Earth Day, April 22 2021.
- Reece Tonkinson
- Aug 29, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 21, 2021
Our Earth: What a wonder.
Earth, the place we all call home. The ground beneath our houses, and the pavement we tread as we make our way to work. It's the place that greets us with a fiery wash of tiger orange sunsets that glaze and simmer over obsidian oceans at dusk. The place that offers us shade and sanctuary in shamrock and emerald green forests that burst to life at dawn. It is she that offers us golden nectar beaches that warm our worn-out feet and give us calming daze as we laze about in seats made of silky Cymophane sand.
Whatever wilderness it is that you cherish most, I am sure you will join me in agreeing that our world, our earth, is quite something?
Ecosystems as old as time.
Some 4.5 billion years old and home to approximately 7.8 Billion people, this majestic spinning marble of life is suspended by the sun’s abundant gravity in the Milky Way Galaxy, held at a 23.4 degrees tilt, spinning relentlessly at 1,037mph.
Providing an abundance of biomes and ecosystems all existing in tandem, the Earth supports a wealth of plants, animals and other organisms, climates, landscapes and natural resources working together in perfect harmony to form a bubble of life.
Mother Earth. 'Save her Soul'.
But, like the finest, most brittle cogs in a series of clockwork components, even the slightness of changes, or upset can cause a 'butterfly effect' of dramatic changes in the weather, earth’s temperature, frequency and magnitude of natural disasters, as well as the ability of the earth to create breathable air for us.
Micro-plastics, fishing, farming, and the production of excessive amounts of CO2 from burning fossils are contributing to warmer atmospheric and ocean temperatures, pollution on a massive scale, contamination of fish and livestock and deforestation.
Experts say that in order for our earth to keep doing its job effectively, and keeping us all safe, fed, watered, and happy, we all need to take action right away, and act in tandem the world over to rescue it from near disaster before it’s too late.
The whole task of ‘saving the world’ can appear a little daunting, we appreciate.
And why bother now if we’re going to be dead before then right?
Well, slow down soldier. There is lots that you can do at home right now that will save you money and make you healthier, at the same time as keeping our precious planet safe.
What can we do at home, right now?
Waste:
2/3 of material flowing through the global economy gets emitted as pollution, and 67.4 billion tonnes (2015) of all that material is actually unrecoverable waste. By sourcing sustainable, carbon neutral products of high quality that are made to last, and by repairing things that are broken and switching off appliances (or using smart meters) when they are not being used, we will make an enormous impact on this waste. Not to mention saving you a few pennies along the way.
Up-cycle food at home:
During the COVID-19 Pandemic funds have been especially short, and a lot of us discovered just how many things we were throwing away before, in abundance. Upcycling food, freezing or preserving is often a lost art – but a fantastic way to reduce this waste.
Cook your own meals:
Relying on salt-heavy processed ready meals may seem like a fantastic option at the time, but these ‘timesaver’ classics are not only produced in a way that destroys nutrient content, but they are often shipped in single-use plastic containers which have been proven to be toxic to human health in the long term. Not to mention it’s a much more expensive way to prepare food than to cook for yourself.
Reduce meat and fish intake:
The rearing of cattle not only leads to massive deforestation (and removal of natural ecosystems), but also the use of pesticides causes problems to water-based ecosystems and the fish that inhabit them. Furthermore, rearing meat on such a large-scale decreases animal welfare and increases the usage of hormones, antibiotics, preservatives and bleaches.
Fishing in general produces tonnes of plastic waste each year through the dumping of fishing nets and cages. Some estimates say as much as 40-50% of plastic waste in the ocean is a result of fishing nets and other fishing accessories.
We think the middle ground is always the best way. So by eating less meat and filling the void with an array of different vegetables, beans and lentils, we are much more likely too stick to the plan, and also reap the benefits of both meat and plant-based diets.
Limiting single-use plastics:
Single use plastic when disposed of (either in landfill or by burning it, or dumping it) forms tiny micro-plastics that scatter into the atmosphere and contaminate our skies and oceans. It is suggested that we eat approximately 5-9g of plastic per week through plastic water bottle leakage, fish consumption, and single-use plastics used in fast food, storage and ready meal containers.
Cycle, walk or use public transport as much as possible:
It may sound simple, but opting to walk, cycle or use public transport to work can cut carbon emissions down substantially, not to mention the cost saving and cardiovascular and respiratory health benefits you’ll be enjoying.
What else can I do?
Visit https://www.earthday.org/take-action-now to find out more, to locate events near you or to make a donation to their causes.
Citation:
SOCIETY, N., 2020. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE: The End of Trash. 1st ed. Washington DC: FORGOTTEN Books, pp.47-50.
Van Siclen, D., 2021. Earth Day: The Official Site | EARTHDAY.ORG. [online] Earth Day. Available at: <https://www.earthday.org> [Accessed 21 April 2021].
Ramroop, T. and Boudreau, D., 2021. Ecosystem. [online] National Geographic. Available at: <https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ecosystem/> [Accessed 21 April 2021].
Wild, F., 2021. What Is Earth?. [online] NASA. Available at: <https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-earth-58.html> [Accessed 21 April 2021].
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