It is 2019. Which means, let’s wake up and face the issues. Happy Earth Day 2019. Happy? Well, not as much but what can one say? Good luck to our planet, that would be more appropriate. I also don’t want to come out as pessimistic here. After all, this is the one day in a whole year when we should be celebrating the wonderful planet that we live on!
Expressing gratitude for Earth today can come in many forms. Maybe you might consider carpooling to work this week, or riding a bike. Bringing your reusable cup to your local cafe, refusing a straw at the bar, later tonight. Choose the vegetables and fruits that aren’t wrapped in plastic. Watch Our Planet on Netflix. Enjoy vegan meals and many more ideas of how to celebrate this year’s Earth Day.
Standing from a point of compassion is a great start. Would you do something that would hurt your kids? Or your dog, or your wife? Probably not. We have two homes. Our body and this planet. That is why taking care of them is so important. Living in a clean, fresh environment creates a perfect place for us to grow and
Where to we start?
Changing “What difference will it make?” to “OK. I’m ready. What can I do?”
May I mention that sharing sustainable living tips and ways to be more “green” hasn’t been all unicorns and rainbows? It definitely hasn’t been a smooth ride. I feel like it could relate to veganism. Vegan activists must put up with a lot of bull**** throughout their day, right? I get lots of sweet comments in my dm’s, some a bit sweeter than others but that’s okay.
I have already accepted the fact that when you publicly display your strong and deeply rooted opinion into something, others might feel like you are attacting and them is the target. Which is the opposite of what I am trying to do.
My mission
My mission with all these sustainability, green peace, ban single-use plastic posts is to simply spread the word about what our situation is! In a nice way, of course. 🙂 After reading PLASTIC-FREE, it became clear that is up to use, to make the right choice. Our living situation on this beautiful lush planet is determined to how we treat it, directly connected to individuals everyday choices. You literally wake up and stop by a cafe on the way to the office.
There is a choice, whether you want to take the coffee cup with a plastic lid, along with some takeout breakfast in a plastic container, or maybe cook your own breakfast and bring a reusable coffee mug with you? And the choices that we live by, every day determine our living situation on this planet.
Single Use Plastics Issue
Single-use plastic items take valuable resources to create, only to be used for a couple of hours, minutes, or even seconds before being chucked away. Yet plastic can take hundreds and hundreds of years to decompose. So were those 2 minutes of pleasure really worth it?
Also, that water bottle you’re drinking from? You won’t be around in the year 2300, but the bottle will most likely be. Does that make sense?
Two awesome books:
It’s scientifically predicted that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish. Even though they’re not outnumbered yet, fish are eating a lot of plastic. Wales are slowly going
Easy Single use plastic swaps
Did you know that the dirty word of 2018 was plastic? It only means things are changing. For good. Luckily, living plastic-free isn’t that hard. I’ve been there and I can’t go back now. You might think recycling is a better option. But even if you recycle all the plastic you use, it’s far better for the planet to avoid using (or even creating) it in the first place. Besides that, most of the recycling doesn’t even make it to the last resort. Either the wind blows it away or it ends up in the water… after all, it is still trash!
See more: Why recycling isn’t an option
The good news is that there are some really easy ways to reduce the amount of plastic we use.
Pela: Biodegradable phone case
Most of them will save you money too! Why not pick one of the plastic swaps to start with and see how you get on? Try it out for a week…
Here are 7 ways to going plastic-free
Going plastic free? Easy eco friendly kitchen swaps
RESOURCES (eBooks, movies, blogs and activists on sustainable living) that I love
Powerful documentary; Our Planet
Another powerful documentary; Cowspiracy
Kicking the habit: Going Plastic FREE
Earth day is the one day in the whole year, when we should really be celebrating this planet. She provides us with a beautiful home, clean air, crystal clear waters and abundance of wildlife. What more could we need? I am grateful for everything this world offers me every day. Ocean to surf, mountains to ski and climb, forest trails to bike and waterfalls to swim in.
What are you grateful for?
More about Alenka
My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love shooting nature, sports, sports in nature… underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! I’m stoked. Very simply put, I am a stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for a sunrise, ready to go to the airport and take a random flight… I’m stoked on living and I love what I do for work.
Photography, web design and digital marketing have been things I’m proud to call my job! Very flexible, lots of traveling and even more adventures than when I was a kid. Here, on my website I share tips on photography, spreading awareness about the zero-waste lifestyle and sustainabilty and crazy stories from my travels. Welcome.
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Photography (free mini course)
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