In 1854 Chief Seattle gave a stirring speech about the sanctity of the land and the need for careful stewardship of it.
“There is no quiet place in the white man's cities. No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring, or the rustle of an insect's wings. But perhaps it is because I am a savage and do not understand. The clatter only seems to insult the ears. And what is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of a whippoorwill or the arguments of the frogs around a pond at night. I am a red man and do not understand. The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of the pond, and the smell of the wind itself, cleansed by a midday rain, or scented with the pinon pine.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit on themselves. This we know - the Earth does not belong to man - man belongs to the Earth. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. Whatever befalls the Earth - befalls the sons of the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life - he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself”.
Green Rameswaram movement is a small effort like a Rama’s squirrel in making people understands that they are part of the web – part of a bigger whole. We seek all stakeholders active cooperation in this sacred mission.
