The tolling of bells

This is a sample chapter from my upcoming book "Observations for a World on Fire," a tome of works dedicated to the philosophy and ethics of climate change

From Chapter 5: The Tolling of Bells 

30. What came first? The beauty or the eye? The tongue or the word? They say, we can touch because we were born into a word that wanted to be touched; we think because the world wanted to be understood; we love because the world wanted us to love it. So why do we now teach our children to touch nothing, think nothing, love nothing but themselves? What did we lose first? The heart, or the hope it carried?

31. A ship at sea will light a distress signal, a beacon for rescue when it is hit by a rogue wave, a torpedo, a tsunami. I walk through a landscape ravaged by climate crisis and see a million beacons burning, a million species begging for us to see them, feel them, know them- beseeching us to help them, and ten million people more interested in the lives of Meghan and Harry. Who will come to our aid when the last domino falls and we are the ones who need rescuing?   I am a woman of nature, I am a radical, I believe, we can still turn this thing around; we can turn the rudder on a boat the width and breadth of 7 continents; and it will not take all of us, but it will require the participation of most of us. Where, or where are my sisters, my wild tigress sisters who will come and fight with me? I want to share my vision with someone who, for once, is not going to merely laugh at me.   Ask me, what do you feel, how will you make it work? My words will never be enough, but maybe, just maybe, they will light a cleansing fire in someone stronger than me.

Reviews

[An owl on the moon]

What a powerful fusion of vision and vulnerability. You remind us that poetry can be more than words—it can be a spark for courage, a light to awaken us.

[Ken Simm.]

I would love to sit down and discuss and argue, sympathise and agree, empathise and understand all this with you. I will certainly buy the book to get more context.

[Ballpark Frank]

What wonderful, insightful words dropping with clever thoughts.

I love it!