Today’s image is NASA’s ‘global selfie’ for Earth Day 2014.

It’s a reminder that we are all part of a global ecosystem.  We affect it as individuals.   Even more so, we affect it through the social systems we build on top – some of which take on a life of their own.

Some of our effects are benign, or at least harmless.    Others are malign – diminishing, depleting and damaging.   Making the planet a less hospitable place for others and ourselves.

It’s not too late to switch to having only benign effects.

Any difference we can make individually, will help.   But we’ll make a bigger difference when we get together.

Our social systems are just that – social.  We made them up.  We can make up new ones, different ones, better ones.  That enrich and nurture people and planet.

But where do I start?

With yourself, your family, your friends, your workplace, your street, your block, your town, your county, your country.   You get the idea.

Find the others.

Then do something together.

Happy Earth Day.

“The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make and could just as easily make differently.” David Graeber.