Sometimes, I get ideas in my head that will not go away. This drawing is a product of that therefore it had to be done. Now, it is on paper; it’s out of my head, but the concerns around it still linger as it’s surreal and emotional at the same time. The Earth is not a place we should take for granted. Neither is humanity or our health, we all have umbilical connections to our planet.
The Earth is a jewel in space. Our planet is the only place we can live and breathe without wearing a spacesuit. When we feel like a walk we go, we breath without thinking about it. We can eat and grow food. All of us can play and learn, be kind and creative. This planet gives us life, a miraculous oasis in the vast emptiness of space. In return we should look after it with all our might.
Umbilical Connections Drawing
Our Earth is under pressure from climate change, war and apathy. We all have a duty of care to do all we can to stabilise the situation and improve it for the longevity of all. Here we have a planet fine-tuned for us, the human species, and all the living things with whom we share this home. We need clean air, food, water, homes, and education for all. The planet offers all this to us and we need to make sure everyone is included.
My drawing comes directly from an overview of what may come if we do not wake up and provide for all humanity and our planet. We need to be reminded of our umbilical connections to our home on Earth.
A Surreal View
The drawing shows the Earth buckling under pressure and going over the edge of rescuing. Nature, represented by the daisy, is trying to save some semblance of humanity. It is a surreal drawing that tells a story: Daisies are tough plants; they can recover from severe damage and bloom again that is why I choose this flower.
In the drawing, the Antarctic ice is flowing into space. It takes with it a long double helix of human DNA. The daisy has saved some babies by winding its stem around each, cradling them on a journey to an unknown future. The DNA winds itself around the daisy stem, seeking to be saved. The daisy has bees laden with pollen landing on its floating stem, their last chance at life. Each bee carries a daisy in its mouth.
An armada of daisies is falling through space, saving human babies, DNA and pollinating bees. Every dot in the drawing is a heroic daisy in the scenario. This surreal vision represents how nature nurtures humans. Even if we do not realise it, nature knows how unique our home is. Humans need to learn that urgently. Our health and our future depend on a collective acceptance of putting all humans and our planet first. Yes I know babies, bees and flowers cannot exist in space without protection. This is a vision that would not leave me. A dream or a nightmare depending on how you view the drawing.
Education
We must support education to promote understanding of where we are in space. Educating children about where they live is fundamental to building respect for this planet and all who live on it. A collective awareness of our address would bring a basis for understanding ourselves as beings—a basis for self-development, perhaps more awareness. And hopefully some kind of global motivation toward care. Lets us all try to bring focus to these umbilical connections, everything that connects us naturally to the planet we call home.
Look up we live in space
I often encourage children to look at the sky at night and realise that we live in space. We travel through space as we stand on the surface of Earth. We are so lucky to live here and look at other planets in our solar system and stars many light years away with our eyes. And inside ourselves, we know that we live on one extraordinary planet. We are umbilically connected to our planet and to the universe.
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
– Marcus Aurelius
Planet Earth 3 goes a long way to remind us of our Umbilical Connections and feelings towards our wonderful home
Here is a short video introducing Planet Earth 3 with narration by Sir David Attenborough – A stunning series and another massive visual and verbal hug for our home in space. Not everyone will be able to see the program right away but I am sure there will be lots of extracts on YouTube in the coming weeks.
