As I read this month’s Green Living article, “Troubled Waters, Our Precious Freshwater Supplies Are Shrinking,” by Linda Sechrist, I couldn’t help but consider again today’s disheartening state of affairs in which corporate greed and politics continue to override what is best for society.

This reminds me of scenes in the Star Trek movies in which Spock lays down his life for others based on his logical conclusion, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” In a later episode, when the spaceship crew must choose to save one of their own in exchange for risking their lives and Earth’s potential devastation in the process, the half-human Spock takes the stand that they must take the chance and save their comrade. His logic? It’s the human thing to do. It makes one wonder if the handful of corporate and government so-called leaders that legislate and manipulate policies that negatively affect the rest of us are even half-human.

If you are a regular reader of this magazine, you know that Natural Awakenings’ general philosophy and mission is to maintain a helpful focus and look to alternate constructive solutions even when the news is bad. In that light, I believe that the reality is not nearly as dismal as current issues suggest.

Planet Earth along with the entire universe knows how to take care of itself, harboring the delicate balance and eternal force that keeps it all functioning. Our job as Earth’s collective citizenry is to claim and embrace our right and power to affect positive change en masse in ways aligned with the best interests of life on our home planet.

It works only when we use those powers effectively: When we care enough to do the due diligence to research who gets our votes; when we take the time to let local, state and national politicians know that we care about how they vote and will support them only when they act on behalf of the general welfare, the good of the many; when we align our choices with our highest beliefs, proving it in the purchases we make.

Clear evidence in the power of the people shows up in small and large victories, some of which we highlight this month. Just last month the DARK Act, a bill that would have taken the right away from states to enforce mandatory GMO labeling, was defeated in the U.S. Senate. Another victory came last month as Cambridge joined more than 15 other Massachusetts cities and towns to ban plastic bags at point-of-sale.

There are good and wonderful things happening in our world and when we shift our attention to focus on them, support more of them by living our highest values and have faith that we are all inherently good, miracles can happen.

Here’s to manifesting a miraculous spring!

Maisie Raftery, Publisher