We have a problem. Wait, no. We are a problem.
First, here is a list of three daily areas in which you can quite easily reduce your stress on the planet:
1. Garbage: how much do you throw away? Guess the weight of waste you throw away per week, multiply it to scale it to a year, and picture that dumped on your front lawn. Also, why do you not have a compost? Naturally, humans would be putting back into the ground everything that they take from it, in one form or another. There is no reason why you cannot have a compost (you can actually make one, fly-free, by just dumping compostable materials into one corner of a grassy area that is exposed to water and light, therefore it is free to do this). Even if you don’t have a garden, make a compost, then either dump the soil somewhere useful or give it to someone.
2. Water: both how much and at what temperature. Use room temperature water as much as possible. Turn off the faucet (in bathroom, shower, kitchen) whenever you are not directly using the water. Concentrate on the amount unused going down the drain, then imagine having to walk 30km to get what water you just used.
3. Your dollar. Whatever you buy, who are you supporting? Better yet, do you need to buy it? I do not mean “want”, I mean “need”. Does anybody need Tim Horton’s or Starbucks? No. Get a bigger picture idea of the materials you are actually buying when you purchase a food or beverage item (packaging, receipt, imported ingredients, fuels accompanying such materials).
The human species is the most detrimental species to the planet. North America is the most detrimental continent to other humans, and to the planet. Hmm, even Canada has one of the single largest manmade environmental disasters on the globe. Why are we so detrimental? Why are we, as people who live in North America, so unaware of (or ignorant to) the global crises we are propagating? Anyone have an idea?
Here’s mine: desire to grow. In itself, it can be either beneficial or detrimental. Desire to expand and prosper when one is connected with life is beneficial; the opposite is where problems arise.
Countless times I have heard people active against the planet’s degradation say “don’t you want your children, grandchildren to have (depleting resource) in their lifetime?” I’m assuming the emphasis is on the focus of connection for their listeners: family, loved ones. Have we become so disconnected from all things other than family and loved ones? You would think that being aware of trees as the source of our oxygen, or soil as the source of our food, would be enough reason to have a connection with such things.
If trees were found to make oil, millions would be planted tomorrow. Too bad they only make the air we breathe.
If you are wrapped up in consumption, a busy life, and feel like you do not have the energy or the know-how to be conscious about the environment, then you need the biggest wake up call. We completely depend on the planet, the plant created and sustains our life. If you place material in higher priority than the earth, you are the problem. If you find yourself in this category, why not think of yourself being charged for using resources. Every drop of water you use, you will receive a bill for. Every watt of energy used, every carbon emission released, every misplaced piece of garbage thrown, and so on – think of being charged money for each of these things. Those who are concerned about money would cut consumption of such resources a very significant if they adopted such perspective.
Maybe, however, you can start to re-establish a connection with the natural world on which we depend. Then, perhaps only the concern for life would needed to enforce a strong motivation to change.
Much love, Earthings.
Emily