
I am writing this from the rainforest, the place I love the most. I have closed my eyes. I am taking deep breaths. In my memory, I am searching, trying to find something: an answer. Anything. I feel as if I am walking along the side of an abyss. In fact, I know that I am.
I know there are some humans out there who are willing to kill. For me, I have started my day in prayer. They have started their day in prison—in their own prison made of hate. These are the people who believe war is an option. War is their world. War is their reality. For them, war is a decision—something they use to get what they want. War is what they cannot get through love, what they cannot find through talking and taking the hands of others.
As I think of this, I can barely breathe. I am aware that what is most important to me now is not important to the most powerful person on our planet. I see global warming; he sees money. I see war; he sees money. I see love; he sees hate.
I don’t know where to start. I don’t know how to communicate that I am in a difficult period in my life. Sometimes, I just stop. I crawl into my hammock and cry for hours, wishing my life could end. But life will go on with or without us. It will continue. And we have come so far; we have evolved in so many ways. We have learned, and we have also forgotten.
Indeed, we have forgotten. I see a clown in a white place—we must have forgotten the most important values in life. For me, this value is trust.
In the forest, you dream one thing and trees dream another. Lucky me, they are my friends. Before making a decision, I tell them what I plan to do. At my altar, I ask the trees for guidance. I ask for love where there is none. And they answer me, every day.
This is how I know how to protect the forests, when my own species has so many challenges and difficulties: War on our backs. Armed people behind our dreams. Kids learning about war, drugs, arms, killing. It is so unfair. So sad.
If I could just give my peace to all, the peace I find through yoga and meditation, perhaps more people would find the courage to do more than just read my words. I want to give you my peace, even while knowing that at any moment some armed guys could come for me to take me there inside this rainforest.
People tell me my writing is so beautiful, so powerful. And it is not enough. We have to do more than acknowledge it. We all need to stand up for what is right. It is not right to keep using petroleum and water and oxygen and trees and animals, including us, without caring for the present and the future.
You have to. You need to. This planet is also yours. This blue globe is also your home—the only home we have, by the way.
So. Stand up. Speak up. Talk. Talk to your best friend. Your family. Plant a tree that will become the air for others to breathe. Start a cause. One by one, we can make the difference.
I have many causes, and they sustain me. With the help of World Pulse community member Beatrice, I connected one child in Colombia, Suramérica to another in Uganda, Africa via cellular technology. We wanted to see if they could talk about something other than war. Together, Beatrice and I are dreaming that Elian and Elijah will connect as real, in-person friends someday.
The first second-hand shop of Marili will be opening soon. We are also looking to start that bakery of our dreams. One step, each day. I am founding an art and conservation station, as well. We will have to make so many earrings and necklaces and beautiful art pieces. We need more hands, more brains, more…
My dream is to protect this land; to do that, we need to find solutions for the humans living nearby. We are a species of ecosystems. If we do not have what we need to survive—food, shelter, the basic needs—then, trees, forests, rainforests will disappear, forever.
I am resilient now. As you are reading this at your desk—you may forget how many species are fighting to survive to have food, or fresh air, or clean water, or even a branch to sit on for a moment of peace.
Dear Martha,
I stand in owe and amazement in what you are doing with our environment. Your words especially move me.
Keep up the good work sis
Much love
Thanks Immah,
I am trying....
Love
Martha
Merci et courage bon travail
Merci Ariane....merci para ti...
Amor
Martha
Hi Martha
You surely write very beautiful pieces. I agree with you that we need to stand up and protect the environment. As women we have to lead by example. The ball is now in our court. Stay blessed my dear sister.
Thanks Anita,
I am standing up...even when I feel we are so little standing up for our environment....thanks
love
martha
Thank you Martha for your words of inspiration and your work to make the world a better place. You remind me how lucky I am to be able to start my day by going outside and breathing fresh air and hearing birds sing. We need to fight to keep our environment and its ecosystems intact.
Best regards,
Mary
Always remind your self of how lucky you are...always.
