A very eye-opening and important article was published today by Liam Dennis of
The Independent.
The words that resonated with me the most are that "we" (environmental activists, scientists, etc.) keep preaching to the converted. I have seen and felt the same frustrations in my daily life and through social media. I can name a large amount of people that believe in climate change,
believe in protecting our environment and all it's creatures, believe in preaching sustainability, and these very passionate people
ARE making a difference. But we still have so much work to do. We are
not reaching those that really need to hear our voices.
Climate change is here. We have reached the 400 parts per million (ppm) mark for the first time in 500 million years. The evidence is there and the frightening effects are already starting to hit home for many (drought, super storms, loss of habitats, migration of species, etc).
I keep wondering, why do so many choose to sit idly by? Recycling for example. Such a simple task and most
people understand it's basics, but I am constantly pulling recyclables out of
my trash at work and other places. Why people choose to not care or take
5 seconds out of their day to make a positive change completely boggles my
mind. Living a sustainable life is not difficult and small changes make a
HUGE difference.
We have the power in our hands, right now. As The RMOG states again and again, it all starts with education. We, the people, can make the change if we all come together and demand change.
Yes, it can be stressful to think about all the bad things that are happening in our world right now. It is sometimes much easier to grab a beer, turn on the "tube" and try to forget all of the issues surrounding us and our world. But if we keep ignoring these important issues, it won't be too much longer until the issues are in our backyard - literally.
Sometimes it can feel hopeless, as the
major changes need to take place with our government and the media, but taking small steps on your own will make a difference. This past weekend's
March Against Monsanto is one example of how we can all come together on important issues that are intentionally trying to be disregarded by the media and government. As Dennis states in the article, "The green movement must re-evaluate what is working, and
what needs to be done to get the public back on side."
I hope because you are reading this, you know that YOU can make a
difference. The fight against climate change and protecting our planet
from so many environmental disasters is far from over.
My message to you today is: Don't stop the fight! Don't get discouraged. Keep on sharing articles, pictures, and information on the effects of climate change through every platform you can think of. Participating in our
Be The Change Eco-Challenge is also a way to spread the word on sustainability and climate change. Every step you make towards sustainability is a huge step in the right direction and in transforming our world toward the better.
If you can grab the attention of just one person, you have made a difference.
References
Dennis, L. (2013, May 28).
The climate change sceptics are winning - and the environmental lobby only has itself to blame. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-climate-change-sceptics-are-winning--and-the-environmental-lobby-only-has-itself-to-blame-8634681.html
