Today is the day that we celebrate the existence of Earth, and we make more sustainable decisions like turning off the lights and taking shorter showers. For whatever reason, people don’t do this daily. To some, being environmentally friendly is considered “trendy” and not vital. What people fail to understand, whether it be from ignorance or a lack of motivation or resources, is that the world is rapidly being destroyed and that if we don’t do something NOW, then there will not be much left of the earth and less so for those of us that live here.
After travelling in some of the world’s most beautiful locations, hints of global decline are everywhere. Garbage is rife on the beach in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia (below).
Corals are bleaching in Ko tao, Thailand.
Rain forests are being literally burned to make way for Palm oil plantations in Sabah, Malaysia.
Animals are being poached and taken from their natural habitat from national parks and reserves in South Africa.
The list goes on and on and on. It’s depressing and overwhelming to witness. So how on earth do we change what’s going on?
First of all, we can make sustainable decisions every day, not just once a year. You can find information here, here, here, here and here. There are five sources there. Click on one! Turn off your lights if they aren’t being used!
Second, we need to have more sustainable literacy. This refers to the capacity of an individual to act successfully in daily life with a broad understanding of the relationship between people and natural systems, and how people can interact with natural systems sustainably [1]. Simply understanding the language of sustainability can change perspectives and strengthen the appreciation for our planet.
Third, we can volunteer at NGOs, conservation areas, and environmental campaigns. Different things that could be done include rehabilitating forests, beach clean ups, doing neighborhood recycling days and so on. Get involved!
Fourth, get involved in your government. Pressure your elected officials to give a damn about the environment and show your support for legislature that establishes environmental regulations, reducing carbon emissions, and conservation policies.
Those are just four options. There are so many more. Today is also the March for Science around the world. This march originated out of Washington, DC because climate science has been under attack by uneducated policy makers that have been denying evidence-based facts. It was organized by a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence-based policies for the public good.
The March for Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. The march lobbies for politicians and policy makers to enact evidence based policies in the public interest [2]. The march is not only about scientists and politicians, it is also about the very real role that science plays in each of our lives and the need to respect and encourage research that gives us insight into the world.
So, go support your local scientists today. But don’t just leave it at that. Think about what changes that can be made in your life to reduce your energy consumption. As the organizers for the March for Science say, there is no planet B.
Make it more than just a march.
References
[1] Campaigning for Sustainable Literacy. (2007). What is Sustainable Literacy. Retrieved from: http://www.fundee.org/facts/envlit/whatisenvlit.htm
[2] March for Science. (2017) Why We March. Retrieved from: https://www.marchforscience.com/
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