Earth Day 2017

Mother Earth is our one and only habitable planet. It’s a precious, living gem in a cold and airless solar system. Those hoping to live on Mars might reconsider, when they realize they’d have to be in a bubble the entire time. Regardless, we’re treating our planet like it’s our own personal plaything, a carefree toy we can chew up and spit out. Just when the USA was on the brink of a positive turning point on climate, we took a giant step backwards, electing an orange-faced child with money for a brain, and a smoldering lump of coal for a heart. We mean it, he’s a terrible, terrible person to put in charge of anything, let alone the richest country on earth.

Earth Day 2017 marks a time when we should reflect on our natural world, and the vast riches it provides us with, for free. Economists put an estimate of $55 trillion dollars a year in value that the natural world bestows on us every single year.  So this Earth Day, give a little reflection and appreciation towards our brilliant earth, and all it provides for us. This beautiful illustration is by Brian Miller for REI.