What do you believe about the state of the environment?

it's a big beautiful boat, but we're in steerage class without enough lifeboat space assigned, and the captain just hit the big old iceburg that has been floating in front of us for some time...only in our case, the iceburg is melting. this is depressing, overwhelming, and cause for grief and anger. now, what should we be doing with those emotions? some passengers are still in a state of denial, insisting that the water pouring in through the hull is a temporary, normal fluctuation of the ocean waves. some are saying that it's too bad, but what can they do to stop it? some are saying that it's the will of god, or alternatively, that god can take care of it. some are already fighting over who will get a spot in the lifeboats. some are saying that they can still turn a profit on this voyage if we can just push on and limp into port one more time; they'll deal with the hole in the ship then. maybe. meanwhile, a good number of people have been quietly helping the kids into the lifeboats, throwing stuff over to lighten the load on the over-burdened ship, training themselves to use the oars instead of the defunct petrol-guzzling engine, teaching other passengers how to swim...i know which group i want to be part of. and i believe that our  environmental situation is the reflection of our fragmented human souls. we have allowed political structures to emerge that do not support what we truly value and what is most important. we have given our power to people who care more for profit and dominance than for compassion and nurturance. we have allowed ourselves to forget that we are one species among many, and let intolerance and arrogance (the offspring of fear and ignorance) guide us too many times. we have been asleep, and it's time to awaken. i believe further that everything is inter-linked; that there is, as buddhists say, no other. i believe most of all that the most powerful force for positive change is love. love for this earth, love for the children, love and compassion for all living beings. if love were to become the driving force instead of fear or short-term gain, we might be well on our way to transforming our cultures into things that support justice and sustainability. this sort of love is not weak or passive---it is strong and enduring. it helps people to stand up together and raise their voices. it accepts responsibility. it exposes untruth and exploitation. it protects and heals. it sees connections and accepts difference. it cannot be silenced or bribed or intimidated. it is like the earth itself. in working to heal the environment, we heal ourselves. we must love ourselves and our world and each other with a fierce and unblinkingly truthful love, and let that love loose in the world to do its work.