Earth Day is a token holiday of sorts. Like National Empanada Day, we might celebrate the holiday through a bit of self-indulgence, like sussing out a delectably cheesy empanada or watching a David Attenborough-narrated Planet Earth documentary. But there is more we can do for the cause than affirm our love of nature and the creatures that inhabit it. It can also be a time to take inventory of our behavior individually and as a society and make some changes that might collectively make a difference so that our children and children’s children might live in a more habitable world. I recall the great Joaquin Phoenix, several years ago, commenting to a primarily stunned “liberal” Hollywood crowd that “We don’t have to take private jets to Palm Springs for the awards — and back,” and that it might be worth looking into how our choices may be contributing to the wildfires raging in the Blue Mountains of Australia, a UNESCO world heritage site from which these pictures were taken.
Most of us do not have the option to “fly private”; however, we can “vote” with the choices we make. For example, we can try to eat more vegetables, fruits, nuts, and beans – not only are they nourishing, but as a meat substitute, they are much more sustainable. Buying things that are used, if feasible, is also helpful. Whether it means thrifting at a vintage store or Goodwill or buying furniture off Craigslist or Facebook marketplace, buying used breathes new life into an item that might otherwise be destined for the great Pacific garbage patch or the fast fashion dumping ground in the Atacama desert. Plenty of websites are also tailored to savvy consumers looking for high-quality used products, like The Realreal, KEH, and Poshmark. And if you happen to be part of the top 1%, it would show outstanding leadership to lead by example (remember your children and children’s children will have to make their way in this world). A comprehensive Oxfam analysis shows that the wealthiest 1% account for more carbon emissions than the poorest 66%. You could arguably live in a more modestly sized home, fly commercial instead of private, live in an urban area, rent instead of buy a vacation home, and make choices that keep in mind that there is no technological salvation or panacea. In other words, without addressing the consumption side of the climate ledger, we will make the lives of those who come after us particularly unpredictable, unstable, and, by some projections, catastrophic. So, if you are an avid hunter, gardener, outdoorsman, diver, bird watcher, hiker, climber, fisherman, tree hugger, or anyone that has a relationship with the natural world, you would do some good by thinking about what you can do personally (like consuming less) and politically (aligning with sensible climate and environmental policy, whether you are Democrat or Republican) to preserve what is still your kids and grandkids inheritance. I hope you get out there and enjoy the natural world for all of the beauty, wonder, and therapeutic benefits it can provide!
