FERN + FIA

Hard to believe it’s been over 50 years since the first Earth Day took place on April 22nd 1970. While many negative things have happened since then, there have also been lots of positives. In 2019, we saw a rise in environmental awareness, with protests held worldwide by students to create awareness about Climate Change.

Currently while writing this, I’m sitting in my garden in the warm sunshine. As the birds sing around me, and the sounds of spring fill the air, I think about what this anniversary of Earth Day means to our planet.

So WHY did the first Earth Day take place back in 1970?

In the decades leading up to the first Earth day, industry across America was spewing out toxins and smoke into the air without a second thought. Automobiles were running on leaded gas which was polluting roads and airways. Back in the 1960’s, air pollution was so bad that it would actually block out the sun, and there was so much water pollution that rivers caught fire. This was the “norm”. The American population remained largely oblivious to any environmental concerns and didn’t realise how a polluted environment can threaten human health.

It was with the release of Rachel Carsons book Silent Spring, which showed the links between pollution and public health, that public awareness and concern for the health of our environment, people and animals was raised.

In January 1969, a junior senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson and many others witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. This lead to him and other Activists inspiring 20 million Americans to take to the streets, parks and college campuses to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development, which had damaged health and had a negative impact across the country.

By the end of 1970, after the first Earth day had taken place, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had been created. This set in motion environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. These laws have protected millions from disease and millions of species from extinction.

Right now, climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and systems that make our world habitable. Social media has played a big part in helping people get their voices heard and create a movement around climate change. With so much going on in the media today, it can be hard to find the energy to be fully focused on sustainability and our environment.

We can choose to spend our money with companies that care, that are making a change and we can show our governments how we feel through our purchasing power. We do not need to support companies that are showing such disregard for our environment. We have seen small improvements due to the current lockdown, but an increase in online shopping during this pandemic has also resulted in an increase in packaging waste.

Personally, I don’t understand why so much plastic is still used on our food in supermarkets. Plastic is still wrapped around the majority of our fruit and vegetables in most stores, even though there are alternatives available. Supervalu stores in Ireland became the first to introduce 100% Compostable Reusable Shopping Bags, removing 2.5 million plastic bags from circulation.This is amazing to see!

So why aren’t these being used everywhere? Or why are we not given paper bags to pick out our fruit and vegetables instead of plastic? These soft plastics aren’t recyclable and are usually thrown away after only one use. We bring our food home from the supermarket in them and then they go straight into the bin. This is not sustainable.

We have also seen large areas of deforestation happen, particularly in the Amazon rainforest, which is the result of one of the largest contributors to climate change facing us today: our food system.  In the past 40 years, at least 20 percent of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed. Farmers wipe out millions of trees by bulldozing, burning, or chopping them to create grazing areas and produce crops, mostly for the dairy/meat industry.

We should always remember that everything in this world is connected. What happens in Beijing, New York or Dublin affects us all. We all need to come together to save our planet. Nothing lives alone in nature – communities survive better than individuals, there is no better time than now to take action.

Rising sea levels, temperatures, air pollution levels, toxins in our waterways and mass farming are all effecting climate change.

So WHAT can you do?

If you follow some or most of these steps you will make a change.

Use alternative transport. Walk where you can or cycle. Pay attention to how you use energy in your home. Turn off switches and sockets.

Eat a more plant based diet. Recycle correctly and don’t use single use plastic. 

Be more aware and conscious of the clothing you’re wearing. Is the material organic? Could your clothing be full of toxics and harmful chemicals? What harm was done to the environment along the way?

Say No to Over-consuming. Be aware of your carbon footprint and be respectful of nature.

Start growing plants and vegetables at home. (in a garden or window box)

Help educate others on what they can do. Take home waste from beauty spots and help in beach or park clean ups. 

And ask yourself “What does Earth day mean to me?” and start now to make that difference.

For more information:

Click HERE to check out some Sustainable products for Earth day or any other day.

Image Credit: Unsplash