There is No Planet B - Part I

The Earth is what we all have in common...

“We've got to be as clear-headed about human beings as possible because we are still each other's only hope.” ― James Baldwin

Climate change, polluted rivers, lakes, oceans, and air, overuse and abuse of resources, deforestation, depleted soil, soil erosion, factory farming of animals, overfishing, fracking, endangered species, fires, hurricanes, and melting ice caps.

The news about the effects human beings are having on the planet and its inhabitants can be pretty grim. So when I went looking for songs about healing the planet, I was expecting eloquence, beauty, and emotional pain. Instead, I found Lil Dicky, an American rapper, comedian, and actor who has put together an animated video that will delight, occasionally shock (did he REALLY say that?!) and make you snort with laughter. It will also give you pause, and hopefully push you to take a look at what can be done to heal ourselves and the planet.

One of the reasons the video and song you’re about to hear is so effective is the animation. It’s superb. But the other is the lyrics, which are not only clever but delivered with exceptional talent by more than 30 well-known and (mostly) beloved celebrities. Here is the list:

Baboon - Justin Bieber

Zebra - Ariana Grande

Lion cub - Halsey

Cow - Zac Brown

Pig - Brendon Urie

Common fungus - Hailee Steinfeld

Skunk - Wiz Khalifa

Marijuana - Snoop Dogg

Kanye West - Kevin Hart

Vultures - Adam Levine

Rhinos - Shawn Mendes

Giraffe - Charlie Puth

Kangaroo - Sia

Elephant - Miley Cyrus

Clam - Lil Jon

Wolf - Rita Ora

Squirrel - Miguel

Pony - Katy Perry

HPV - Lil Yachty

Koala - Ed Sheeran

India - Meghan Trainor

Africa - Joel Embiid

China - Tory Lanez

We Love The Earth - John Legend, Psy, Bad Bunny, Kris Wu

Mankind - Lil Dicky

Credits - Backstreet Boys

Himself - Leonardo DiCaprio

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Let’s Have a Listen

So tell me…

1. Did you like it? If so, what was your favorite part?

2. Did you hate - or dislike - any parts? If so, which ones?

3. Do you have an issue or cause related to the environment that you are particularly passionate about? If so, please share with links.

4. How do you feel about our chances of protecting and restoring the planet to health?

Let the discussion begin!

Additional Resources

We Love the Earth Guide: https://welovetheearth.org/

National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment

Defenders of Wildlife: https://defenders.org/

Copyright 2021 by Jena Ball. All Rights Reserved.