About PlanetRest™
Your Pledge can help.
A plea from nature.
PlanetRest™ has been an idea close to my heart since 2003, born from a six-month meditation retreat in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. After selling my second company during the dot com era and a deeply emotional year following the shock of 9/11, I left the city in search of clarity and meaning.
In the stillness of that retreat, my days were divided between meditation, absorbing knowledge, creating music, and resting. The more time I spent with nature, the less I wanted to return to the city. I realized then that the capitalist drive within me was part of the larger issue. It became crystal clear that humankind’s relentless pursuit of survival, comfort, and consumption had blinded us to the profound impact we are having on the planet. We have been extracting, consuming, and wasting with little regard for the long-term consequences. That’s when I knew something had to change.
The PlanetRest™ initiative is to provide the world with a day off from Humans. Moreover, a day off from our impact on the ecological system.
Living close to nature—breathing clean air, growing food, seeing the stars, and feeling the pulse of the planet—made me realize how disconnected we’ve become. As a society, we patch things up with quick fixes instead of addressing the root of the problem. We’re afraid of losing what we’ve built, even when it’s clear that holding on is stopping us from making real progress.
The challenge is this: how do we get people to give up a small part of what they’ve worked so hard for in order to create a better future for generations to come?
The answer lies in knowledge and balance. We need to rethink the systems we’ve built and create new ones that allow us to live in harmony with the planet.
During my time in the mountains, I came to understand that the way forward is to build something new, something better. This wasn’t just a passing thought—it became the foundation for PlanetRest™.
Money can be a tool for positive change if used wisely, but time is our most valuable resource, and we’re running out of it.
My mission became clear: to focus on solutions that reduce our impact on the planet—whether through improving systems, developing technology, or building partnerships—so that we can create a future where progress doesn’t come at the cost of the Earth.
We have the ability to rebuild in a way that respects both the needs of humanity and the planet. Now is the time to make that shift.
The PlanetRest™ hypothesis is simple: if the world could shut down the majority of its operations for 24 hours each week and a full month every year, we would create the space for the planet to heal. This is not a complete solution to our environmental challenges, but it offers a foundational step toward living in harmony with nature and reducing our ecological footprint—laying the groundwork for future generations.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the world to halt, and in doing so, it provided us with a real-time glimpse into what PlanetRest™ could achieve. The data from places like China, Italy, and California shows a marked reduction in pollution and a measurable improvement in air quality. In some cases, experts believe that the reduction in air pollution during quarantine may have saved more lives than the virus has taken. The planet is showing us what’s possible. It’s time we listen.
If you’ve ever been part of a major renovation, you’ve probably thought, “It might have been easier to start from scratch.” While rebuilding from scratch isn’t an option for our planet, we can rebuild from a solid foundation.
This is the crossroads where civilization and nature meet. We must seize this moment to create a new normal—a balance that ensures our planet can sustain us for generations to come.
Explore the resources on this site to better understand the human impact on our ecosystem, and join me in laying the foundation for a healthier planet and a brighter future for humankind.
Mission
At PlanetRest™, our mission is to inspire a global movement to “Move the Date” of Earth Overshoot Day—the day when humanity’s demand on nature exceeds what the planet can regenerate in a year. We aim to expand public awareness about the ecological impact of human activity and provide the tools for individuals, businesses, and communities to give the planet a much-needed rest from constant consumption.
By funding and supporting technological advancements that help reduce our ecological footprint, we strive to create sustainable solutions for future generations. We believe that, together, we can foster a new relationship with nature—one rooted in balance, innovation, and responsibility. Join us in the effort to give the Earth a chance to heal, one collective action at a time.
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Your Pledge makes a difference
PlanetRest™ started as a bold hypothesis—a vision that seemed almost impossible to prove. But now, the world has seen firsthand the potential impact of collective action. For over a decade, I’ve shared this idea with countless executives and high-net-worth individuals, many of whom were inspired but doubted its feasibility. The concept of giving the planet regular rest resonated deeply, yet the hurdles made it seem unattainable. Even I doubted it—until now.
The recent global events have given us the data we needed to see the truth: when we stop, the Earth heals. Your pledge to PlanetRest™ is not just a symbolic gesture; it’s a vital step toward a sustainable future. Together, we can make what once seemed impossible a reality.
Some of the partners who help us make a difference.
