Today we celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Raoni Metuktire is an Indigenous Brazilian leader and environmentalist. Born in 1932, he has seen a lot of change due to climate change.
In The Carbon Almanac, we feature his quote and it serves as a reminder that we are all connected.
We all breathe this one air, we all drink the same water. We all live on this one planet. We need to protect the Earth. If we don’t, the big winds will come and destroy the forest. Then you will feel the fear that we feel.
Plastic is everywhere. It is hazardous to our health and our environment. Lets work together every day to end the Age of Plastic
These outstanding ideas are from Eureka Recycling!
Practical Tips for Going Plastic-Free
The most powerful zero waste action we can take is not creating waste in the first place. So how do we go about reducing consumption. Here are some helpful tips:
Start with the Basics: Swap out single-use plastic bags for reusable ones. Keep a stash in your car or by the door so they’re always handy.
Choose Reusables & Say NO to Single-Use Plastic: Carry your own refillable stainless-steel water bottle and use glass containers for food storage. Repurposing glass pasta jars for food storage can be a good option
Shop Mindfully: When grocery shopping, opt for products with minimal or recyclable packaging. Choose loose fruits and vegetables over those wrapped in plastic and items in glass or cardboard containers over plastic whenever possible. When shopping for clothes, try to choose used clothes and clothing made of cotton or hemp, which can help reduce microfiber pollution Many clothing, especially synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, are made from plastic polymers. When these synthetic fabrics are washed, they release tiny plastic fibers known as microfibers into the wastewater. These microfibers are too small to be caught by wastewater treatment plants and ultimately end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Evaluate Necessity vs. Want: Before making a purchase, ask yourself if the item is something you truly need or if it’s just a want. Delaying non-essential purchases can often lead to realizing you don’t need them at all.
Borrow or Share: Borrow or share items that you only need temporarily or infrequently, such as tools, books, or recreational equipment, rather than buying them outright.
Support Plastic-Free Initiatives: Encourage businesses and local governments to adopt plastic reduction initiatives. When possible, support companies that prioritize sustainable packaging and products.
Make Your Voice Heard: As we work to advance zero waste legislation at the state and federal levels, we know we cannot recycle our way out of the plastic production and pollution crisis. Let’s work together to hold petrochemical companies accountable and change systems to better support reduction and reuse.
While Plastic Free July lasts for just one month, the habits we cultivate and policies we advocate for can have a lasting impact. By reducing our plastic consumption, we conserve valuable resources, minimize pollution, and protect wildlife. Moreover, we contribute to a shift in societal norms towards more sustainable living practices.
Join the movement this Plastic-Free July and let’s make every month an opportunity to support a zero waste future.
And some ways to reduce your exposure to microplastics
Monarch butterflies are beginning to return to Minnesota and should start arriving in droves in the next two weeks. But the population returning from Mexico will likely be much smaller than in years past.
A years-long drought pattern, winter whiplash and warming temperatures are all hurting the vulnerable species and the plants it relies on to survive, according to University of Minnesota Professor Emilie Snell-Rood, who studies monarchs and other pollinators.
Every day is a wildflower day for me. I plant for the birds, butterflies, and bees and love when they are in my garden. The spring has been spectacular where I live. Trees and bushes are blooming, birds are singing in concert, warblers are migrating through, many butterflies are present, and its sunny and 70 degrees.
The hummingbirds have arrived!
Shooting star , wild geranium, and violets
Marsh Marigolds
Hummingbirds love columbine
It is a perfect time to add some native plants to your garden to draw more birds and butterflies into your yard.
We all can make a difference by reducing our plastic footprint.
The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Planet VS Plastic. The hazards of plastic are great, and we all need to take steps to reduce the harmful effects of plastic pollution in our environment and bodies.
What will you do to help our warming planet?
Greenpeace has nothing to do with this post.
Things you should know about plastic:
Plastic is made of fossil fuels and contains many toxic chemicals that are harmful to our health.
These toxic chemicals leach into our food from plastic packaging.
Plastics break down into microplastic. We each consume about a credit card of microplastic a week from our food and environment. These microfibers are found in our lungs, brains, blood and arteries.
When plastic is recycled it becomes more toxic.
