Important Environmental Messages to Know
Today, June 5th, The World is celebrating World Environment Day.
So many people do green campaigns on social media. They shout to be noticed. They want more people to know that we have only one earth, so we have to care about our environment. We have to protect it from profound damage.
But you know what? Not all voices have been heard. Even a group of scientists just risked being arrested in Los Angeles to save the planet by shouting the truth about our world condition. Their decision to go forward to the frontline gives us redlight that we are on the brink, and everyone should know that.
Unfortunately, people are stubborn. They choose to close their eyes and ears to the news they don’t want to read or hear. People are also selfish. They prefer to ignore issues that have no relation to their business. And it’s pathetic, you know? Besides, we need everyone to engage to be able to tackle environmental issues.
Now please tell me, how many people decide to adopt a sustainable lifestyle after hearing about the environmental news? How many people care about the environment after they watch an environmental disaster on TV news or social media? I don’t think there are too many people like that. Even if there are, it doesn’t last long.
If you wish to hear the optimistic side here, you are wrong. Let me tell you the truth: We are still too far in the way to creating a sustainable environment. We still have many things to do to make it happen.
And here are three important messages to help you unlock your willingness to get involved.
1. Systematic Change is Needed
Maybe the majority of us have heard that change starts with us. It tells us the urge to expand the scale of individual actions to create collective change. I honestly agree, but we need so much more than that. Individual change can not effectively reduce carbon emissions.
A large amount of carbon emissions did not come from the household, but from transportation (27%), electricity (25%), and industry (24%) sectors. We have to push the transformation of those sectors to be greener to reduce carbon emissions.
I’m not saying that we have to stop our self-action. Otherwise, I’m glad to know if you are working on it. I hope you can keep it up. But we need a systematic strategy to let the owner of businesses know that their anthropogenic activities produce carbon emissions. And we have to let them admit the truth, then urge them to stop it or transform it into a more environmentally friendly way.
2. Spotting & Supporting: 2 Ways to Create Significant Impact
Every time we see an environmental movement with a high-urgency background, we have to support it. Either by signing the petition, sharing the substances, donating our money if they are open to it, or even joining their actions if it is possible for us. It will help, but as a reminder, we have to think critically and investigate first by background-checking them. The more people get involved, the more significant the impact because the collective push is more powerful.
3. Do Something
Use electricity wisely. Reduce your carbon footprint. Try to be vegetarian and reduce your food waste. Sign some environmental petitions. Try to join some environmental volunteer programs. Donate and support environmental actions. Learn to solve any environmental problem based on your field of expertise or interest. Educate more people, it can start with your family or closest friends. Advocate your thoughts or innovations to any stakeholders. Anything.
There are so many kinds of actions that we can do, we just need to adjust them. As long as it can help to reduce carbon emissions and environmental damages, do it. Because sometimes, we are not actually confused about what to do. We just need the courage to do what we think is right.
Imagine our world ten years later if we are not doing anything. We will live in a damaged environment with so many complex problems. We will probably find it hard to get access to clean water, fresh air, and skin-acceptable temperature. Those are very close to being an uninhabitable world, isn’t it?. And can you imagine yourself living in that world?
Terri Swearingen said, “We live on this planet as if we had another one to go to”. We only have one earth. So we have to preserve it to prevent it from becoming uninhabitable. It all depends on us.
The good news is that we still have time. It is all a matter of choice. What choice will you choose? Keep silent or dare to take a role?
“Be Part of the Solution, Not Part of the Pollution”
