Last week, citizens all across the globe gathered (virtually and in spirit) to celebrate Earth Day 2021. This year, more than ever, people are longing for a renewed connection with nature.
Those confined to cities for the past year find solace in breathing the pure, fresh air of the countryside, while rural populations discovered a quieter, more peaceful nature, seemingly regenerated from the few months of quiet provided by the disruptions the pandemic caused to human activities.
Whether this renewed appreciation for nature will be the driving force behind new commitments towards climate and biodiversity targets remain to be seen. Yet, we remain hopeful and optimistic! So, we invited our audience to join us in celebrating Earth Day 2021 and show their appreciation for our beautiful planet. This year, our artistic tribute was in the form of haikus!
Now, without further ado, here’s a selection of our best submissions so far!
Carol Kerven
The wet sand heaved
Tide slowly tilted away
As the sea breathed
Bradley LW Gewa
Round, mostly blue, green
The men you bear, do they care?
Choking you with filth
Pippa Howarth
On a coastal plain
A prize pebble is gifted
Gentoos become one
NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Wikimedia Commons
Will Sharkey
Drifting through currents
A dragon under the waves
Dancing through the kelp
Andrey Giljov, Wikimedia Commons
E.J. Milner-Gulland
Saigas leap
In boundless steppe
Their air-spirits roam their untrammeled home
SEED Madagascar
From green, blue, rich browns
To red infernos, drowning towns
We must slow down
Lemur Conservation Network
Sifakas leaping
Ayes ayes foraging for grubs
Such unique species!
Nishand Venugopal
Nature can nurture life with care,
If you play fair
There’s enough, if you respect and share
Penguin Watch
Despite what you think
Penguins are fierce predators
Proud to research them
Photo credit: Cedness (Flickr)
Julia Migné
Endless pearls of light
Nuptial feathers on display
A grebe glides away
Photo credit: Elisa Bracco (Flickr)
Nina Seale
Global growth on pause
A chance to reimagine
The future we choose
Shoal
Streams ripple with fish,
Scales flashing iridescent.
Water bursts with life.
Beneath the turbid surface
– a world of wonder!
Overlooked, threatened.
Synchronicity Earth
Arteries of life
Rivers support all species
Time to recover
Photo credit: Hollie Booth
Hollie Booth
Cartilaginous Flat and round,
they swish and flap
Patrolling the reef
Photo credit: Forest Healing Sri Lanka
Forest Healing Sri Lanka
We heal the forest
Re-greening bringing meaning
The forest heals us
Molly Grace
Green Status asks,
When are species recovered?
Answers may surprise!
Photo credit: Flickr
Dr. Heather Spence (Marine Biology & Music)
Sunlit ripples spread
Dipping inside Ocean world
We are but tourists
The infamous ‘Blue Marble’ photo, shot by the Apollo 17 crew in December of 1972. Photo credit: NASA
Nancy EarthDayEveryDay Castaldo
Time to celebrate
Our Earth of intense beauty
Finding ways to care
As I learned more and more about our beautiful planet, my interests began to diversify: I found myself more and more passionate about science communication. I found so much misinformation and misunderstanding of science around me, I decided I wanted to do my bit to spread these ideas in an objective, unbiased manner. I combine my scientific training with my passion for writing, photography, and film to produce scientific content during my free time.