United in Song and Spirit for Mother Earth, aka Pachamama

The power of the people united here is impressive.

United in song and spirit across the globe, this is bigger than any one of us.  Without exception everyone I have interviewed to date at Cochabamba is clear that the power of change belongs to the people.  Whether or not life will change will depend on us and our leadership.

Here they are stepping up to lead and they are taking the responsibility.

I have heard so many times at this conference those famous words from Hillel - If not us, who and if not now, when?

The folks gathered here believe that they are the change agents it will take for the world to change and their energy is driven organically by their desire to positively impact the world through their actions and voices.  Though the energy is similar to the energy seen on political campaigns like the Obama campaign, this is not a  political campaign that is finite with an election cycle.  And if they keep that in mind I think that the folks here have the wherewithal to change the world.

It is inspiring.

We draw from different traditions, cultures and countries but we have all taken responsibility for our relationship with this planet, our earth - Pachamama and the world can only be the better for it.

Pachamama, Cochabamba and Our Grain of Sand

 I've been in Cochabama, Bolivia now for the People's World Conference for Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth for maybe 15 hours but I feel like its been much longer than that.  There has been no time to acclimatize to the altitude.  There has been no time to sleep after the red eye journey from IAD that started out yesterday afternoon.  There is much work to be done and only a few days to do it and so we have all jumped right in.

The delegation that I am traveling with is a phenomenal group of folks of color from the US who want to make a difference on this front and I am clear that the conversations that we are having among ourselves and others will make that vision a reality.  Folks are passionate, hungry for change and gifted. 

Earlier today a question came from the twitterverse asking me what we were doing in Bolivia, why we were here.  I asked eight of my colleagues who I happened to be eating with at the moment and their answers were as follows- see below and welcome to Bolivia.  (I will be posting some video soon.) 

1. 
   
   I'd like 2 b a part of resurrecting the ideas and stories of the past-passed dwn from our ancestors re how 2live #WPCCC #LATISM#Cochabambaabout 6 hours ago via web
   
2. 
   
   we r here 2further the ed and connectivity 2 Latinos & bring > awareness 2our comm on how 2 benefit mother earth #WPCCC#LATISM #Cochabambaabout 6 hours ago via web
   
3. 
   
   after Haiti/after Chile/after China we r in a state of emerg- we all hv 2work under urgent org co-ordination 2save our earth #WPCCC#LATISMabout 6 hours ago via web
   
4. 
   
   we come 2gether as 1ppl 2share-strategize-walk away w sustainable realistic approach 2address humanity's mst sever crisis yet #PWCCC#LATISMabout 6 hours ago via web
   
5. 
   
   we r here to inspire hope for the next seven generations "si se puede!" #ClimateChange #WPCCC #Cochabamba #LATISM #Greenabout 6 hours ago via web
   
6. 
   
   we r here to find a viable solution to the mass extinction of everything on this planet #ClimateChange #WPCCC #Cochabamba #LATISMabout 6 hours ago via web
   
7. 
   
   we r here to make connections w each other and mother earth that will transform #ClimateChange #WPCCC #Cochabamba #LATISMabout 6 hours ago via web
   
8. 
   
     
   we r here 2support the cause b/c #ClimateChange is sthg we r all feeling on earth-we need 2 protect mother earth #latism #WPCCC#Cochabambaabout 6 hours ago via web
   "We're sitting on our blessed Mother Earth from which we get our strength and determination, love and humility - all the beautiful attributes that we've been given. So turn to one another; love one another; respect one another; respect Mother Earth; respect the waters - because that's life itself!" -Phil Lane Sr.
   
   "Prayer has been made to Mother Earth that She blesses us with the knowledge required to exploit the treasures of the nature but without disturbing the environmental balance." -Atharva Veda