Would you believe it if I said that our grandparents got the same amount of nutritional value from one orange, that we get from eight oranges, just because of the soil? How would you feel if I said that your grandchildren will have to tire and toil for just one meal, because, as the population is exponentially increasing, food production is exponentially decreasing, and is going to fall by 40%? How would you feel if I said that 80% of our insect biomass has been lost, forever, according to the Journal of Biological Conservation- catalysing the sixth mass extinction. But that’s not the only thing we humans are contributing to eradicating- in 50 years our soil, too, is destined to undergo unprecedented levels of extinction. 

 

Now, I know that most people will be glad the population of irritating insects and pesky pests have decreased- but their contribution to keeping the ground we walk on alive is imperative. They turn death into life, decompose organic material to give them a second chance to live. It gives us a second chance at life- no matter the industrialisation of our world, still, our most bare essentials, our food, comes from the soil. The very soil that is morphing into unrecognisable sand in a process of harrowing desertification.  

 

But this desertification isn’t just a scientific, biological, unrelatable process. Rather, it is more comparable to murder. Our soil is not dead, lifeless material- this couldn’t be further from the truth. It not only is the life that keeps our Earth breathing, soaking up 3 times the amount of carbon than every single tree on earth, it also gives us life, and all those around us. How much longer can we keep ignoring its deterioration? Just because it doesn’t have a voice, it doesn’t mean that the soil doesn’t need saving. So now, it is our duty, not to ourselves, but to the soil and planet which gave us nourishment, to be the voice it never had. To bring the recognition it deserves to see- before it’s too late. Before 50 years' time, when our soil will have lost all its organic content. 

 

This is where Conscious Planet – Save Soil steps in- to help give it a voice. But what is the Save Soil Movement? Conscious Planet – Save Soil is a global movement, uniting people around the world to help make a difference. In all current climate and civic issues, the focus is always on discordant messages: there is a climate war or a fight against global warming. But with Conscious Planet, they are not fighting against anyone. They’re striving for a world with rich soil and to halt its ecological deterioration. They’re raising awareness for increased crop yields. They’re working for our future- so that you and I can have a life not filled with misery and hunger. This indiscriminate and inclusive movement aims to restore the soil for 7.8 billion people on this planet. 

  

An Earth Buddy part of the Save Soil movement with Conscious Planet, Aishwarya Iyer, believes that it is imperative that soil is focused on- and for a very understandable reason indeed. Upon being asked about what sets soil apart, she says ‘I have always been quite fervent in relation to the climate, but somewhere- either it was about one particular aspect of the plastic in the ocean, or global warming, or the climate crisis, or an Alaskan iceberg falling down, somewhere they all felt like different pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. And we were all trying to solve it all, aimlessly, without a holistic answer. But when I started learning about soil, it sort of completed the jigsaw puzzle and glued it all together. It fixed the jigsaw puzzle and reverses a lot of the problems associated with the crisis, whether be it carbon footprints or global warming or the world food crisis.’ 

 

What she says makes sense. Saving the soil helps many people around the world. But before that, people need to help the world first. Conscious Planet – Save Soil hopes to give 3.5 billion people a newfound inspiration to support policies and changes towards the imperative protection of the soil- this is enough people to allow policy changes at a radical but needed rate. And of these 3.5 billion people, you can be one. Then with the support of powerful, decisive individuals such as yourself, they drive for real change in the world: to increase the organic content in the soil to 3-6%- this is its main aim. There are not many unaffected countries in the world which have organic content in their soils above 3%, driving the soil to be closer with each passing day to desertification, lack of nutrition and an impending world food crisis. So, press the accelerator, and join thousands of inspiring individuals in the world on their journey to save our soil- this is our generational responsibility. We can’t realise this any later than now, because by then, it will be too late. 

 

However, there are many other things associated with Conscious Planet – Save Soil. Not only stemming from individuals like you and I, other passionate and dedicated contributors are also paving the pathways for success. This unites people from all walks of life, from artistic exhibition-contributors to even Indian yogis! Would you be able to imagine riding 300km per day for 100 days? This event appears quite daunting. However, you don’t need to imagine- Sadhguru is bringing this to life! Sadhguru: a yogi, a visionary, the initiator of Save the Soil movement. On this journey, he hopes to try to implement change in as many of the 193 nations as possible. He is going to travel from London, UK to India, through many European countries and the Middle East- to put it concisely, that’s 30,000 km and 27 countries, in just 100 days! On the way, he’s going to meet with politicians and like-minded officials. As well as this, he’s also already met celebrities and supporters who have pledged their alliance- some of which include: Trevor Noah, Dr. Jane Goodall, Deepak Chopra, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and, even casual citizens, just like you and me. 

 

Additionally, Conscious Planet – Save Soil is also looking to collaborate with those who can allow new policies. They have partnered with esteemed organisations like the UNCCD , Soil Association, The UN World Food Programme and are going to over 100 nations. But change is not just an unachievable goal- they have already drafted MOUs, or Memorandums of Understanding. They have astoundingly already signed these with six Caribbean nations! Now all that’s left is for us, our communities and our governments to get on board- now is the time, more than ever, that ecological issues should become synonymous with electoral issues. But what about people like you and I? Well, you too can strive for change. The Conscious Planet organisation has opportunities such as global exhibitions, where you can use anything you love, whether it be art, singing, poetry, or more, to support what we as a planet should love, our soil. If not, raise awareness by writing a letter to your local MP. It’s people like you and I, the blood and bones of our world, that are the pathways for dedication and change.

 

Every second that goes by, every time we pause to blink, every moment we take to breathe, an acre of soil is lost. That is one acre too many. So, it is simultaneously critical and crucial that we take action- even from the comfort of our very own home; it is not essential to take a 30,000km ride to make a difference! Everyone, no matter how big, no matter how small, can make that imperative difference in their own community. Today, in a democratic society, our greatest tool is our voice. The voice that can give us power, momentum, give our soil a rejuvenated life. Because in the time it took you to read this paragraph so far, 20 acres of soil have already been lost. The stopwatch is ticking, but you and I have the remarkable power to contribute to stopping it, to stopping the deterioration of the soil. Because the very soil that saved us now needs saving. One place that we can all start, no matter where we came from, no matter where we want to go, is to click this link to learn more, save soil and to make a difference in our lives and our world- because the answer we’re looking for is right under our toes: 

 

https://consciousplanet.org/action-now