Canto Planetario: Hermandad en la Tierra

Canto Planetario: Hermandad en la Tierra is a two-volume multilingual poetry anthology compiled by Nicaraguan writer Carlos Javier Jarquín and published on July 20, 2023, by HC Editores in Costa Rica. Conceived as a global cultural initiative, the work brings together the voices of more than 200 poets and artists from 110 countries, united by a shared commitment to environmental awareness, human solidarity, and the defense of life on Earth. The anthology was initially made available through Amazon in both paperback and digital formats.

The project emerged from the idea that poetry can serve as a bridge across borders, languages, and cultures. Rather than being limited to a single literary tradition or region, Canto Planetario was designed as an inclusive and independent initiative, free from political or ideological affiliations. Its central message revolves around brotherhood, sustainability, social justice, and the interconnectedness of humanity. In this sense, the anthology functions not only as a literary collection but also as a symbolic call for collective responsibility toward the planet.

The anthology is organized into two extensive volumes. Volume I, comprising 610 pages, includes contributions from Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. Volume II, with 616 pages, features poets and writers from Asia and Europe. Together, the volumes reflect remarkable linguistic diversity, incorporating 18 of the 20 most widely spoken languages in the world as of 2023. Each section provides contextual information about the contributors, their countries of origin, and the languages in which their works are presented, reinforcing the global and multicultural spirit of the project.

In total, 268 participants contributed to the anthology. Among them are 216 poets and 36 storytellers, supported by translators and a multidisciplinary creative team that includes visual artists, graphic designers, a photographer, singers, and a musical arranger. Notable literary figures featured in the project include Gustavo Gac-Artigas, David Eggleton, Les Wicks, Beatriz Copello, Marion May Campbell, Víctor Ramos, and Hebert Abimorad. The visual identity of the anthology, including its logo, was created by Salvadoran artist Atilio Munguía.

An additional artistic dimension of the project is the “Planetary Song Anthem,” titled My Planetary Song. The anthem was composed by Nicaraguan musician Pedro Alfonso Morales Ruiz and performed in Spanish by six singers of various nationalities, accompanied by English subtitles. The song reinforces the anthology’s message of unity and environmental consciousness, extending the project beyond the written word into the realm of music.

Since its publication, Canto Planetario has been presented at various cultural venues, including the National Library of Costa Rica, international book fairs in Mexico, and the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina. The initiative has also been promoted by the Poets of the World Movement, which supports its dissemination in educational and cultural institutions worldwide as a tool for raising awareness about environmental protection and social justice.

Critically, the anthology has been noted for its ambitious scale and inclusive vision. Observers have praised its capacity to gather diverse literary voices in response to contemporary global challenges. By uniting poets from different continents and traditions, Canto Planetario: Hermandad en la Tierra stands as a significant example of 21st-century transnational literary collaboration, affirming the enduring power of poetry as a medium for dialogue, reflection, and planetary consciousness.