What is #SaveSoil?
#SaveSoil is trending and the movement is full of momentum. But what is it, how did it start and why are so many people suddenly mobilized towards global soil health?
Soil health concerns everyone and requires action from everyone.
With over 52% of agricultural soils at risk, our food systems are threatened and reversing this trend means widespread effort. Everyone has a different capacity for advocacy, but the #SaveSoil movement provides an accessible way for people to step on board and mobilize change on a global scale.
#SaveSoil is the culmination of 24 years of environmental advocacy from Indian mystic, yogi and all-around champion of Earth, Sadhguru.
In 1998, emboldened by devastating projections of land degradation in India, Sadhguru began a series of initiatives to protect the environment and increase food security in India, by looking to the support of the Isha Foundation, a volunteer, non-profit, spiritual organisation that he had established six years prior.
By calling upon the community and putting education at the forefront of its activities, the Isha Foundation has planted over 20 million trees through Project GreenHands and broken a world record by planting 852 587 trees in 3 days!
Rally for Rivers is a similar awareness-raising campaign that is bringing attention to the drying out of rivers; India’s lifelines.
Sadhguru
Image CC: duncanduncan12011 (Flickr)
Launched in 2017, Rally for Rivers is the biggest ecological movement today, made possible by the 162 million people who support it. But how did Sadhguru’s message reach so many? Well, he personally drove over 9 300 kilometres, through 16 Indian states to interact with the public, private stakeholders and government figures to raise awareness of the state of India’s rivers.
But this wouldn’t be Sadhguru’s final, high-impact road trip.
On 21 March 2022, Sadhguru embarked on a journey of over 30 000 kilometres, across 27 countries, on a motorcycle to show governments that “their citizens want policies that revitalize ecology and soil.”
The endeavour began in London and ended on June 21st in India’s Cauvery River Basin, where the Isha Foundation’s Cauvery Calling project has so far enabled 125 000 farmers to plant 62 million trees in an effort to revive soil and replenish depleting river waters.
In collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the journey was a raving success, resulting in 74 countries pledging to Save Soil from extinction, as of June 22nd.
En route, Sadhguru made several stops to speak about the importance of soil health and actions we can take to advance it. The trip garnered the support of many through interactive initiatives like the #SaveSoil song and dance, a #SaveSoil game, and hashtags like #SaveSoilMovement and #SaveSoilSaveLife.
The Save Soil movement is seeking to inspire 3.5 billion people (60% of the World’s electorate) to support policy that underscores soil health. Through national policy changes, Save Soil is committed to leveraging the voice of the people towards raising and maintaining the organic content of soils by 3-6%. By placing himself directly in the presence of present and future voters, Sadhguru has certainly made a dent in his target.
At an event in Geneva hosted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sadhguru was asked by a young audience member what can be done to save soil.
“Start local, involve your neighbourhood, start a vegetable garden, get your hands in the soil - not in the dirt as is commonly said, as soil is not dirty - it is rich, it is our foundation of a healthy life and a safe environment.”
By underscoring individual efforts and creating a platform for social organisation, the Save Soil movement is making soil health advocacy accessible to all.
Action. Movement. Mobilisation. Whatever form it takes, we are here for it in the name of soil health.
