Letters to the Earth

In a world increasingly imperiled by the ravages of climate change, the “Letters to the Earth” project emerges as a profound testament to the human spirit’s resilience and capacity for reflection. Launched in 2019 by a coalition of artists and activists within the Culture Declares Emergency movement, this initiative extends an open invitation to individuals from all walks of life to pour their thoughts, fears, hopes, and love for the Earth into the written word. It is a call to express, with sincerity and urgency, what it means to be stewards of a planet in peril.

The Genesis of a Movement

The inception of “Letters to the Earth” can be traced back to a group of creative minds, including theater director Kay Michael, actor and director Jo McInnes, and author and playwright Anna Hope. Confronted by the growing climate emergency, they envisioned a platform where people could transcend the impersonal nature of statistics and policy discourse, engaging instead in a deeply emotional and personal dialogue with the Earth. This initiative was born from the desire to give voice to the anxieties, love, and determination felt by so many in the face of environmental destruction.

Culture Declares Emergency, the broader movement from which this project emerged, had already been urging the arts and culture sectors to confront the climate crisis head-on. “Letters to the Earth” expanded this mission, offering a space for creative expression and collective engagement, where the written word could serve as a catalyst for change.

A Global Chorus of Voices

At its heart, “Letters to the Earth” is a participatory endeavor. It invites people of all ages, backgrounds, and professions to compose letters addressed to the Earth, future generations, or humanity at large. These letters take many forms—be they poems, stories, or heartfelt pleas—and each one is a unique reflection of its author’s relationship with the natural world and their concerns for its future.

The response was overwhelming. Letters began arriving from all corners of the globe, filled with expressions of grief for what has been lost, fear for what is yet to come, and a profound love for the Earth that sustains us all. But these missives were not solely laments; they also carried messages of hope, calls to action, and a shared sense of responsibility.

Freya Mavor: A Voice of Her Generation

Among the many contributors to “Letters to the Earth” was the distinguished actor Freya Mavor, whose eloquence and emotional depth have captivated audiences both on-screen and off. Mavor’s involvement brought a remarkable layer of authenticity and passion to the project. In her letter, she articulated the urgent need to safeguard our planet and the intrinsic connections that bind us to the Earth. Her words resonated deeply, underscoring the human cost of environmental degradation and the moral imperative to act now. In her YouTube recorded ‘Letter of Love’ she says we can change!

Freya Mavor stands out not only as a remarkable talent of her generation but also as a voice of conscience in the climate movement. Her contributions to both art and activism exemplify a rare blend of empathy, intelligence, and commitment. Mavor’s performances are infused with a sincerity that should capture the attention of the Oscar Academy and United Nations. Her ability to embody such profound truths in her roles—and in her advocacy—marks her as an actor of significant influence and enduring impact.

Amplifying Voices Through Public Readings

A distinctive feature of “Letters to the Earth” is its public readings, where these heartfelt letters are brought to life in theaters, public spaces, and events. Often read by prominent actors, writers, and activists, these performances transform private reflections into powerful, collective calls for action.

These readings have graced significant venues and critical moments, such as the Extinction Rebellion protests in London, and various climate action events worldwide. They have succeeded in making the abstract and often overwhelming realities of climate change feel immediate and personal, resonating deeply with audiences.

A Lasting Legacy: The Book

A collection of “Letters to the Earth” is now published in the UK and USA, with an introduction by the esteemed actor Dame Emma Thompson. This anthology brings together a diverse range of voices, including notable contributors such as Yoko Ono, actor Mark Rylance, poet Kae Tempest, writer Mary Annaïse Heglar, author Rob Cowen, ex-Bishop Richard Holloway, co-founder of the UK Student Climate Network Daniela Torres Perez, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion Dr. Gail Bradbrook, peace activist Joanna Macy, Stop Ecocide’s Polly Higgins, Caroline Lucas MP, Professor Stefan Rahmstorf, Head of Earth System Analysis at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and indigenous voices from the Amazon and the Philippines. The book also features words and illustrations by CILIP Kate Greenaway prize-winner Jackie Morris.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, new letters were added for the paperback edition released on 18th February 2021, including contributions from Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri and Freya Mavor, as I have mentioned earlier.

Letters to the Earth stands as the largest creative response to the climate and ecological emergency the world has yet seen, and it is the first book to chronicle how humankind is collectively processing planetary crisis. The book is published on sustainably sourced paper (FSC), and all royalties go towards ongoing creative campaigning for environmental justice. As Sunday Post notes, “Reading ‘Letters to the Earth’ will inspire you to think more deeply about our impact on the world.”

The Call to Writers: A Legacy of Social Intervention

The “Letters to the Earth” project echoes a long tradition in literature where writers have responded to the pressing issues of their times. As David Lan, writer, producer, and former Artistic Director of The Young Vic Theatre, poignantly reflects: “As Sophocles, Shakespeare, Molière, Ibsen, and Brecht wrote plays as interventions into the major political crises of their worlds and of their time, so we now need our writers to record and reflect this probably biggest ever global challenge. But more than that, to help us understand what to do about it, how to prevent climate disruption from destroying so much that the west, the east, the north, the south have struggled to create over millennia. The time has always been now.”

