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In celebration of International Women’s Day (Friday 08 March), thousands of women across the world will gather to sing for the trees – from the UK, the USA and Australia to Kenya, South Africa and Nepal.
With 53 ‘Sing for the Trees’ events planned in 14 countries on 08 and 09 March, this mass of gentle activism – taking place in parks, forests and gardens across the globe – is part of a campaign spearheaded by global women-led reforestation movement TreeSisters.
The goal is to raise awareness of the crucial role trees play in mitigating climate change, as well as the vital role women are playing in the restoration of the world’s forests.
Recognising the capacity for reforestation to provide up to 50% of our global warming solution over the next 50 crucial years, TreeSisters, a UK-registered charity, has so far funded the planting of over 3 million trees in the tropics.
Pollyanna Darling, spokesperson for TreeSisters, says: ‘Trees restore life in so many ways. They provide clean air, oxygen and food, boost our health and wellbeing, sequester carbon, filter pollution from the air, minimise flood damage, prevent soil erosion, seed rainfall, nourish our rivers and oceans, provide a bountiful habitat for wildlife, and countless other benefits.’
The theme of 2019’s International Women’s Day is to build a gender-balanced world; TreeSisters also wants to honour the important role women play in bringing a feminine response to climate change. ‘Our care for living systems and capacity to rally together to create dynamic change in the world, inspiring others by example, really matter at this time’, Pollyanna adds. ‘We influence our children, our extended families and our communities. The world needs women to raise their voices and singing for trees is a beautiful, nourishing way to do that.’
‘Women tend to give a lot, taking little time for ourselves and our energy can get very depleted. Singing opens our hearts and gives us energy, joy and hope, something we really need right now as we face climate change. Trees are a huge hope and are primary allies for us all. Singing for the trees is a way of coming into connection with the forests we love, and with others – for the sheer fun of it. This International Women’s Day, we invite you to step into leadership and coordinate a Sing for the Trees event for your community. You’re not alone, we’re doing it together all around the world!’
CLARE DUBOIS
Founder and CEO of TreeSisters
UK Sing for the Trees events include an event in Stroud led by renowned singer and song maker Liz Terry (the inspiration behind this campaign); one in Ceredigion, Wales led by Jenny Smith, Programme Director of TreeSisters and another in Great Malvern, coordinated by Susan Hale, author of Sacred Space Sacred Sound and founder of the annual global event Earth Day-Sing for the Trees.
TreeSisters is encouraging women worldwide to take a leadership role, raise their voices and set up their own Sing for the Trees events on 08 or 09 March, whether in an organised way, or more informally. The charity is also inviting women to use the opportunity to take some restorative time out in Nature from their typically busy, care-giving lives.
If you would like to coordinate a Sing for the Trees event for your local community, TreeSisters would love to support you. The charity has a resource of songs, a coordinator’s kit and a support group for coordinators. To find out more, sign up to the TreeSisters online community platform, TreeSisters Nest. Once you’ve joined, locate the Sing for the Trees Group.
Click see for details of Sing for the Trees events taking place all over the world.
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