April 22, 2018 (Yesterday PH time/Today EST): The world celebrates Earth Day! - Let's End Plastic Pollution!
When I was still in grade school, we were taught about the bad effects of non-biodegradable materials such as plastics to nature. Burning plastic is not good as it produces fumes and chemicals harmful to the Ozone Layer: This is a part of the Earth's atmosphere that shields and absorbs most of the harmful components of the sun's Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The Ozone layer plays a great role in protecting every living things on earth. So it's also our responsibility to protect the Ozone layer too.
Plastic wastes are also SERIOUSLY harmful to animals. I've read so many heartbreaking news about wild animals being killed because of human's improper plastic waste disposal.
Now what we can do about it?
Well simply look around you, wherever you are in the world and pick up that plastic and put it properly in the trash bin and you can already make a big difference. I also appreciate shops here in Cebu that encourage customers to use eco-bags or recycled paper bags instead of plastic bags. We also have a law here that waste materials should be segregated properly separating bio-degradable from non-biodegradable and re-use things that can be recycled like plastic bottles. There's so much that we can do for our planet even in our little ways can surely make a big difference.
I admire people who initiated these events The Earth Day and Earth Hour- promoting the importance of conserving nature and our planet.
To be honest I have no idea that there's such a day called Earth day until I saw the Earth day image in the Google homepage and also a friend posted about it in social media.
Though I know about "earth hour" as a movement where everyone in the world is encourage to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour to show commitment to the planet.
Yet I believe our commitment to the planet should be for a lifetime. So for me everyday is Earth day! We should consider the truth that planet Earth is our only home in this universe. Well we may have read news and articles online about rich people investing to buy a property of land in the moon or in other planets but there will be no such place like our home planet Earth.
I watched this really inspiring video of Dr. Jane Goodall, a famous primatologist and anthropologist on her heart warming message for the world on Earth day.
"In her message she points out that we are all interconnected ("We" as in "Us, life and nature") every individual matters and has a role to play in this tapestry of life. Every individual makes a difference. Each of us impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice what difference we are going to make."
You can watch her video here from Google Doodle.
Like Dr. Goodall, I was also raised by my parents with a passionate heart for nature. I grew up in a humble home surrounded with many kinds of living things and creatures. All my life, I always try to live in harmony with nature.
"Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other."
Photo Credits:
Thanks to my brother for the lovely painting and for my sister for photos taken at home.