Our planet is in danger. Don’t get me wrong, the earth will continue no matter how much we abuse it, but humans will not. The planet is in danger of becoming inhospitable for humans and other life on earth. I am a person who believes in science, and in the scientific method. The scientific method has shown over and over again a causal relationship between human activity and global warming. Climate Change is not a hoax, and no, humans aren’t responsible for all of it, but the fact remains that our poles are melting, our waters are rising, our air and water is suffering, and humans around the world are dying. A recent study shows 5.5 million deaths a year due to air pollution alone (BBC 2017). If we don’t stop this trend, our grandchildren will be living in an unhealthy, miserable world. So, here are some options to help you live a better and healthier life, and save clean air and water for your children and grandchildren.
- Plastic is a problem. The ocean is critical to life on earth. We cannot survive without the oxygen made in the ocean, and there is so much plastic in it that wildlife is eating it, dying from it, and contaminating our food sources. Plastic is a way of life, it would be almost impossible to eradicate it from our lives, but we can be more mindful about the harm it can cause. We can reduce our use of single plastics by simple methods such as reusing our grocery bags, saying no to plastic utensils and straws that are offered to us, and reducing our intake of bottled water. We can use biodegradable trash bags and recycled paper goods. Recycle your plastic! And cans and bottles as well. Every little bit helps!
- Reduce your intake of meat. It really is not that difficult, I promise! Animal agriculture is responsible for more than half of the harmful emissions to our warming planet. It also requires massive amounts of food, land, water, and energy (let alone the suffering of the animals). It really is not difficult to go a day without meat. Join Meatless Monday! Check out this out: eat one less burger a week and it is the equivalent of not driving for 320 miles. Going meat and cheese-less for one day a week is the equivalent of not driving for 5 weeks! If the entire USA joined in Meatless Monday it would be the equivalent of taking 7.6 million cars off the road! (Earthday.org)
- Give to a foundation that supports our ocean, our animals or our land. A few of my most esteemed foundations are Marine Megafauna Foundation, Sierra Club, World Wildlife Foundation, REEF and the Jane Goodall Institute. Visit National Parks! Do what you can to support wildlife! Don’t buy Chinese medicine with parts from endangered animals.
- Download the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app, and check to see if you are eating unsustainable fish, fish with high levels of mercury, or endangered species. It is so simple! Red dot, don’t eat, Yellow dot it is okay but not great, and Green dot eat it! I use it whenever I go out if I plan to have seafood. I don’t eat meat, but I do eat seafood once in a while. By the way, do not eat farmed Atlantic Salmon, it is quite unhealthy. The better choice is wild caught salmon only!
- Let your government representatives know that you are concerned about our environment. At this moment the US government is getting rid of regulations that protect us and our children. Some want to get rid of the Environmental Protection Agency altogether. Blocking our government agencies from studying and preventing climate change is the wrong way to go. Contact your representatives, and march in the March for Science 2017 on April 22, and the People’s Climate Environment March on April 29. It’s happening in just about every city in the country.
And the best thing you can do? Get out in nature, our natural resources are too precious to allow them to be ruined.
PS: Shop the Life is Good link above, they give 10% of net profits to charity!
Lois Alter Mark
These are such important tips. We need to make people want to make every day Earth Day and understand that it’s up to us to take care of this planet – and each other.
Tam Warner Minton
I completely agree. If everyone would just do one thing!
Carol A Cassara
Lois is right. Every day is Earth Day. I’m glad to see so many active in promoting it–if we don’t care for Mother Earth, Gaia, well, I shudder to think.
Tam Warner Minton
We have to be really vigilant about the current administration…they want to take us back to the 1960s.
Nancy Murphy
I love how you provided ways we can help conserve and protect our EARTH!
Great suggestions and all easily obtainable goals
Thanks
Nancy
Tam Warner Minton
thanks Nancy!
Cathy Sikorski
Wonderful suggestions. I’m passing on Meatless Mondays to everyone I know. And will check out the fish app as well. Yes, we need to behave and get a grip. Our planet needs our help and our respect.
Tam Warner Minton
That is awesome!! Thank you!
Ruth
May I add support the crazy notion that science is real. Marching Saturday on honor of our planet!
Helene Cohen Bludman
I remember the first year Earth Day started. Sadly, there is still so much we must do to protect our environment. Thank you for these tips. We should all be conscious every day of saving the planet.
Tam Warner
We are in so much danger with this new administration.
Diane
All of the above! And I heartily agree that the best way to be aware is to be ‘out there’. Just a simple walk through the Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island can give one a taste of what we are trying to sustain. Kudos for every effort!
Tam Warner
I agree!
pavitra
appreciated step, nice to read your post, you are making aware people to save earth. A collective effort can make our earth safe.
Tam Warner
Let’s hope so!
Matt
Awesome article (as always)!!!
I just wanted to say mention that Earth Day is over but our planet is still losing 15 billion trees each year.
Earth Day Network works to reforest the earth and build sustainable communities but we must all do our little bit, too!
Keep those great blogs coming!!!
Matt recently posted…They look cool but do robotic lawn mowers actually work?
Tam Warner
Thanks Matt! This is an old entry…I have a new Earth Day post on my home page!