Restoring Our Connection to Nature

On September 21, 2019, over six hundred youth activists, organizers, and leaders from all over the world attended the first Youth Climate Summit at the United Nations, and I tuned in to watch live. The youth activists sent powerful messages to politicians and large corporations through passionate speeches and disturbing statistics which highlighted the reality of climate change. They demanded immediate action.  

During the Indigenous People’s Panel, representatives from indigenous communities in Guatemala, North Dakota, Uganda, Siberia, and Colombia sat side by side and expressed their deep concerns for the environment. A reoccurring point made throughout the session was that indigenous people have been fighting for environmental rights for centuries, dating back to the beginning of colonialism and industrialization. The recent fires in the Amazon Rainforest have brought extensive mainstream media attention to the indigenous peoples’ climate action movement. Indigenous communities who live in the Amazon are fighting back against politics and corporate deals which put their livelihood at risk. 

There are many cultures around the world that prioritize spending time in nature through trade and leisure. However, as nations continue to modernize, this connection grows weaker. Humans live in societies in which we’re connected to the latest technologies and trends. Be it fashion, wellness, beauty or tech, many people have lost touch with what should feel natural for humans. Many of us have lost our connection to nature.

If mankind makes a conscious effort to reconnect with nature on an individual and collective level, we may reduce the rapid rate of climate change. Here are a few simple ways to do so:  

1. Disconnect from technology devices for 30 mins a day and take a walk in your local park or to the closest body of water. Tech devices are one of the greatest reasons people feel disconnected from nature. By disconnecting, your respect for nature’s harmony and beauty will increase. 
2. Using fresh veggies and fruits in your daily meals and supporting local farmers. Farmers are responsible for maintaining local ecosystems. By supporting small farmers, we are helping them continue to do so while providing local produce to surrounding communities.  
3. For centuries, meditation has been used throughout different cultures to ground oneself and connect with others. It allows us to be in tune with our bodies as well as our environment.