As I write this message, we are 3 days in the countdown to Earth Hour 2019. This year, there should be more to just switching off the lights for an hour as in the past years.
The activities we create and the kind of treatment we exhibit to wildlife and biodiversity have huge impact in our way of living. Our lives depend on nature that the Almighty created and enabled all living things (humans in the highest form) to co-exist with it. We cannot always say that we live because of hard work and faith but we neglect to protect nature. Thriving is more crucial than surviving.
Nature provides us with all the basic things we need to survive. However, the desertion and lack of respect to Mother Earth is exposing us all to greater risk and danger of varied extinctions. Trending as I see it now is how the use and disposal of plastics can be very alarming to our food and water intakes. Still, little is accomplished and only a handful of people participate. Thanks to the extensive advocacy of few organizations like the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature.
How else can we continue to partake other than switching off our lights on the appointed hour? Let me share with you the paths I am now taking gradually and tenaciously.
- Start farming in your own backyard. There is no better way to eat healthy than cultivating seeds and harvesting food from the labor of your hand and the passion of your heart.
- Purchase sustainable products that have lesser plastics, chemicals, and animal consumption or the absence of it would be best.
- Purchase goods that support “fair trade”. The hard and hand work of those on the ground need to be equally compensated.
- Avoid water and food wastage. Like I mentioned in my PREVIOUS ARTICLE, “Out of respect to our farmers for the hard work they put into producing food under extreme weather conditions, just for our ultimate consumption, we ought to take care not to waste food. If we cannot put our shoes into theirs, perhaps we should observe the amount of our food intake from time to time.”
- Create or participate in events near you (in your communities, schools, and businesses) about the ways to save the earth.
- Support and promote the livelihoods of grassroots and ethnic groups. They have the most sustainable outcomes.
- Encourage your families, friends and colleagues to join your crusade. Imagine the immense impact of one person taking the leap with two or more persons who will eventually inspire more is already a significant move to secure our future and the future of biodiversity where we co-exist.
- Check your vehicles for regular maintenance. It will have a huge influence in the prevention of air pollution.
- Be a responsible traveler en route to your holiday destinations. Whether it’s in the air, sea, or land, be mindful of keeping the trails you track clean and green for the benefit of the next visitors, the next generation, and even of your next visit. Speak up when you see nomads who are polluting the places they traverse.
- Reduce wastes by recycling materials into another useful product. Each of us is gifted with unique creativity. I am sure we can explore solutions for recycling our old materials into something of better use.
You and I can populate the list further but let us not forget to promote the Earth Hour on 30th March and help speak up about the many good things it will bring us in our lifetime. We must be proud of ourselves for leading a good example.
Most importantly, let us join and help advocate the WWF’s movement #Connect2Earth. With all the efforts, sweats, tears, joys, and hard works encountered by noble advocates in putting up an organization to preserve the environment and shape up the lives of humanity, the least we can do is to support and spread the message.
This little but glaring contribution will certainly go a long way. In whatever way you wish to partake, please visit the EARTH HOUR LINK to make the most of your participation.
Even as I have now taken my part, I still have a lot more to contribute to preserve the richness of nature that continues to secure my life and the life of those I love.
What is your #Connect2Earth story? Share it with us.