ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS BEGS US TO STEWARDSHIP ACTIONS
Most of the information in this article might be common knowledge. However, does the information really lead us into actions in our daily lives? And once we have begun to digest facts and take some action, do we continue to broaden our efforts? Only you can answer that question. Below is just a short list of facts dealing with environmental issues:
1.Only 3% of the planet’s water is drinkable—97% is salt water.
2. More than ½ of the earth’s freshwater is frozen.
3. There is more water vapor in the atmosphere than in the rivers of the earth.
4. More than 700 million people do not have clean water to drink and more than 2 billion have sanitation problems.
5. Six to 8 million people die each year from waterborne illnesses.
6. We have already destroyed 27% of the coral reefs of the world.
7. If all the ice of the world melted, our sea level would rise over 66 meters.
8. It takes 635 gallons of water to make one hamburger.
9. The world uses about 160,000 plastic bags A SECOND! Most developed countries have banned their use.
10. Plastic lasts forever—it does not decompose—it breaks into smaller and smaller bits that become “food” for fish and birds and, perhaps, us!
11. The US throws away enough plastic bottles to circle the entire globe 5 times in ONE WEEK!
12. In the past 170 years, we added 2.4 trillion tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Most of this was released in the past 35 to 50 years. The average amount put into the atmosphere is increasing each year—making it harder to deal with the extreme effects—especially climate change.
The above facts are sobering to say the least! So, what can we do? We can do a lot and magnified by millions of other individual’s actions—the results would make a big difference.
We can begin to address water issues through stewardship actions. Good handwashing is essential during our pandemic—however, we can conserve thousands of gallons by turning off the flow of water while we scrub and then rinse. The same goes for teeth brushing, shaving and even showering. Repairing leaky faucets and toilets makes a big difference. Rain-barrels can save on watering flowers and gardens. Planting native plants helps reduce watering. We also know that melting glaciers will often cause flooding followed by a lack of clean melt water. We can advocate and donate to efforts to end global warming and helping developing countries conserve water. We know that excess carbon dioxide in the air is a cause of global warming, which in turn brings about changes in our climate patterns (more storms, fires, floods, etc.) Everything we can do to prevent excess carbon in the atmosphere will help. The old saying of Reduce, Repurpose, Repair and Recycle is true. Reducing our consumption of things, and our energy use (lower thermostats in winter and raise them in summer) will help. Cutting the plastic habit will reduce plastic pollution, reduce the oil needed to produce plastics, and make the ocean cleaner. All this means is to say no to plastic bottles, straws, knives, forks and spoons, take-out-containers and storage dishes. We can take our own bags to the store and support policies to ban plastic bags. We can cut a lot of meat from our diet and buy locally and use organic produce. We can help with city and country policies that consider the environment and put into place mitigation strategies to deal with the global warming that is already here. Think in terms of advocating, taking individual action, donating to environmental causes and being a determined and dedicated Earth Steward—and we can really make a difference.
EARTH STEWARD ACTION: Read over the above list—do you measure up? If not, do not give up—just add one or two to your own list of Earth Steward Actions.
SOURCES: https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/facts-about-the-environment and https://www.theearthcounts.com/how-to-reduce-ecological-footprint, https://www.goodhuman.com/how-much-water-does-it-take