Earth Day Questions
- dkane0819
- Apr 22, 2023
- 1 min read
In the Philadelphia area many people put in the extra effort to pick up litter or plant some trees on Earth Day. It's a good start, but on this day, I'm more full of questions than answers. I hope you'll help me by sharing your thoughts and questions of your own. Here are a few of mine:
What is the most effective thing that you think we can do for the planet with the limited time and energy we possess as individuals?
What will it take to build a greater level of Earth-awareness in our communities?
How can we hold government institutions and big business to a higher environmental standard?
What worries you?
What gives you hope?
I know that sometimes when I tell people that these things live in my brain everyday, they look at me like I have three heads. But one thing I do know is that in many ways we're losing touch with nature. It's a worry.
I wonder how we can possibly as a society care about protecting something that we only experience on a limited basis. What's the answer? I'd love to know. Let's start a conversation on these issues. Thank you!
Commit to not idling in your parked car.
Rake leaves, or at least ask your lawn services to not keep their gas powered blowers on to blow every single leaf.
Group together errands to reduce car start ups.
Reduce (unnecessary, decorative) outdoor lighting at night.
We could try treating all people as though they are important and valuable. Try having consideration, kindness and compassion for those who share this earth with us could be contagious.
I think we need to pressure companies who are environmental offenders (boycott them and write to them to let them know that you’re boycotting them), and support those companies who are stewards of the earth, and let them know that you are were doing that. To start. Buy food in bulk, it reduces packaging. R Eat It a vegan diet. (I wonder why I can’t make corrections?)
I think itcall starts with us. The people of the planet. Yes, one could say about corporations. Or government.
But it does come down to us.
People.
Look around you everywhere you go.
Shopping carts every where.
People throwing trash out the window of their cars.
Cigarette butts everywhere.
Abandoned mattresses and appliances along the tracks.
Walk along city streets like Frankford Avenue. Trash everywhere.
If people just cared a little bit and just cleaned up around where they lived.
It comes down to each one of us.
Each one.
For big business, we have to make it worth their while - if something is better for the planet and also increases their bottom line, they will have no problem doing it. I don't hold much hope for getting there by just talking about it. That doesn't work.