Environment | Tian Ren Chu
On
April 22, 1970, 20 million American citizens gathered in streets, parks, and
auditoriums as a way to show their desire and hope for a clean and sustainable
future. This was eight years after environmental pioneer Rachel Carson had
published Silent Spring, and a sense
of environmental awareness was beginning to emerge among people living in industrialized
countries all over the world.
This
demonstration marked the birth of Earth Day, an annual celebration of the
environment and natural heritage which has sustained us for countless
generations. For the next decades, April 22 would become an opportunity for
environmental groups and political leaders to gather and search for solutions
to pressing issues such as air pollution, degradation of forests and lands,
climate change, and many more. Earth Day also remained an occasion for
governments to raise awareness among citizens in order to inspire change and
encourage more sustainable lifestyles.
While
establishing Earth Day was a crucial beginning towards a globalized effort for environmental
protection, a problem remains: to single out one day in a year might lead some
to believe that only on this particular day should we keep in mind the impact
our actions have on land, air, and water. That we only have one planet Earth,
with finite resources. And that we, humans, are sharing it with over 8.7 million
other living species, all of them fascinating and contributing to an incredibly
rich biodiversity.
But
a single day of increased environmental awareness is not merely enough. Sustainability
should not be the object of annual celebration; in fact, in order to have a
chance of curbing global warming, reducing marine pollution, or regenerating
forests before an irrevocable point is reached, the idea of an ecologically-responsible
living should become ordinary and universal - a concept so common that it would
be engraved in every citizen's mindset, every single day.
So,
while Earth Day remains a great opportunity for people to gather, whether to seek solutions for the future or to
appreciate the beauty of nature, environmental consciousness should in no way
be limited or tied to that particular event if we are to leave a healthy planet
as legacy to future generations.
Here
are a few actions everyone can take to reduce their environmental footprint -
on any day!
1-
Use refillable water bottles (the same goes for coffee and other drinks!)
42 billion plastic bottles are sold annually in
America, and 80% of these are dumped into landfills. Millions end up in the
ocean every year, adding up to the "Trash Vortex" in the Pacific
Ocean, which is an island of plastic junk the size of Texas. Plastic caps are
often ingested by mammals and fish who mistake them for food and remain in
their stomach.
It might take a few minutes to empty one
bottle, but it can take up to 1000 years for plastic to degrade. To put this in
perspective, if a plastic bottle had drifted into the ocean during the Middle
Ages, it would still be around today, eroded into small particles dispersed
across the sea.
2-
Think before buying
Mindless consumerism is what drives the system
of production in industrialized countries, which results in incredible amounts
of waste. Fast and cheap fashion is a leader in this pattern of
overconsumption: over ten million tons of clothing end up in landfills annually
in the U.S. alone.
In order to reduce the amount of resources
consumed and the amount of trash produced, buying should become the last resort
- after borrowing, re-using, making, and thrift shops have been considered.
3- Practice
Meatless Monday
It doesn't have to be Monday. Committing to
not eat meat on any day of the week is a step towards adopting a more
environmentally and ethically conscious lifestyle. Producing one pound of beef
requires around 1800 gallons of water, while producing one pound of tofu only
takes 300!
4-
Bike instead of driving
Did you know that in Copenhagen, capital of
Denmark, 50% of citizens bike to school or to work every day? The harsh weather
in winter might make it difficult to do so in Quebec, but during other seasons,
using bikes to get around significantly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide
released into the atmosphere (as well as the amount of traffic in cities and on
highways). It's also a great way to get some exercise after sitting for a day
and to save money on gasoline.
5-
Pass on the message
It might be true that one person's actions
alone cannot make a significant difference. But if we collectively gain awareness
as to how our actions threaten our own well-being and that of the Earth's fragile
ecosystem, things are bound to improve!
Sources:
http://denmark.dk/en/green-living/bicycle-culture/copenhageners-love-their-bikes/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transforming-the-fashion-industry_us_57ceee96e4b0a48094a58d39
http://www.earthday.org/about/the-history-of-earth-day/
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