Earth Day 2015: Why should we care?
Today marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day and here’s why it’s increasingly essential that we look after our home – at least for the existence of human life.
With it being Earth Day’s 45th anniversary this year, the occasion is marked as an event to celebrate the planet and at the same time advocate the importance of environmental protection. While it was initially only confined within the United States, now it has became a global event – after all, we’re equally responsible for the state of our habitat.
At the rapid rate sea levels are rising, temperatures are swinging and carbon emissions are tearing the ozone layer, it boggles as to how we tend to only think of these issues when all other needs are met – essentially, it’s the last thing on our minds. In fact, man-caused climate change is deemed as one of the most pressing threats to human life and it is also one environmental issue that could be averted or the consequences largely reduced. Yet, we tend to go on with living without so much as a doubt in our minds.
Sure, Planet Earth will survive all the unnecessary damage and wastage we throw at it but it may not stay a habitable place for the next billions of people – our future generations basically. Sure, you may survive till 80 without a hitch on this planet but think about your descendants – will they? Are we then ultimately set on eradicating all existence of future human life, as long we make it through?
Now that’s worrisome – even morally so.
However, granting a single day to raise awareness and rally people all over the globe to sit up and think about all the nasty environmentally degrading things we’re doing is not nearly enough. While Earth Day calls for protection on basically everything on Earth, it’s also a mammoth task to tackle. So perhaps it’s advisable to encourage more nuanced efforts in daily life – whether it be through the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ mantra or by making an active stance to reduce carbon footprints in the things you purchase. Do you really need that fuel-guzzling mini van for instance?
Right at home, the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore is organizing a cleanup event at Pasir Ris Beach knowing that our coastal area hosts an innumerable amount of biodiversity. Any unwanted trash tends to negatively impact them, hence the need for regular coastal cleanups to ensure we do our bid to protect wildlife in the ocean and along the coast.
At the end of the day, conscious simple steps – from using less energy at work to eating sustainably – are all that’s needed to conserve our home to ensure it remains relatively live-able for the next hoard of human life to walk on Earth, and us. Finally, as all awareness days go, let’s not relegate the hype to only one day – keep it going every day of the year.
Tarandip Kaur
