“Restore our earth,” declares the theme of Earth Day 2021.
At SeaCare, Earth Day (on April 22) is on our calendar of celebrations. We’re all about restoration – bridging the generation gap in our community and improving lives, particularly those of caregiver families. And that’s what Earth Day is about as well. As we bring generations together we improve lives and ultimately restore our earth.
Here’s to Earth Day. Let’s celebrate and get to work.
There’s urgency in this call to action. We’re on a restoration track because there are ecosystems – populations, oceans, rivers, forests, plant and animal species – that are worn, depleted, unfairly treated, and in some cases gone forever.
To restore means to bring back, give new life, and return to original condition. There’s somber news to digest – we have a crisis on our hands.
But there’s encouraging news – we can do something about it.
Fellow seniors, join me in preserving the health of our planet. As a group, we’re uniquely situated to help lead the way. Individually, there are ways we can make a real difference.
It’s easier than you imagine and you can start today.
As seniors we’re living our third act, and restoring our earth will take more years than many of us have available. Why should we care? Because-
A wise elder said this: “Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” - Chief Seattle
We should care because we’ve already damaged our web. We can’t surrender and look the other way.
We should care because seniors have a special gift to share. Perspective. An entire lifetime of adapting to change, navigating the rough spots, and integrating the parts to see the big picture. We should care because we all want to leave a mark, big or small, to create a legacy for our families. There are many ways to do this. Modeling civic responsibility is one we can all do.
We should care because climate change harms some communities more than others. There is significant racial inequity in protection from environmental hazards. Pollution, COVID, and police brutality have a connection to environmental justice. Learn more about how the Environmental Justice Movement is working to reduce economic, social, and health disparities in impacted areas.
We should care because the more we know about the reality of climate change the more likely we are to make a difference that could literally save lives.
We should care because the more we do, the better we’ll feel about doing our part.
Former Vice President Al Gore said it best. “Use your voice, use your vote, use your choice.”
Each of us can become environmentally more literate by gaining knowledge, awareness, motivation, and skills for understanding the environment and gearing up to protect it.
Take a few minutes and test your environmental literacy, then read on for tips about how you can act.
Let’s face it, our cable news programs and digital news feeds can be pretty grim. There are times it feels as if life is happening TO us instead of FOR us.
There’s a way to remedy this. Talk with friends and family and then engage people at the heart of the action, your elected officials. Honor your obligation to protect your loved ones and keep your civic responsibility in mind. Let your voice be heard.
Now is a crucial time to use your voice. President Biden is promoting the $2 trillion American Jobs Plan which includes at least $1 trillion for clean energy, clean water, and environmental justice concerns. Our own Washington State legislature is set to vote on a $17.8 billion climate and transportation bill this month. Tell them you’re all for it.
Make a point to monitor your elected officials. Have they supported legislation you agree with? Have they supplied you with the information you need to feel assured they’re acting in the interest of you and your community?
Are your elected officials prioritizing the restoration of the earth? If not, it may be time to vote them out.
National elections are important, but this is a good time to think locally. Who are the local elected officials that influence environmental decisions in your life?
Your voice is loudest on a local level.
Most City Council, County Council, and School Board meetings are now virtual, which makes it relatively easy to tune in and learn about topics of interest. You can usually view agendas ahead of time.
Every day we make dozens of choices – what time to get up, what to wear, who to talk to, and how to spend our day. One choice we all make that seems simple but has great potential to restore our earth is an important one.
We choose what we eat.
Food – how it’s grown, processed, transported, stored, cooked, and disposed of – accounts for a huge carbon footprint. One step to help restore the earth is changing our food choices. This means thinking about what we eat, where we buy it, how much we buy, and how we cook it.
It’s something we can start doing today because even small steps count.
Here are a few ways to make a difference.
Here are some other ways to make choices that align with earth restoration.
There’s hope.
In 2021 we’re celebrating 51 years of Earth Day as the world’s largest environmental movement. Over a billion people and 190 countries participate in Earth Day events every year.
Under President Biden, the U.S. has rejoined the rest of the world in the Paris Climate Agreement, which strengthens our country’s commitment to cut climate pollution.
The American Jobs Plan, if implemented, will go a long way toward providing environmental justice across the country. Clean drinking water, the decommissioning of oil and gas wells and abandoned mines, job creation, and strengthened labor priorities to address wage standards and workplace discrimination are just a few of the plan’s features.
More examples of green technology are rapidly emerging, and funding research has never been more crucial. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates believes “…in science, miracles are happening all the time.”
Give yourself extra credit if you’ve read this far. That’s a clear signal you care about the difference you and your family can make. Increasing your environmental literacy means you’re on board with restoring our earth.
Want to learn more? Visit Earth Day 2021 | Restore Our Earth™ | EARTHDAY.ORG
Your friends at SeaCare are always on hand to answer your questions about providing the excellent care your aging loved ones deserve. Our earth deserves excellent care, too.
Katie Wright writes about aging and senior wellness from Bellingham, WA. You can read more about her here.