Every single time you flip a light switch, you’re playing a role in the collapse of our environment. Every time you drive a car, you’re contributing pollution to our already suffering atmosphere. Every moment you throw away something that’s recyclable, you are adding to our landfills and destroying entire ecosystems.
We cut down rain forests without replanting, making it harder for wildlife to survive. We have filled cities with so much smog that citizens must wear face masks to breathe. On top of those things, the majority of us complain, complain, and complain, yet we still sit back in our front row seats and watch our planet deteriorate right before our eyes.
Action starts with awareness. We’re already aware.
I don’t claim to be an expert on global warming, biology, or geology, and heck, I really don’t even consider myself anywhere near an environmentalist, but I do see several problems that should be taken seriously. Most importantly, I know that we can help fix these problems if we just take a little responsibility. So, in honor of EARTH DAY, here is MY challenge to YOU:
Do something (that you normally don’t do) to help your environment. It can be anything. Cut off a television if you aren’t watching it. Shut down your computer when you go to sleep. Don’t leave lights on when you aren’t in the room. Eat an organic dinner. Use less water. Recycle. ANYTHING. No matter how big, such as hosting a benefit concert and dedicating proceeds to Green Peace, or how small, such as planting a twenty cent seed. Just do SOMETHING.
Get your friends to do something, too.
I know how dependent you are on things that aren’t good for the environment. Shoots, I’m guilty of it too (by far), but it can’t be too hard to do something small like cutting off a light. It would be nice if everyone could start developing conservative habits like that, but at the very LEAST.. Obligate yourself to do something on EARTH DAY.
Don’t be a loser. Wake up the morning after Earth Day, look yourself in the mirror, and say the following sentence:
"I helped save the world. I, (name), am truly a hero."
It would be amazing if everyone on Progressive U ends up being a hero. Just remember, although it doesn’t seem like you’re helping much, your effort combined with the effort of others truly makes a difference.
ANYTHING ON EARTH DAY. ANYTHING!
- Dustin
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Excellent. By making simple sacrifices, that is how we will cut back on our global impact. But instead of taking any kind of action at all, people prefer to complain about the state of the Earth, or argue about global warming, an issue I find irrelevant. Some scientists accept it, others don't. Each side has valid points, and all are qualified. But they will never agree. So stopping waiting until we have run out of gas, or it is $5 a gallon. Drive less to save on gas. Turn off lights. Reuse and Recycle. Very good blog. We don't all have to be enviromentalists or scientists to make a difference, and Earth day is a good day to start.
Stephanie Hindman
I totally agree. So I just got back from Ireland not to long ago. When I was there I really...I mean REALLY noticed a difference in how both the government and the people cared about the environment. When I was there I forgot that I was in the 21 century. It didn't feel like it at all. Everywhere you looked there were rolling hills of green. It was beautiful. One simple way they took care of the environment was not giving out plastic bags at grocery stores. Sure it might seem like a small thing, but think about how any plastic bags end up in the garbage. If a costumer wants a plastic bag they have to pay twenty odd cents for it. Also recycling is a law, you have to do it. When I came back to the United States I was quite sad that I was surrounded by a very developed world. I want people to change…they just need to open their eyes.
That is amazing. I would love to go to Ireland sometime, it sounds like such a beautiful country. And it is refreshing to hear how proactive they are about the enviroment. I live in West Virginia, and I think we take it for granted how much wildlife we have left.
"we still sit back in our front row seats and watch our planet deteriorate right before our eyes."
I dig yer imagery. Good post all-around.'
"I understand that this car is pretty expensive but it has more to it than any Ferrari can give to our earth and people." -- crystalcraze13, a ProU blogger