Lan’s words underscore the vital role that contemporary writers and artists play in addressing the climate crisis. Their creative interventions not only document the challenges but also inspire action, providing frameworks for understanding and navigating these complex issues.

A Journey of Advocacy at COP27

As world leaders convened at COP27, amid Italy’s new government leaving hundreds of refugees stranded off its coast, the “Letters to the Earth” team traveled to Sharm El Sheikh. Bearing heartfelt letters from those most impacted by climate change, LTTE aimed to ensure that climate justice and adaptation were placed at the forefront of policy negotiations.

The journey to COP27 began with a poignant visit to Refugee House in Calais, France. There, Kay Michael and documentary filmmaker Syed Jazib Ali met with asylum seekers—individuals who had fled homelands devastated by extreme weather, drought, famine, and conflict. These vulnerable people, many of whom were women and children, were enduring brutal and dangerous journeys in search of a better life. As climate change continued to exacerbate such crises, migration driven by environmental factors was predicted to spike to a staggering 1.2 billion by 2050 according to Institute for Economics & Peace. LTTE’s mission at COP27 was clear: to appeal to world leaders to take urgent action to avert what could become a catastrophic climate refugee crisis.

Selected letters from these individuals were read live and distributed among the delegates in the conference’s Blue Zone. The goal was to foster a personal connection between policymakers and those most vulnerable to climate breakdown. As Kay Michael emphasized, “Global conferences that determine the future of life on Earth must be inclusive of all vulnerable communities, especially women and children. This is why, for COP27, “Letters to the Earth” amplified the stories of those on the frontlines who are often excluded from these spaces—the displaced, the young, the indigenous. We wanted to make sure they were heard. We must acknowledge those in need and listen to their voices. And then we must take them into consideration in policy creation.”

At COP27, “Letters to the Earth” was present by invitation from Julie’s Bicycleand the Climate Heritage Network, as part of the new CultureCOP program. The project featured a curation of letters read to delegates at the Resilience Hub on November 14th. The theme of the reading was ‘Culture and Resilience,’ and it included letters from various corners of the globe, including Calais, South Africa, the Caribbean, and indigenous communities from the Amazon, Chile, and Peru. Additionally, letters from young people around the world were displayed at the Youth & Children’s Pavilion throughout the conference.

Co-Founder of Refugee House, Patricia McDwyer, poignantly reflected on the significance of the project: “Refugees are people who have had no other choice but to flee their homelands because they have become hostile and uninhabitable environments. We call our refugee women and children our guests—they have many lessons to teach us about their customs and heritage. They are not just refugees; they are human beings and therefore our brothers and sisters in humanity. I’m so pleased that our guests had an opportunity to express themselves through their Letters to the Earth.”

An Eritrean refugee, who read her letter in her mother tongue Amharic, expressed her gratitude: “Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. Those who you are hearing from are suffering a lot of hardships, but the world cannot see them. We will be heard.”

LTTE’s campaign struck a chord as the pressure for financing the loss and damage of climate breakdown took center stage at COP27. “We struck a chord as the pressure for financing the loss and damage of climate breakdown took center stage at COP27. “We all share this world. And more than anything, we need empathy and compassion to navigate the climate crisis,” said documentary filmmaker Syed Jazib Ali.

This initiative at COP27 was not an isolated effort. It echoed a long tradition in literature where writers have responded to the pressing issues of their times. As David Lan, writer, producer, and former Artistic Director of The Young Vic Theatre, poignantly reflects: “As Sophocles, Shakespeare, Molière, Ibsen, and Brecht wrote plays as interventions into the major political crises of their worlds and of their time, so we now need our writers to record and reflect this probably biggest ever global challenge. But more than that, to help us understand what to do about it, how to prevent climate disruption from destroying so much that the west, the east, the north, the south have struggled to create over millennia. The time has always been now.”

Lan’s words underscore the vital role that contemporary writers and artists play in addressing the climate crisis. Their creative interventions not only document the challenges but also inspire action, providing frameworks for understanding and navigating these complex issues.

The Enduring Impact

The Letters to the Earth project continues to resonate, long after its inception. It has inspired similar initiatives and remains a powerful tool for raising awareness and prompting people to reflect on their relationship with the Earth. The project has demonstrated that art and creativity have a vital role in the climate movement, not only in informing or educating but in stirring hearts and inspiring action.

As the climate crisis deepens, the messages contained within these letters grow ever more urgent. They remind us that while the challenges are immense, the collective will to overcome them is even stronger. Through the simple act of writing, *Letters to the Earth* has mobilized thousands to express their commitment to the planet, proving that words, when spoken from the heart, can indeed spark transformative change.

Conclusion

“Letters to the Earth” is a powerful reminder of the strength of collective expression in times of crisis. It has given voice to those who feel powerless in the face of global environmental challenges, uniting them in a shared mission to protect the Earth. With contributions from influential and talented figures like Freya Mavor, the project shows how individual voices, when combined, can amplify the call for action and inspire a global movement dedicated to safeguarding our planet for future generations.

As the world continues to grapple with the ever-escalating climate crisis, the stories and voices amplified through Letters to the Earth serve as a crucial beacon of hope, empathy, and resilience. These letters, whether read in conference halls or shared among communities, carry a simple yet profound message: our future depends on how we care for our planet and each other.