Written by Lisa Lopeti, The Microenterprise Collective
My life purpose has always revolved around tackling social justice and human rights issues. These in themselves are already colossal and overwhelmingly complex. To add climate change to the mix was just too much for my system to handle. I had decided long ago not to be part of that battle, that work could be left to the environmentalists and tree-huggers (although I do love a good tree hug every now and then!). So I knew Retreat Seven: Our Environmental Crisis of The NZ Leadership Programme was going to be extra challenging and confronting. But, I arrived open to growing a new way of thinking and being.
As I pondered “What is my relationship with the land and with nature?” I instantly felt my nervous system tense up. Before I could engage externally, I needed to engage internally and to dismantle my walls of human superiority, ignorance and complacency. They say ignorance is bliss, but to be willfully ignorant I think is irresponsible, especially when facing our environmental crisis.
One Progamme Speaker, Rev Suamalie Naisali, said, “In order for change to happen, we need to shift our hearts to where the change is wanted.” So often in my advocacy for social justice, I’ve seen people’s eyes open and then their hearts shift to where action is needed. As I sat mesmerised by the glistening moana and surrounded by the vibrant lush greenery, I too had a moment. I felt a shift, an unveiling, an epiphany.
My responsibility is not only to serve humanity, but to be a faithful steward of God’s creation. This Garden of Eden that we have been given to enjoy, to cherish and to share, every tree, river and animal, our duty is to nurture it, care for it and protect it. There is so much wisdom that can be found in the Garden of Eden, so much healing, sustenance and creativity.
Capitalism and Western individualism has landed us in a system that requires us to keep maximising profits and consuming at the expense of our environment. In the same way that human traffickers have reduced people to mere commodities, we treat land as a capital-gaining mechanism and exploit animals for our selfish benefit.
How do I replenish the earth, rather than constantly take from it? How do we as human beings exist in solidarity with other living beings and value sustainability and our interdependency? I am exploring what in my life aligns (and what does not) with my duty of stewardship. Although the incongruence and tension are uncomfortable to work through, I am committed to growing this capacity.
As the great Dr. Martin Luther King said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” There are so many small things I can easily embrace daily and it’s not rocket science - composting, growing my own food, reducing waste and plastic consumption, buying environmentally sustainable goods or even starting up a community garden in my front yard. I know these actions on my own might not create any tangible difference, but combined with the collective actions of committed people, it is where change begins.
As a social entrepreneur at heart, I love planting things and seeing them grow. This retreat has planted a seed. A start to my green leadership journey. The big question I now sit with is how do we steward our environment not only in ways that create sustainability for our earth’s resources, but also in ways that sustain life for the world’s poor and vulnerable.
_______________________________________________________________
Did Lisa’s story resonate with you? This is one of many courageous, enriching and impactful journeys on The NZ Leadership Programme.
Are you a mid-level, senior executive or community leader in New Zealand who cares for the future of our nation? Do you know someone who is?
APPLY NOW for our 2021 Signature Programme:https://www.leadershipnz.co.nz/nz-leadership-programme-applications-faqs