40% of plastic is single-use.
The production of plastic continues to increase.
If plastic were a country, it would be the 5th largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Much of plastic’s pollution affects minorities and people without power.
Clothing with polyester and nylon contain plastic.
The producers of plastic should be held responsible for the harm they create in the environment and our bodies.
By banning the worst forms of single-use plastic, holding plastic producers accountable for their waste, getting wasteful packaging off store shelves, and more — a future beyond plastic is possible.
We need the United States to support a strong plastic’s treaty. Use the link below to demand strong leadership from the USA for this treaty.
We need swift and urgent action. Plastic pollution is a global problem in need of global solutions. Plastic production, use, and disposal threaten Earth’s communities, air, water, biodiversity, and soils. With the UN’s Global Plastics Treaty negotiations now underway, the US government (USG) has the unique opportunity to play a key role in the change we need on a worldwide level: instead of leading the world in generating the plastic pollution crisis, it’s time for the USG to lead by forging ambitious solutions. Read full letter at this link: Letter to U.S. Government Officials involved in UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations
Waste less food: Food Waste Prevention Week is April 1-7
One trillion dollars of food is wasted yearly. We can all do better!
People are starving in Gaza, Sudan, Syria and other places in the world, let’s not waste food.
**Why is reducing food waste so important?
It saves Money
Wasting food is expensive. Every year, Americans lose more than $218 billion on wasted food. In Florida, the average family of four throws out around $1,600 worth of food annually. Households are responsible for the most wasted food. If we begin to reduce and prevent food waste, we can save that money that is wasted on spoiled food.
It reduces hunger in our communities
In the US, approximately 40% of all food grown and produced is never eaten. That’s a lot of food wasted that could go to people that don’t have access to food. 1 in 5 people lack consistent access to nutritious food, while up to 3 million tons of wasted food goes to landfills annually. Recovered food provides an additional source of nutritious food.
It protects the environment
Reducing food waste is the #1 personal action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while safeguarding critical natural resources. When food is wasted, it goes into a landfill. Once in a landfill, food waste breaks down and emits greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Methane is 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, making it more damaging to the environment. If we reduce food waste, we could save the environment from this damage.
What Can I Do?
At home
Save leftovers and store/freeze food in portion-ready containers
Cook only what is needed for that meal
Make one night a weekly “leftover” night to empty the refrigerator before shopping again
Audit what you throw away; it will influence your next shopping trip
Keep kitchen essentials on hand (grains, spices, sauces) that bring new life to old meals
Freeze ripe fruits and vegetables for baking, cooking and filling in gaps in recipes
Microplastic particles are found everywhere on the planet. They are in the air, water, and soil, and they are in us, in every organ of our bodies. This cannot be healthy and we need to decrease our exposure to plastic.
A new study on microplastics finds evidence that that micro plastics could be the cause of heart attacks and strokes. Scary stuff!
Scientists have long known that microplastics can infiltrate the human body. But they didn’t know what the presence of these tiny plastic particles might mean for human health. Until now. A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that people with microplastics in their heart are at higher risk for heart attack, stroke, and death.
Investing in women, a human rights issue: Time is running out. Gender equality is the greatest human rights challenge, benefiting everyone.
Ending poverty: Due to the COVID pandemic and conflicts, 75 million more people have fallen into severe poverty since 2020. Immediate action is crucial to prevent over 342 million women and girls living in poverty by 2030.
Implementing gender-responsive financing: Conflicts and rising prices may lead 75% of countries to cut public spending by 2025, negatively impacting women and their essential services.
Shifting to a green economy and care society: The current economic system disproportionately affects women. Advocates propose a shift to a green economy and care society to amplify women’s voices.
Supporting feminist change-makers: Despite leading efforts, feminist organizations receive only 0.13% of official development assistance.
This International Women’s Day, let’s unite to transform challenges into opportunities and shape a better future for all!
I’m for anything that is peaceful and kind. Get outside in March and please contribute peace to a Mindful March
Mindfulness helps us respond more wisely, especially in difficult times. So let’s pause, breathe and choose to live mindfully this month. By cultivating inner peace we can contribute to peace in the world around us too.
Look for beauty and live with awareness and kindness every day!
Health4earth 