Project Earthrise: Inspiring Creativity, Kindness and Imagination in Planetary Health

Abstract

The concept of planetary health blurs the artificial lines between health at scales of person, place and planet. At the same time, it emphasizes the integration of biological, psychological, social and cultural aspects of health in the modern environment. Our grandest challenges in the Anthropocene ultimately stem from human attitudes to each other and to our environment. However, solutions rarely confront the underlying value systems that created these interconnected problems, or the attitudes that perpetuate them. Too often, the dominant focus is on the “worst of human nature”, and devalues or neglects the importance of empathy, kindness, hope, love, creativity and mutual respect—the deeper values that unite, empower and refocus priorities of individuals and groups. Here, we call to normalize more creative, mutualistic approaches—including the perspectives of traditional and indigenous cultures—to positively influence normative value systems. We revisit the power of inspiration with the profound example of the Apollo 8 Earthrise photo which galvanized a fledgling planetary health movement over 50 years ago. Through the inaugural Earth Day that followed, we are reminded that its early organizers were not constrained in how they defined the “environment”. They and their primary speakers were as concerned about value systems as they were about pollution—that we cannot hope to solve our problems without addressing the attitudes that created them in the first place. We explore the ways in which the awe of Earthrise—and the contemporary science of creativity and studies of utopian thinking—might reinvigorate imagination, kindness and mutualism. We revisit the fundamental challenge offered by Pulitzer-Prize-winning microbiologist Rene Dubos and others in the afterglow of the Earthrise photo, and the inaugural Earth Day. This is a question of imagination: What kind of world we want to live in?

Elevating the impact of conservation physiology by building a community devoted to excellence, transparency, ethics, integrity and mutual respect

“…Beyond the need for kindness in our community is the need for ensuring that we also include kindness in our approach to dealing with massive challenges related to planetary health such as the biodiversity crisis and climate change ( Logan et al , 2020 ). Although conservation science is often focused on wildlife (including all non-human life forms), it is the intersection of people and wildlife (or the environment more broadly) that dictates what is possible in terms of policies and practices ( Bennett et al , 2017b ).…”

Healing Anthropocene Syndrome: Planetary Health Requires Remediation of the Toxic Post-Truth Environment

“…As the inoculation research grows more robust, it is possible to consider the ways in which "immunization" against misinformation and propaganda might extend to "herd immunity" through the process of positive social contagion. Indeed, the possibilities go beyond curbing misinformation and consider what an information transformation might look like-with benefits that move past health per se and extend into the realm of human flourishing and the all-scales vitality that ultimately defines planetary health [159]. This potential, inspired and amplified by the awe and wonder of life itself, is described below.…”

Project Earthrise: Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Conference of inVIVO Planetary Health

“…Suggested 3 The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; 4 Joondalup Health Campus, Perth, Australia; 5 Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; 6 Curtin University, Perth, Australia; 7 Department of Health Science, University of York, UK; 8 Institute for Health Research, Notre Dame University, Perth, WA 6160, Australia). Few studies have documented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emotional wellbeing, needs and concerns of the general population.…”

“…In an age of convergence, this initiative promotes awareness of interdependence on all scales-across the continuum of people, places and planet-and creates opportunities through connectivity by nourishing a diverse community of change. In addition to our established history of robust science [4], Project Earthrise aims to normalize more mutualistic, creative approaches to positively influence normative value systems-placing greater importance on spiritual perspectives from all cultures, including Indigenous traditions and practices [5]. It is vital to redefine "progress" and "growth" in more meaningful ways, recognizing that not all innovation is improvement, and placing greater value on deeper wisdom and happiness.…”

“…Project Earthrise seeks to equally consider our social and spiritual ecology as it does natural ecology; to address "broken spirit" as well as "broken systems" manifest in mounting social unrest, hopelessness, and unparalleled adversity [5]. Our agenda seeks to place a higher value on self-development, creativity, and imagination in solving challenges at all scales.…”