The Gallivanting Green Girl

I often feel like an alien.

There are times when I feel totally out of place, oddly nostalgic for a time when things were simpler. And as much as I love my “modern” conveniences, living abroad has proven that one can still manage to have a damn good time without them. Even me.

In an alternate universe, I am a Na’vi.
Thank God I look good in blue…

After seeing the movie (twice – and I highly recommend 3D!), I remember thinking to myself how cool it would be to live in such an amazingly beautiful and magical place, and to be part of a society that honored and respected the earth, the energy and the lifeforce it shares, who would fight against all odds to defend it. Later, while I was looking through my holiday photos, I realized that I already do.

Our planet is a breathtakingly beautiful place. From the mountains, the forests and the oceans to small urban gardens, I’ve been blessed with many opportunities to see some incredible places.  And of course, being a typical greedy American, the more I travel, the list of places I want to see gets longer instead of shorter. We live in a magnificent world. One that is absolutely worth fighting for.

And I am proud to be a member of a tribe who gets it: people who care about the world around us and the creatures we share it with. Some are more active in its defense, like the stars of the movie. They are our heroes, trying to save us from ourselves. The rest of us simply go about our daily lives. Perhaps not necessarily doing anything to make it better – but at least trying to make sure that our small, everyday actions don’t make it any worse.

But make no mistake: the power of being one of the many is enormous. You don’t have to be an environmental hero to make a difference. There were only a handful of leaders in the movie, but it would not have had a happy ending without the cooperation of thousands of “background players” – each being responsible only for themselves, but each making the choice to live in harmony with the energy that sustains all life. Living like the Na’vi isn’t about running around naked and flying through trees. But we make choices every day that determine whose side we’re on.

In a Filmcast Interview, James Cameron sums it up nicely:

”There’s a sense of entitlement – ‘We’re here, we’re big, we’ve got the guns, we’ve got the technology, we’ve got the brains, we therefore are entitled to every damn thing on this planet.’ That’s not how it works and we’re going to find out the hard way if we don’t wise up and start seeking a life that’s in balance with the natural cycles of life on earth.“

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, do. Even if you agree with the Vatican that it’s just a simplistic, sappy film that promotes neo-pagan nature-worship, it’s totally entertaining, visually stunning, and something that everyone is going to have an opinion on. And while you’re watching, think about which role YOU want to play…

Official Avatar Movie

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