I read the other day that apparently wood, and therefore trees, are ‘cosmically’ rarer than diamonds. Just ponder that for a second. Our little rock amongst the stars, planet Earth, is the perfect (and maybe only) home for plants, trees, and life as we know it to exist. You may discover diamonds in outer space, but good luck finding some shade under a southern blue gum out there anytime soon.
What an amazing twist on perspective. Maybe I’m more inclined to feel the gravity of this fact, but we all need to realise how good we’ve got it before it’s too late. This quote from Eckhart Tolle sums up the predicament we find ourselves in as a society in the 21st century: “The unprecedented violence that humans are inflicting on other life-forms and the planet itself; ill-treatment of animals in factory farms; and poisoning of rivers, oceans and air. Driven by greed, ignorant of their connectedness to the whole, humans persist in behaviour that, if continued unchecked, can only result in their own destruction.”
Don’t get me wrong, as a touring musician I see and very much feel complicit in the propagation of some eco-unfriendly practices. Many of which (like flying overseas) feel unavoidable. But I’ve always been a big believer in the agency and power of the individual to make significant, positive adjustments in their own day-to-day thoughts and practices, and I think this is where true change for the better can stem from.
When there’s an overwhelming feeling that big corporations and governments don’t care and things will always be the same, we find ourselves asking “what difference does it make anyway if I do my part or not”. But this is exactly the type of mindset we need to be challenging worldwide. All cultural shifts are sparked at the individual level, and we cast our vote in many more ways beyond the booth at election time. From the groceries we buy, the clothes we wear to who we bank with, there are a lot of daily life practices that we are presented with the option to ask the question: “Is this investing in the future of the planet and future generations?”. If the answer is yes, and all that was required was one click of a button over another or one type of teeth floss over another (that one I’m especially locked in on), you can start to see how these daily initiatives slowly add up to something meaningful and overall as a net positive.
I trust it from first-hand experience and believe it with all my heart, that no matter how small it is or may seem in the grand scheme of things, any effort to do good in this world, to try and counterbalance any dysfunction or wrongdoing is not hopeless. We all have the power to make a significant difference and there is always hope in that. It’s been the core message of mine since I was a kid. I love this planet, and I love the beings on it. I don’t want to see it hurt or gone in my lifetime or anyone else’s lifetime, either. It’s all too precious. More precious than the biggest diamond in the world. And I’ll believe it until the day I die.
Every action makes a difference, and every vote does, too. Rock lives, but only if our rock lives. And I just want to keep it alive.
Words by Dale Tanner @nahdale
This piece was written in conjunction with Green Music Australia's NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET campaign which is:
A call for music lovers to ‘vote climate’ — prioritizing candidates committed to 100% renewable energy, rejecting nuclear, and ending government support for fossil fuels. Climate change is already wreaking havoc on the music industry, with over 50 festivals canceled since 2015 due to extreme weather. Recently Cyclone Alfred’s devastating impact forced the cancellation of over 26 gigs and festivals across Queensland and NSW, including performances by Green Day, AFI, Ruby Fields, and Brad Cox. Without serious climate action, the future of live music in Australia is at risk.
Learn more about their mission and motivation behind the No Music On A Dead Planet campaign here
