Photo Credit: Law and Other Things
By Tom Cervone, Ph.D. and Michael Cervone, B.S.
Our Planet Earth
Editor’s Note: Our website https://ourplanetearth.eco encourages all children of God to act with “Care for Our Common Home. It’s a resource also in https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/ and https://ourcommonhome.org/
Introduction
Balance is important in our world because it means so much for our continued existence on this planet. Take, for instance, the balance that goes on in your body. When you run, do you think about increasing your breathing or heart rate? Or is it an automatic response carried out by your body that then reduces breathing and heart rate to normal levels? When you have a fever, does your body work to lower your body temperature to 98.6º F? Or lastly, when your red blood cells die after about 120 days, do you tell your bone marrow to make new red blood cells? Equilibrium is a state of balance or stability in which opposing forces, influences, or actions cancel each other out. In this condition, a system remains unchanged and experiences no net alteration.
Nature is very much like this, too. For instance, when predators increase and the balance moves in one direction, the prey side of the balance moves in the opposite direction. When predators die, then the prey start to increase. The same is true for our forests, and other natural ecosystems. They have been degraded so much in recent times, that it is important we refurbish them to keep balance in oxygen production, temperature balances, groundwater levels, and reduced flooding. When things get out of balance, it is our duty as stewards to put them back in balance. We know that our atmosphere is overly concentrated with carbon dioxide, a heat absorbing molecule that is causing global warming and climate change. Knowing this, should cause us to reduce levels slowly by using renewable energy forms and reducing oil, gas, and coal combustion.
But knowing things and doing things are two different mindsets because many people are more concerned about making money, and getting more stuff. Our world is so full of advertisements to buy this or that, and we are to make more money so we can spend more money. It’s a vicious cycle of those who have and those who have not. This bothers many people, especially since we’re all created equal and have inalienable rights to live in a world free of pollution, discrimination, and other forms of abuse. Pope Leo XIV has a new book out entitled American Hope, What Pope Leo XIV means for the Church and the World as written by Christopher Lamb (2026). The new pope believes we all can and will help each other, and as the first Augustinian pope and former Peruvian missionary and bishop, he feels for the needy and the poor. He will not let those that have, take advantage of those who do not have, and will nicely stand up for all God’s children.
What Can You Do?
Think about things you can do to refurbish ecosystems. For instance, if trees are dying in your city, advocate for planting more trees to replace the values lost. Many cities, like Louisville, Kentucky, are doing this today. The same is true for you trying new things, like maybe rethinking how you shop and what you buy. Let’s reduce plastic and use maybe sustainable alternatives like reusable cloth or jute/burlap bags for shopping, mesh or cotton bags for produce, and glass jars, paper bags, or metal tins for bulk goods and pantry storage. In transportation, maybe think of ride-sharing, using the bus, cutting back on your car trips each week, and even welcoming family to live under one roof and sharing costs and chores. Maybe consider treating yourself to vacations nearer to home, and using parks and recreation areas nearer to your home? Or maybe ask your employer to work from home or remote, and even learn new skills, and use them to improve your life.
YouTube on Ecological Balance:
Quote: “We need a voice! A voice that evangelizes the hardened hearts of those who threaten the very survival of humanity and nature. A voice that calls humanity back from the edge of destruction! The world urgently needs a new breath of hope … The next Pope must be that breath!” －Cardinal Charles Bo of Myanmar
Tom Cervone, Deacon and PhD, is the founder, and Michael Cervone, B.S., is the programmer and designer of the “Our Planet Earth” website. We also thank Sister Maureen Houlihan, Daughters of Charity, Nicole Cervone-Gish, Ed., M.S., and others for their earlier help in developing this website.
Comments may be directed to ourplanetearth.eco@gmail.com Thank you!