An Enormous Umbrella

Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development

Fulbright Japan

Cathrine Prenot Fox

It is finally raining here in south-west Colorado, and I think that the storms have been heavy enough to drench the hillsides and green-up the land.  Two days ago I rode Boggy Draw on the mesa above my home--the trail was dust, and the vegetation sounded like potato chips under my tires.  Today?  Already spring beauties carpeted the meadows and the soil was the consistency of brownie mix.  Tonight?  The rain is still coming down in great huge drops, and pounding on our metal roof like miniature timpani players.  Lovely.

It is rain that I bring to you in the first Adventures in Sustainability cartoon.  I thought of all of the crises that we hear about on a daily basis, and how overwhelming it can seem to make a difference in the future of our little planet.  What we need is An Enormous Umbrella to shelter us from the storm.  

Cathrine Prenot Fox, 2013

My father used to always quote Archimedes: "Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the earth."  In order to focus on Our Common Future, and to have development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Brundtland Report, 1987), perhaps we just need a bigger umbrella.  Well, that, and a place to stand.  

Until our next adventure, 

Cat