Our planet Earth is an incredible place, but due to environmental issues, it needs our help to flourish.
How did Earth Day begin?
According to Earth Day, before the International Day was created, we were very oblivious to the consequences of a polluted environment and the threat it posed to human health as well as the many other environmental concerns that are caused by pollution. From toxic black clouds spewing into the air to toxic waste being dumped into a nearby stream, these activities were allowed.
Because there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, or Clean Water Act. There were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment, and that is why, in the spring of 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson, having been concerned for a while about the deterioration of the environment, created Earth Day as a way to force these issues onto the national agenda. [Source: EarthDay.org]
It first started as a national teach-in on the environment, and the goal was to allow as many students as possible to be educated on the issues of pollution, which led to the many environmental issues that we face today. [Source: EarthDay.org]
Earth Day is now globally celebrated as a way for us all to be reminded and educated on the importance of taking action towards helping attain a healthy environment and confronting the climate crisis in the world we live in, also known as planet earth.
The Earth Day 2022 Theme is Invest In Our Planet.
We are all individuals capable of making our voices heard through our decisions.
We have the power to support businesses and organisations that take action and steps in the direction of protecting our environment by making climate-friendly choices and investments.
TAKE ACTION
As we know, Earth Day serves as a reminder for us all to take action in any way we can, even if it be in the smallest way possible, so here are some ways in which we use our individual power to take action and help invest in our planet:
- Lowering our carbon footprint that is generated by our actions is one of the first steps in the right direction. We can avoid the use of fossil fuels when transporting food from afar by truck, ship, rail, or plane by eating less meat and purchasing organic and locally produced foods.
- To try and consume fewer products that contain palm oil, as the effects and consequences of palm oil consumption play a huge role in the deteriorating environment. And try as much as possible to consume products that have less of an impact on the environment. We should switch to alternative products that are produced by companies that promote environmental sustainability by minimising the use of natural resources, toxic materials, and emissions of waste so as not to jeopardise the needs of future generations. (Source: EarthDay) Find palm oil free certified products here.
- First Nations Justice is Climate Justice. Indigenous peoples’ contributions are essential in designing and implementing solutions for ecosystems. Therefore, Indigenous connectivity is extremely valuable to understand how important the connection to land and culture is.
- Reduce our plastic consumption by buying reusable items instead of single use plastics. Take action by signing a petition to create a global movement to end plastics here: https://action.earthday.org/call-for-a-global-plastics-treaty
- Planting trees across the world is one of the easiest and most effective ways of taking CO2 out of the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis. By planting trees, not only are we taking CO2 out of the atmosphere, but many planted trees will form forests, which then provide habitat for animals and purify the air we breathe. You can purchase a #mysteptoprotect soap which plants 1 tree in a critical habitat area in Sumatra here.
Bonus – win a prize pack for our Earth Day giveaway here!
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