let’s make EARTH DAY An everyday Effort!
Happy Earth Day!
So what exactly is Earth Day? Earth day celebrates the planet Earth and raises public awareness about environmental issues. Personally, I know there is room for improvement in my efforts to take more action against environmental challenges plaguing our planet, however, I am hopeful, that together we can all make a difference.
Before we can make a difference, its important to become informed about environmental issues that were facing. According to Earth.org here are some statistics regarding some environmental issues happening as we speak:
Fossil Fuels- We’re seeing increased emissions of greenhouse gases have caused temperatures to rise, which are causing catastrophic events all over the world
Air Pollution - Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that an estimated 4.2 to 7 million people die from air pollution worldwide every year and that nine out of 10 people breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants.
Food Waste-A third of the food intended for human consumption – around 1.3 billion tons – is wasted or lost.
Biodiversity Loss-More than 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction and are likely to be lost within 20 years.
Plastic Pollution-A report by science journal, Nature, determined that currently, roughly 11 million tons of plastic make its way into the oceans every year, harming wildlife habitats and the animals that live in them.
Deforestation-By the year 2030, the planet might have only 10% of its forests; if deforestation isn’t stopped, they could all be gone in less than 100 years.
Melting Ice Caps and Sea Level Rise- Sea level rise this century could flood coastal areas that are now home to 340 million to 480 million people, forcing them to migrate to safer areas and contributing to overpopulation and strain of resources in the areas they migrate to.
Ocean Acidification-Global temperature rise has not only affected the surface, but it is the main cause of ocean acidification. Our oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide that is released into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Agriculture-Studies have shown that the global food system is responsible for up to one third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, of which 30% comes from livestock and fisheries.
Food and Water Insecurity- Rising temperatures and unsustainable farming practices has resulted in the increasing threat of water and food insecurity. In terms of water security, only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water
As I process the above-mentioned environmental issues, three questions automatically come to mind: 1) Where do we even begin? 2) How can I take action? 3.) Can there really be healthy humans on an unhealthy planet? I’m not typically one to focus on the negatives, however, the facts don’t lie and it’s so important that we bring more awareness to these topics to take small steps to improving our planet.
Consequently, we should have to consider the impacts of these environmental issues on the mind-body-spirit because we as humans are one with the Earth! This could be simply understood by considering how these issues may affect our ability to have access to clean water and nutritious food to sustain a health body and mind as well as maintain a peaceful and balanced spirit.
To end, I hope you’re feeling just as hopeful, courageous, and determined to proactively take action to not only support our own health, but to also support the health of my neighbor, my community, the global community, and generations to come. Let’s get started with some helpful tips below.
