Earth is very tiny. As Carl Sagan eloquently described, it is but "a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam". While we may be an insignificant speck living on this mote of dust in the vastness of the universe, that little dust particle is our home. One where, if it becomes ill, so do we.
I am still impressed and warmed by the fact that we have an entire day (Earth Day) dedicated to honoring the planet we live on...which is just 10 days away! The Earth provides us more than we ever have time to appreciate, even if it's just bragging rights about the really cool places that we've travelled to. More than that, there are billions of species with mind-blowing abilities, and others that have yet to be discovered. There's also the domesticated house cat which alone makes the Earth worth saving.
At the same time, keeping our home healthy is oftentimes an inconvenience. With lifespans averaging 75-85 years, considering future generations and the health of the planet after our own life has ended is... hard. Really hard. We want to have a great life, and being environmentally conscious can get in the way. The result is massive overconsumption of natural resources, air and water pollution, deforestation, exponentially increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and trash/plastic waste building up in heaps from our fast fashion and consumerism lifestyle. But, you only live once, right?
The consequences of our actions last far longer than we ever will, and we need to take responsibility for them. While one day a year is not enough to undo the damage from the other 364 days, creating awareness and encouraging action is still important.
There are many opportunities to celebrate and show some love to Mother Earth, so check out the official Earth Day website and see what is happening in your area!
Ways to Celebrate
Here are 22 things to do this April 22nd:
Contact your representatives! I am putting this as #1 because these are the people who are making longer lasting changes. You can find who is representing you here, so reach out to them about environmental concerns that you have. Some concerns might be not having compostable services in your community or wanting more bike lanes.
Go outside. It doesn't matter what you do (walk, run, bike, read, lay in the sunshine, etc), just spend time in the outdoors with friends or alone, and remind yourself of all the things you love about the environment.
Snap some nature photography. Leaves and flowers are popping, so celebrate them. If you want to focus on awareness, document environmental concerns like air, water, and plastic pollution. You can also photograph Earth Day events, like cleanups.
Pick up trash. I recently have been taking a a small trash bag with me on my walks, simply because the pieces of trash littering the sidewalk are so bothersome. If you take a walk down any road, I guarantee there is trash there. You can organize cleanups of particular areas, or join one that is already happening.
Go to a clean-up. You can tackle much bigger projects with a group, and the camaraderie is really great! Bonus that the environment gets a little TLC too.
Reuse. Carry reusable items with you, like a coffee tumbler, water bottle, and utensils, so you don't have to use disposable items. It can be a hassle to think of these things in advance, but having a go-bag with your reusable items already in there can make it easier.
Ride your bike. Try to incorporate the bicycle into your day, whether for fun, exercise, or for getting some chores done. If you live a commutable distance by bike, try avoiding the car for a day and embrace pedaling! I have a field trip on Earth Day, and I need to drive 30 miles to get there. Should I leave at 5:30 AM to get there by bike? I'm going to try!
Plant a tree or start a garden. Planting trees are a popular activity for Earth Day, but also consider beginning a garden to have more locally grown fruits or vegetables. When planting trees or other vegetation, make sure they are native to your area so that invasive species don't outcompete the native plants.
Go on a bird walk. My local libraries and nature centers post a lot of outdoor recreational opportunities, some of which are morning bird walks (but also full moon hikes or amphibian walks). Because Earth Day is a Saturday this year, it's quite possible that the local birders are gathering together, so check out what's happening near you!
Don't use single-use plastics for a week. Single-use plastics by definition are plastic items that have only a one-time purpose, such as anything with wrappers, plastic wrap, plastic utensils, chip bags, candy bars, disposable water bottles, etc. There is a whole community of people who try to eliminate their single-use plastic usages. More advanced is the Zero-Waste crowd that tries to not throw anything away. Whatever stage you are in, you can cut down on the disposables in your life. Check out my attempt at Plastic Free July
Repurpose/ upcycle. Before throwing items away, check to see if they could be repurposed into something else (wooden palettes have so many alternative uses!) Pinterest is essential for these ideas.
Compost. We are fortunate to have a community that has composting services. All of our food scraps (including meat, bones, and dairy) are accepted, and it has cut down on our household waste. Furthermore, all the food that goes into landfills can't break down easily, and a ton of methane is produced, which is a potent greenhouse gas. It's important to cut down on food waste by eating the food that is most likely to go bad first and then composting the scraps. You can also create a backyard compost bin which can turn into fertile soil to be used in your garden.
Conserve water. Water is a nonrenewable resource. That is, once it's gone, it's gone. It does cycle in the environment, but the water cycle is changing because of changing climate patterns. Shut off your water when you are brushing your teeth, turn down the water pressure when doing the dishes, invest in water conserving toilets, and, for the love of the environment, don't water your lawn during droughts.
Reduce your meat intake. It's not news that meat is not great for the environment. Deforestation occurs to make room for livestock production, and livestock require a lot of water which is needed to grow their feed and for drinking directly. Cattle and other ruminants also produce a lot of methane. So, cut down on eating meat to help the environment. If you absolutely cannot do this, try to buy from a local farm that you know has good living conditions for the animals.
Watch movies and documentaries. There are a ton of environmental films on streaming services to get inspired. A few are: Brave Blue World, The Lorax, Wall-E, Don't Look Up, Cowspiracy, Seaspiracy, Kiss the Ground, My Octopus Teacher, Chasing Coral, and more.
Go to your farmer's market/ buy organic. Support your local farmers! Not only can you buy more vegetables and fruits in bulk, but you are also helping out your community. Try to find organic options as organic farms are much better for the environment!
Go paperless. You can sign up for electric bills which reduce the production costs of paper as well as vehicle transport to your house. You can also convert your to-do list from paper to electronic notes, read e-books instead of buying new books (or buy used books instead!), and use digital apps for other services you use in paper form (like online banking).
Choose safer ingredients/chemicals. All the products that we use have some combination of chemical ingredients, varying in their toxicity and environmental safeness. Read labels and choose products that are better for the environment, or make your own products from scratch with simple and safe ingredients. Often, this can even cut down on the need for plastic containers (such as making your own soap, toothpaste, or laundry detergent).
Make your home more energy efficient. Use cold water instead of hot, when able. Change light bulbs to more energy efficient bulbs. Improve insulation (and leaky doors/windows) to improve heating and air conditioning efficiency. If financially able, install wind and solar energy. Get more ideas here!
Clothing swap with friends. Once a year, my friends get together to bring their unloved (but still nice!) clothing for a swap. Many of my clothing pieces are from my friends' closets, and it is such a great way to get new clothes without spending money or giving money to the fast fashion industry (a notorious polluter).
Get informed. Stay up to date with the global news that is happening related to the environment. Subscribe to morning briefings or listen to podcasts that discuss the latest updates. Knowledge is power!
Turn off the lights. It's easy: when you are done using lights and when your electronics are charged, shut them off/unplug them.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
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