Today it is World Earth Day, a day set up to shine a light on the importance of protecting our planet. This year it’s EVEN MORE relevant given the Central London ‘Extinction Rebellion’ demonstrations that have been taking place over the last week.
Where did the idea begin?
The first Earth Day was set up by peace activist John McConnell at a 1969 UNESCO conference in San Francisco. His objective was to honour the Earth and the concept of peace. Nowadays the day focuses on the danger we pose to the Earth and how we can act to create a better future for our planet and the generations to come.
What can you do?
The United Nations published ‘The Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World’ in which it pinpoints small actions which, when carried out by many, could make a huge difference.
Here are some suggestions from the guide:
- Save electricity by plugging appliances into a power strip and turning them off completely when not in use, including your computer.
- Stop paper bank statements and pay your bills online or via mobile.
- Buy minimally packaged goods.
- Get a rug — carpets and rugs keep your house warm and your thermostat low.
- Take short showers. Bathtubs require gallons more water than a 5-10 minute shower.
- Composting food scraps can reduce climate impact while also recycling nutrients.
- Let your hair and clothes dry naturally instead of running a machine. If you do wash your clothes, make sure the load is full.
- Eat less meat, poultry, and fish. More resources are used to provide meat than plants.
- Plan meals — use shopping lists and avoid impulse buys. Don’t succumb to marketing tricks that lead you to buy more food than you need, particularly for perishable items.
- Bike, walk or take public transport. Save the car trips for when you’ve got a big group.
- Use a refillable water bottle and coffee cup.
Are you honouring World Earth Day today? If so, how? And do you think you could encourage your friends and family to do any of the above?
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