Today is #WorldEnvironmentDay. Just like other earth-themed observations, today’s goal is to be concerned about environmental challenges and to, more importantly, celebrate nature. In a growing world of severe environmental problems, sometimes it’s necessary to just appreciate the scenery.
#WorldEnvironmentDay Campaign
The most exciting campaign today is called ‘Picture all the places that matter’ by the United Nations Environment Programme. You just have to share a photo or video of your favourite place in nature using #WorldEnvironmentDay or #WithNature and tell us why it’s special to you.
Now, there are also some environmental problems to think a little on. Locally, Bloemfontein is still faced with water scarcity, obsessive solid waste pollution, concerns about the safety of our water and land degradation. It gets even worse on a global scale when considering climate change, deforestation and city-wide smog pollution. Solving these problems are important for our health now and for the lives of future generations.
But the big question is always, “What should we, as the regular citizen, do?” If you’re not asking yourself that question then re-read the previous paragraph (until you are asking). For those who are curious about what one can do every single day that will make a huge impact on the beautiful world around us, you need look no further than than the products you consume.
Seriously, Lauren Singer, has a brilliant TEDxTeen talk on living a zero-waste life. She lays out two simple steps anyone can follow to undergo the green transition.
Zero-Wate Life
Lauren’s trash over 2 years
Lauren’s story is amazing. In four years, she has only produced enough trash to fill a mason jar. She is the author of the Zero Waste blog, Trash is for Tossers and founder of organic cleaning product company, The Simply Co. Through her blog, she has empowered millions of readers to produce less waste by shopping package-free, making their own products and refusing plastic and single-use items.
Going zero-waste may seem like an impossible task but at TEDxBloemfontein, we like to challenge to the impossible. Just run through Lauren’s simple steps. Hopefully, two years from now, your jar will also look like hers – pictured right.
Going Plastic-Free
Being the avid consumers we are, it is inevitable that we produce a lot of waste. The obvious solution would be to reduce the amount of waste we create, mostly by using alternatives to plastic. This seems like an enormous task. But, the good news is that people like Lauren, have already undergone the transition and have a few tips for us. Watch her talk on how you can go zero-wasted today:
What to do today
Lauren suggests changing little things, one time changes in your every day life that have a large scale and long term positive impact. Eventually this can be a long list of things. You might be composting, producing your own cosmetics and toiletries, down-sizing, shopping at farmer’s markets, recycling and/or creative re-using of glass and tin. But the trick is to save the world one day at a time.
Today on #WorldEnvironmentDay, we suggest just taking some time to appreciate the world around you. Also think deeply on why you think it’s worth it to start saving the earth. If you have a strong enough reason, you will be able to tackle every day from here on. For Lauren, the reason is simple.
In her words, “I want to be remembered for the things that I did when I was on this planet and not for trash that I left behind.”
More talks
Watch more talks here:
