Author’s note: The words here are my own, and I don’t claim to speak for the actual consciousness of our planet, although I hope she would approve this message :-). Dear humans, You have been behaving rather oddly of late. I have been following the evolution of your species with great interest, as you are in many ways unique among the forms that have lived upon me over my long life. I am wondering if it might be helpful to see how you appear from the perspective of a planet. Your planet. Earth, as you call me in one of your languages.