Since 1970, April 22 has been Earth Day, A.K.A. the day for going green! This year, for the 52nd ever Earth Day, Williamson Forward has put together a little bit of information about the value of environmental protection, and how we as individuals can “celebrate” this day!
One way to celebrate Earth Day is to take the time to do a little cleaning up in nature around you. Litter might seem like a minor thing, but in addition to distracting us from the beauty of the world around us, it can be damaging to the ecosystem and animals around us. Littering can also increase the risk of forest fires, and toxic chemicals in our garbage can contaminate our water. The great thing is this: picking up litter is an easy way to help out on Earth Day! If you’re feeling ambitious, you can work together with your friends and family to have a cleanup together, but there’s also nothing wrong with setting aside the time to pick up litter on your own!
When you think of Earth Day and the phrase “going green”, you probably think of the classic reduce-reuse-recycle green triangle. The good news is that reducing your waste, reusing all that you can, and recycling what you can’t reuse, are all still great ways to help out.
All three of these actions can help to reduce the amount of waste we produce, which in turn reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. If you want to take it a step further, you can also start a compost bin– this is an easy way to make use of food scraps and scrap paper while also feeding the plants!
You have probably heard the phrase “carbon footprint” going around, but what does it all mean? According to nature.org, this phrase describes the amount of greenhouse gasses generated by our actions, and your individual carbon footprint can be calculated here.Greenhouse gas contributes to climate change and the degradation of our diverse ecosystems, and cutting back any way you can is a good step.
Reducing your carbon footprint sounds intimidating, and there’s no denying that to enact real change, you need to change what you’re doing, too. However, there are plenty of little things you can do to do your part. One of these things is just making the choice to eat plant-based meals, especially if you get your produce locally. (Good news for those of you who already spend your Saturdays at the Williamson Farmers Market!) Other little things you can do are buy your clothes and other goods used when possible, and choose to use cold water when you wash your clothes. One more little thing you can do is choosing to walk or bike when possible, instead of hopping in the car for every trip.
Earth Day has pushed folks to help their planet for 52 years. Here’s to many more!