IN 1948 the British astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle made a prediction: "when a photograph of the Earth taken from the outside becomes available, a new idea as powerful as any in history will be let loose." That epiphany came twenty years later on Christmas Eve, 1968.

The crew of Apollo 8 were emerging from the dark side of the moon when over the horizon they saw not the Sun but the Earthrise. The photograph they took became an instant icon. It showed the Earth for the first time in its entirety; a bright blue marble floating in the vastness of space. Suddenly, we became aware of how fragile we are.

Seeing the whole planet also made us aware as never before that the Earth has no borders. Transcending our smaller national identities we became human - one species among millions of others.

The environmental movement was born out of this awakening to our common humanity within the commons of all creatures. GreenSpirit continues this momentum, directing it deep within the human soul. Our unity with all living beings is both a biological and spiritual fact.

With this awareness comes the passion to protect life when it's threatened. The 2016 Nature Report describes Britain as one of the "most nature-depleted countries in the world." Intensive agriculture, sheep farming and shooting has decimated our wildlife.

This Winter Solstice (December 21) as we turn towards the sun and our days begin to warm let us also celebrate Extinction Rebellion and champion the rewilding of Westmorland.

May all beings be well in 2019.

Mark Rotherham, GreenSpirit