Radical Joy Revealed is a weekly message of inspiration about finding and making beauty in wounded places. We hope you'll enjoy these doorways into places that are both familiar and surprising, and we welcome your suggestions, stories, and photos. Click here to subscribe.

Loss, Despair.... Hilarity

"Hell No, Shell" group near the site of a massive ehtane petrochemical plant, Beaver, PA, 2016 Global Earth Exchange. Photo courtesy of Joanne Martin

On the Global Earth Exchange last Saturday hundreds of people joined kindred spirits around the world to share their sorrow about loved places they've lost and make a simple gift of gratitude or consolation for them.

Joanne Martin, hosted her Global Earth Exchange, "Hell No, Shell," at the proposed site of a massive ethane cracking plant in Beaver, Pennsylvania. Here she describes how the group made room for all the complex feelings that arose, from despair to playfulness.

We chose the planned site for an ethane petrochemical plant--to be largest in the country, second largest in the world--which will be sited along a formerly tree lined river across from a quiet, quaint community.

The sense of pain and loss is profound-for those new to the area, and for those who have lived in and loved this landscape for generations.

When people first arrived there were stories of anger, disappointment and a sense of hopelessness. This was transformed as people returned from wandering with their bird-making materials. The group engaged now more with a sense of lightness, creativity and fun! Finding two ears of corn and a pile of mini carrots even brought a sense of almost hilarity to the bird-making!

Because this plant brings the potential for economic gain to many in a distressed area, people are conflicted and opposition is underground. We each were relieved to learn there were others concerned about the environment and we agreed to stay connected for support and protection of the land.

Read Joanne's story and others, and watch the slide show, on our website, and

The Vision of Radical Joy for Hard Times

We envision a planet where people and wounded places

are reconciled through acceptance, compassion, and acts

of beauty so that no part of the Earth is alienated

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Radical Joy Revealed.

It's time for the
Global Earth Exchange, the day when people all over the world make simple gifts of beauty for the places they love
that have fallen on hard times.

Saturday, June 18--worldwide!

For information & to register

click here.
To discover or join other events forming around the world, see our Listings and Map.

Radical Joy for Hard Times is a global community of people dedicated to finding and making beauty in wounded places. Reconnecting with these places, sharing our stories of loss, and making acts of beauty there, we transform the land, reconnect people and the places that nourish them, and empower ourselves to make a difference in the way we live on Earth.

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We love sending you Radical Joy Revealed each week and sharing inspiring stories and ideas that make a difference to people struggling to find meaning, beauty, and community in challenged places We're committed to offering this newsletter at no charge to you, our readers. Currently, our organization is experiencing a severe financial crisis. We welcome any contribution you can offer. Thank you for supporting RadJoy!

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