The planet's environmental woes tend to be overlooked as we

The words of Sheherazade Goldsmith fall like a quiet thunder through the glittering noise of modern life: “The planet’s environmental woes tend to be overlooked as we scramble for the latest high-tech gizmos — and conveniently ignore their energy consumption.” Within this reflection lies a lament for our age—a time when human genius has reached the heavens, yet forgets the earth beneath its feet. Her words are not an accusation, but a call to remembrance, a plea that we lift our gaze from the glowing screen to the dimming horizon. For she speaks of the tragedy of distraction, the blindness born from comfort, and the paradox of progress that consumes the very home it claims to improve.

In the old days, humanity bowed to the earth with reverence. We built our tools from her gifts, and when we took, we gave back. But now, in the age of technology and consumption, we have forged a new idol—one that hums and flashes and demands our devotion. We line up for new devices as the ancient faithful once gathered at temples, offering not incense but currency. Each gadget promises connection, yet disconnects us from the rhythm of wind, soil, and rain. Goldsmith’s words pierce this illusion, revealing the hidden cost of our convenience—the unseen energy drawn from burning forests, gasping rivers, and darkened skies.

The story of our civilization’s hunger for innovation is both magnificent and perilous. Consider the tale of Thomas Edison, who brought light to the night and changed human destiny. His brilliance illuminated cities, extended work hours, and expanded knowledge. Yet with every spark of progress, the appetite for energy grew. The very electricity that freed humanity from darkness became the chain that bound it to carbon and consumption. What began as liberation turned to dependency, and in this lies the essence of Goldsmith’s warning: that unquestioned advancement without awareness leads to decay.

Her words also reveal the modern illusion of detachment. Many believe that pollution and climate change belong to distant lands or distant futures. But the ancient wisdom reminds us that “the web of life is one”—what we ignore today will visit us tomorrow. As we clutch our high-tech devices, we forget that they are born from mines that scar mountains and powered by grids that bleed the earth. We forget that the invisible hum behind every glowing screen whispers the same truth: energy is not infinite, and neither is mercy from the planet that grants it.

Yet Goldsmith’s message is not despair—it is awakening. For the same brilliance that built these machines can build solutions. The same hands that crafted silicon chips can restore forests, and the same minds that designed satellites can design sustainability. But this can only happen when humanity remembers balance—when progress walks hand in hand with reverence. Like the farmers of old who thanked the soil before planting, we must learn to thank the planet before consuming. The wisdom of the ancients was not in rejecting innovation, but in living consciously, knowing that every act of creation carries a debt of responsibility.

There is a lesson here for all who live amidst the hum of technology: do not mistake convenience for fulfillment. Let every purchase carry a moment of thought. Ask what power runs through the things you use, what cost the earth pays for your comfort. True modernity is not to own the latest device, but to wield technology with mindfulness and restraint. The enlightened mind seeks not endless possession, but harmonious existence.

And so, let Goldsmith’s words echo through the halls of progress like a sacred reminder. The planet’s woes are not the cries of a distant mother—they are the heartbeat beneath our feet. Every screen we touch, every machine we charge, is a pact with the earth. If we remember this truth, our future will be one of wisdom, not waste. But if we continue to ignore the quiet suffering of our home, then one day our devices may shine brightly—while the stars above go dark.

Let us therefore act as the ancients would have counseled: with humility before creation, gratitude for what we use, and reverence for what sustains us. The path forward is not rejection of progress, but the union of innovation and conscience. For when humanity learns again to walk gently upon the earth, even its machines will hum in harmony with the song of life.