Happy Earth Day x 50! 🌎
Every year we collectively take a pause on April 22 to be grateful for the planet we live on and reflect on how we can do a better job to protect it. Saving the earth is not something that is on the forefront of most minds here in America every day. I confess I am guilty of it myself - many of us prioritize comfort, convenience and luxury which can sometimes come at the expense of being environmentally friendly. Still, as we sit here at home it is illustrated how connected we truly are as a planet as we collectively battle this pandemic. It's a good day during this time of potential rebirth and redirection after our post-Coronavirus lives resume to think about what new direction we can also take towards protecting Mother Earth.
2020 also just happens to be the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, the "Earth Day Network" is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to drive positive action for our planet. Their mission is "to build the world’s largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and planet.
To diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide."
As immobile as many of us may be feeling right now, Earth Day does indeed symbolize a MOVEMENT that we can all take part in. Across the globe we are drastically transforming our daily lives these days for the better good of our world and making it a healthier place. We must come together and make a commitment as well to improving the greater health of our planet and thus humanity once this crisis is over. Sounds dramatic? Well, it kind of is. Any way that we can conserve energy and reduce waste, for example, is a step in creating a safer world for us to live and breathe in. There will definitely be permanent changes in our post-Corona lives that will be enforced for continued mass safety. Our paths are pivoting. As we bend in new directions, are there environmental changes as well that you can make towards a brighter and healthier future?
We are not necessarily talking major reforms here. A collection of small actions can have a huge impact if we all contribute in our own right. What small things can YOU do to help the Earth??
Here Are 5 Suggestions To Get Your Thoughts Going:
ONE - We can all stay at HOME! The earth needs us too so let’s ride this out so we can be here for more and more Earth Days! It's not fun but with more patience and abiding by the rules we will be that much closer to getting through this, collectively.
TWO - We waste a lot of energy. Turn off appliances when not needed, switch off power strips that aren’t being used, turn off lights when you are not in the room, use the sleep function on our TVs when watching at night. It helps!!
THREE - Reducing the use of plastic is a MUST! Reusable bottles and cups continue to make a difference! View our Stay Hot and Stay Cold Bottles for drinkware that save money and save the planet!
We also highly recommend reusable bags. Ever since stores started charging for bags I myself have used the ECO Shopping Bags. Frankly I don't know how I used to shop without them. The excess waste of getting multiple paper or plastic bags with each shopping trip was phenomenal. I also have a lot less bags cluttering up my home. Did you know and estimated one billion to one trillion plastic bags are used each year, often ending up on our beaches, in the ocean, and effecting animals?
FOUR - We throw away tons of recyclable materials. Please recycle in your home and businesses! In two of my apartment complexes I had to request the landlord get recycle barrels. The amount I alone recycle weekly, on top of all of my neighbors, has made a huge difference. Think about all the paper we waste at work. Can your office get a recycle bin next to the printer for all those unwanted print outs? It's worth the extra time and it will become a habit. I promise!
FIVE - Aside from the 20 second hand washing and food rinsing that we are all doing to stay safe, we can do better overall using less water. Shorten showers. When washing dishes wash first, set aside, then rinse all together vs doing individually. Make sure all faucets are turned off completely and not leaking. Every drop adds up!!
That's just an example of five tweaks that we could all do, if we aren't already. I am sure you could add to this list with your own actions. As long as we are all working towards a greater, common improvement, we are paying it forward for ourselves, our neighbors, and our future generations!
Let’s come together to heal the world and make it a better place!!
- Written by Janine Kai Robinson