So I decided, as my school is on April Break right now, why not make a post every day for five days dedicated to protecting the Earth? :D
It can be hard to know how you can do your part to help the planet, especially if you don't think what you do matters. Well I'll tell you straight up: everything you do matters!
Most people give up trying because they think that individual actions don't help. Because millions of people think this way, a lot of damage happens! And we can all agree that that matters.
So with the help of an article from the April edition of National Geographic Kids, I'll show you how to do your part, in a time when the world needs it the most.
Prevent Pollution
"Experts estimate that Americans use about 500 million plastic straws a day, and they're one of the top 10 trash items found during ocean cleanups.
If you must use a straw, find a reusable metal straw or a paper version."
(NOTE: My family uses bamboo straws– they're compostable!)
"Scientists estimate that about half the world's sea turtles accidentally eat plastic and other trash. Keep the ocean clean by never leaving toys or trash at the beach."
"Balloons eventually fall back down to Earth... and can end up in the ocean, entangling animals or being mistaken for food.
Skip the balloons at your next party, and ask your friends to do the same."
Combat Climate Instability
"Wear a warm sweater instead of turning up the heat, and open your windows and turn on a fan instead of blasting the air conditioner."
(NOTE: This is important because heating and cooling use up the most electricity in your house. If you wanna make a huge difference in your carbon footprint, try this!)
"Walk or bike as much as you can. Biking or walking just one mile a day for one year could save 330 pounds of carbon dioxide– that's the same as planting four trees and letting them grow for ten years!"
"Try to eat mostly in-season and locally grown fruits and vegetables. This cuts down on the energy used to grow and transport food, which reduces the release of pollution and heat-trapping gases."
Prohibit Habitat Destruction
"Palm oil is often used in products like chocolate, soap, ice cream, bread, cookies, and shampoo. But most rainforests are being destroyed in order to grow the trees that produce palm oil. Try to avoid buying products that use it."
(NOTE: Check the ingredients on the food you buy! If palm oil is included, choose another product if you can. For example, some peanut butter has palm oil, but some doesn't and is the same price.)
"Using too much water from lakes and rivers affect animals' habitats.
Conserve this resource by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth, and bugging your parents to fix leaky pipes."
Bring Back Biodiversity*!
*Biodiversity refers to the different kinds of animals living in a region.
If a region has only a few kinds of plants and animals, like a city, there is low biodiversity and the ecosystem is weak. Sickness spreads faster, for animals and humans.
If a region has many, many different kinds of plants and animals, like a forest, there is high biodiversity and the ecosystem is strong and healthy.
Human activities can hurt and kill animals, thereby reducing biodiversity.
"Some people are scared of animals like wolves, sharks, and bats– and try to harm them out of fear.
But these animals are super important because they keep their habitats healthy. So tell everyone how amazing they are!"
(NOTE: Do you know Yellowstone National Park? Grey wolves lived there for hundreds of years, but were made extinct in the region by humans many years ago. Because of a domino effect caused by their temporary extinction, the entire landscape changed for the worse.
In 1995, when grey wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone, biodiversity increased and the entire landscape improved!
Wolves, sharks, and other "scary" predators are called keystone species, meaning that if they become extinct, their entire ecosystems can become extinct.)
"Bluefin tuna and Atlantic halibut are large fish that reproduce and grow very slowly– so try to avoid eating them."
(NOTE: Tuna are actually straight-up endangered. But for some reason, you can still buy them at the store! A tuna sandwich is a normal thing you can find in your cafeteria!
Even if they are not endangered, any fish you buy from the store was most likely caught alongside sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins that accidentally got caught in the net. When you eat any fish, you might as well be eating those, too.
In general, try to avoid buying any fish at all.)
Thank you for reading! Remember, this list isn't a demand. Just do what you can. Helping the environment isn't about being a perfect person, it's about doing the best you can. :)
Everything in quotes comes from this April's issue of Nat Geo Kids magazine. For the next four/five days, I'll continue to transcribe their list of things that help the Earth in a more easy-to-understand way.
And if you have any questions, feel free to comment! :D
See you in Jamaa~
