All over the world, people are undertaking the huge task of reversing the damage that humans have caused. One such project has taken place in London. The multi-million dollar task of creating an underground, high speed subway system, made it necessary to move more than seven million metric tons of soil. The earth was transported by boat to the eastern shore and deposited on a tiny peninsula off the coastline, called Wallasea. The seawall required repair and since farming was no longer profitable there, the owner sold his land to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
The soil, which took some 1,500 trips to be moved, helped to create a marsh that became the cornerstone of the newly named Wallasea Nature Reserve. The area now hosts a rich diversity of shore birds and increasing numbers of threatened species. The reinforcement of the shoreline is protecting it from rising sea levels.
The underground subway reduces the deaths of animals living above ground that might be run over by the fast moving trains. It is a win-win situation for Londeners and for wildlife.
There are many reasons to feel anxious in these challenging times. There is darkness everywhere you turn, but every time I hear about people who are doing things to make a difference, I am given hope. People are helping endangered animals. They are planting trees. They are saving heirloom seeds. They are implementing small changes in their own lives and they are practicing more kindness. We need to surround ourselves with people who uplift us and we, in turn, must do all we can to lift up each other. Our planet is depending on us to not only recognize the problems, but to seek out ways to solve them. I believe the tide of hatred and violence that has been predominant on our planet for far too long, is turning. We can all help to usher in the tide of peace.
