appreciate, protect, and save as much water as possible!: When you brush your teeth, turn the water off when you are not using it between brushes. Try to only run full loads of laundry and dishes. When you shower, think of all the moments where you really need water’s help, and when you don’t. When you lather your hair or your body with soap, or when you’re shaving, consider turning the water off until these stages are complete and shorten your shower by even a few minutes. Wash vehicles at a carwash that recycles and filters pollutants out of the water. Be mindful of what you put into the drains! All products make their way to our waterways eventually, impacting entire ecosystems and even ourselves. Buy products that are biodegradable, non-toxic, and do not contain plastic microbeads. Consider letting your yard go through natural draught phases, or having plants that don’t need as much water in your yard. Capture the rain in rain barrels and use this water for your yard or garden. If possible, consider “letting the yellow mellow” when you use the toilet to minimize flushing. (But of course “let the brown down”!) Get your household involved and work as a team! Who can love water and save it the most? Talk with all members of your living space to work with you on this goal. Add notes by every water source as a reminder of this new and important habit! Share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map to inspire others and amplify the power of your compassion for Mother Earth! Good luck, Agents! Going Deeper: Mission #2 was inspired by the mesage of Ta'Kaiya Blaney, an Indigenous youth from the Sliammon First Nation who has helped ignite sacred activism for the Earth around the world. Listen to her moving message from World Water Day in 2014 in the video below, still as powerful today as it was then. Each day during Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. On Day 2 of the Earth Week, we are deeply thankful to pass the Compassion Torch from Earth Day Network to the remarkable Amy Walker. Read Our Featured Story About Amy Walker Here!

Saturday, April 22nd was Earth Day 2017. Seniors Jake U. and Cathy Z. organized a street clean-up.  The Cyclone Environmental Club cleaned-up Casady's Adopt a Street portion of Penn and Britton.  The Club met at 8:30 at the Student Center for breakfast and safety instructions before the clean-up started.   

 Tips to SAVE THE Planet 

Go Earth Go!

Go Cyclones Go!

  

Stop to play the Compassion Earth Week Games: WATER IS LIFE - April 22-30th 
Play as an individual or a Team
Register at http://compassiongames.org/earth-week/

Water is Life, Compassion Earth Games

Agents of Compassion, We have critical information for you from Compassion HQ... In ancient times, it was taught that a great Worldwide River flowed through this world, whose waters nourished and connected all that it touched. Its waters were so abundant, it was said, and so good, that it made life possible for plants, who covered the Earth with a blanket of lush green. This is why the Earth is a green and blue planet: blue like water, and green, like plants. The plants fed the insects, which fed the animals, which all fed the people. And so it was understood that Water was Life, and that it should be protected and appreciated so that all living beings, including human beings, could live the life they were meant to live.  Life went on like this for a very, very long time. Today, however, many of these teachings have been largely forgotten. When a human being forgets the teachings of the Worldwide River, they may begin to treat the Earth’s waters differently. They may put their garbage or pollution into the water, not realizing it will one day flow back to the water they must drink. They may not care that the dirty water will make the plants and the animals sick, but people must eat these plants and animals, which will eventually make them sick, and their children sick, too. It was foretold by the ancients that human beings may one day forget this knowledge, and that these bad things might happen, as they are indeed happening. But... they also foretold that human beings would one day remember the old stories, and learn again to care for the Worldwide River, and therefore care for all life! Agents, as the ancients foretold, the old teachings are returning! Water Protectors of the 7th Generation arise all around Mother Earth as we speak! They carry with them the message “Mni Wiconi,” which means Water is Life!  They invite you to join with them! Water is Life! Protect the Sacred Earth Week is here! Let the Compassion Games begin!

Our first mission, Agents, is to walk in nature and imagine that place in one thousand years. Agents, our first mission is to connect with nature by walking in a place that is meaningful to you. Invite a friend to join you on your journey if you prefer.  Maybe your place is a forest trail, a garden, the beach or your backyard. How do you feel when you are in this special space? Allow yourself to really settle into the moment and feel the vibrancy of life happening all around you. After some time, begin to imagine what this place might be like in one thousand years. Imagine someone, just like you, visiting this place, enjoying the wonders and peacefulness you are experiencing right now. Agents, over the next 9 days of Love This Place! Serve the Earth Week our missions will focus on exploring fun and meaningful ways to care for the Earth, each other, and ourselves. Through our time together we will discover ways to walk lighter on Mother Earth that bring us more happiness and connection, while positively impacting the future generations of life on our one and only home! Agents, remember... share your experiences on theCompassion Report Map to inspire others and amplify the power of your compassion for Mother Earth! Good luck!

Going Deeper:

“I see a time of seven generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become One Circle again.” -Crazy Horse, Oglala Lakota Nation This mission was inspired from the teachings and laws of Indigenous Peoples. In many First Nation cultures, an utmost importance is placed on being mindful of how our actions will impact our children, and our children's children, for seven generations of life to come. It also honors the ancient teachings from the Tree of Life that we are interconnected with all living things. Each day during the Water is Life! Protect the Sacred Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. With the launch of Earth Week, we are beyond honored to pass the Compassion Torch to Earth Day Network, our partner and continuous source of regeneration for the Earth and all life. As the world looks to find a new way to balance, preserve and protect Mother Earth we are grateful to have a partnership with the Earth Day Network and to recognize them as the lead “champion of compassion”. Read Our Featured Story About Earth Day Network Here!