Love your work and the vision and courage with which you do it. At least i can live life without ever having fear of shortage of fresh air breeze. LOL... wish you continue and that you would change lives with your project. May God be with you
Thanks Victoria you are lucky enough not to have to live with not fres air or fresh water. Lucky very lucky
Dear Martha,
I love trees too! Very much - by the way I love that picture of mountains and valleys very much like Uganda! Incidentally to day I will be planting 5 trees, one grafted orange seedling , Mango seedling and three pine trees - the one that is called sugar pine, I am excited that in my little way I am planting and not cutting and hope this makes you happier. Unfortunately the tree cover in my country is dwindling every year as not many people understand the implications of cutting down trees or are too poor to think of tomorrow hence need educating. Elian and Elijah will not talk about hate anymore ... Uganda has been peaceful for a very long time now, we have learnt how to speak love only ...we are hosting so many of our brothers and sisters from neigbouring countries. I don't like to call them refugees anymore , it feels like an badly overused word lately. Thanks for your inspirational stories of forests and nature! I hope that the two boys will one day meet physically and share so many stories in their lives.
Thanks for planting them and for the hope you have in your words.
Thank you for sharing, Martha. This is such a beautiful and resounding piece of writing! So many people, myself included, take this beautiful planet Earth for granted, and have this notion that our actions will not harm it in the process, or at least, in the near future. We must continue to remind ourselves of the origins of literally everything in our surroundings. God bless.
Thanks Helen, we have this planet in common. This is our home.
Martha; So good to read your passion and energy again. I miss our conversations, and the blessings they bring. perhaps we can talk again? Spring has finally arrived, we are emerging into new flowers! PatK
Of course Pat, I miss you. I have a health issue. GHope your pain for your mom is less and less.
Martha - Keep strong and keep writing about the beauty you see around you. We must keep the environment healthy for our children, our children's children ....
I'll think of your story as I watch the trees blow in the wind.
As I watch the trees blow in the wind I wrote you back after many days as I had a health issue. Our environmental might be healthty for all of us.
Stay with your passion
always...
Its really mindblowing dream. I m with you to make your dream true for the developoment of this world
Thanks for helping me to make it true...thanks.
Hello there...
What an amazing work you're doing. I strongly admire your sense and sensibility.
Keep on walking
Susana Khabbaz
And also you....your videos, art are amazingggg!!!!!!!
Keep going
Your are doing great
i am...i am...thanks for writing
Wise powerful goddess Marta
i have been thinking of you. Feeling you.
Touched to read your words of tenderness & tenacity.
I am so grateful you are raising your voice. Reminding us our our deep interconnection. With love
Nan
My dearest Nan, thanks for the writing...my voice is coming and coming strong and stromnger each time...with love
I too know the ache of wanting all to pass. I send my deepest encouragement and compassion to you.
compassion and love received hope one day when one of my books come out in englis to visit nappa valley, or before...
Dear Martha,
"Stand up. Speak up. Talk." Yes. Thank you for all you and and for this critical reminder that it is up to all of us to step forward in whatever ways we can to protect our Mother Earth. As I meet women here who are water protectors, environmental activists, lovers of trees, land and air, I tell them about you and they are so encouraged to know that you and a circle of women are there protecting the land and forests. I want you to know that you are not alone and are much loved for your commitment to our beautiful planet. It is true that we all need to find ways to keep finding ever more ways to turn the current destruction around. Thank you for the reminder to keep increasing what we can each do. I hope that knowing that you are not alone will give you a little boost today.
Much love in sisterhood and love of trees,
Tam
Thanks Tam, I will...always...stand up and speak to help enviromental ...
loviu
m
My Dear Martha
Sending prayers and strength to a beautiful woman of courage. I miss our conversations, become healthy and perhaps our paths will cross again!
Blessings PatK
je suis très interessante de lire votre journal ce vraiment important nous sommes obligé tous a protegé l'environnement et en réalité souvant les victumessont des femmes
nous nous situons en RDC au fin fond de la province du sud_ kivu precisement à ITOMBWE nous exercons le même systeme de la mobilisations des femmes chez nous nous plantons les arbres
j'espère que nous resterons en contact
Great work, keep it up
Great woman! keep up the great work. The sky is your starting point. Never give up on what your doing, no matter the challenge. You have our support. Am encouraged!
Nerat i will never give up...
Very powerful work impacting thousands and thousands of life's. Keep up the good work
Continue to influence life's.
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