Spring is always a time of renewal and rebirth, with new life and growth evident daily. A transformative time. And we so look forward to it, after a long, cold winter.
Just a few days ago, on April 7, World Health Day was celebrated with a message of not only personal well-being, but also maintaining the health of the planet. Drawing a direct correlation between our own health and the health of our blue-green orb.
According to the World Health Organization, over 13 million deaths occur each year that are attributable to the environment. For example, the storms and fires that are all part of the climate crisis is a huge threat to our lives and will continue to pose a health crisis, if left unabated.
Taking care of the planet is increasingly connected to our own health and well-being. If our planet is sick, we will undoubtedly become sick too.
Did you know?
829 000 people die from diarrhoeal disease every year caused by polluted water and poor sanitation?
Climate change is a threat to human health driving diseases like cancer, asthma, heart disease, and mosquito-borne diseases like Dengue
Air pollution kills 13 people every minute due to lung cancer, heart disease and strokes.
2 billion people lack safe drinking-water globally.
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people every year & is highly addictive. It is a major risk factor for cancer, heart, lung diseases. 600 million trees are chopped down to make 6 trillion cigarettes every year, decreasing the clean air we breathe.
I am as dismayed as you are, reading this information. Did you know that Americans average about 21 tons of carbon a year, more than 4 times the global average?
Granted, we know that international policies and laws must change to stem the tide of climate change, however we can all do our part to reduce our footprints. Change only happens when people take action. But exactly what can make a difference?
For starters:
Insulate your home
Use only LED lights
Stop buying so many bottles of water
Use cold water when you do the laundry
Use a programmable thermostat
Stop throwing away food
Start composting
Eat a more plant-based (and climate-friendly) diet
Drive less
Keep your tires properly inflated
Consider getting an electric vehicle
Cut down on printing at work
Start a garden this spring
Perhaps you already do many of these things. Perhaps you do more than this at your home, or business. And maybe you also push for legislation to make changes. That is wonderful and I applaud you for taking these actions. Keep at it or spring into action right now to start renewing your health through transforming your world.
“If there’s a world here in a hundred years, it’s going to be saved by tens of millions of little things.”
—PETE SEEGER