From the known history of humankind on this planet, what could be observed is that our relationship with Planet Earth had been one of dependence, extraction and exploitation. A few decades ago, it was a standard usage in development discourses and in geography lessons to speak about the ‘exploitation of natural resources’. However, these days, that term is very rarely used in terms of utilising the resources of the planet. Earth Day 2023 comes with a call to ‘invest in our planet’, setting aside the paradigm of extraction and exploitation. 

Earth Day brings to us a fiery tradition of environmental concerns with its origin in the United States of America. January 1969 saw the blowout of an oil well of Union Oil, resulting in a spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which spread beyond 800 square miles and killed more than 10,000 seabirds, dolphins, seals and sea lions. It triggered initiatives like ‘Get Oil Out’ and the inauguration of an Environmental Rights Day, with a Declaration of Environmental Rights drafted by Rod Nash, a pioneering environment scholar and educator. This declaration, which came out before the concept of sustainability gained acceptance, starts with a mea culpa, accepting human crime linked to the planet, and stresses the need for an ‘ecological consciousness’ comprising of:

1. Acceptance of humans as members of a community of living beings that share the environment,
2. Ethics to concern relationship with all living beings and environment,
3. Individual responsibility towards the environment,
4. The right to private or corporate ownership to be so limited as to preserve the integrity of the environment,
5. The tremendous human power to impact the fragile earth,
6. The need to redefine progress from the angle of long-term quality, rather than immediate quantity.

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“The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.”
~ Paulo Coelho

So let’s set an example — an example by which we can contribute our bit to making the environment cleaner. The earth loves us and we need to love it back by taking up a hobby that will enable us to keep it clean. And what better way than going on a clean-up drive! It is one of the most powerful ways of caring for our environment.

According to the United Nations, more than 80 per cent of the world’s wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused. Once water is contaminated, it is difficult, costly, and often impossible to remove the pollutants. Let’s get together with a group of people to pick up and dispose of litter at beaches, rivers and other water bodies. This way we can recycle the materials that are recyclable in our area and also make sure that there’s a reduction of garbage around different sources of water.

As water quality issues are complex and diverse, it deserves urgent global attention. So let us be a part of communities, groups, schools, businesses and local government bodies that carry out activities addressing local environmental issues.

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Earth Day (April 22) is the perfect time to reflect about what you are doing to help protect the environment. This year’s theme is ‘Invest in our Planet. What will you do?’ There are so many ways in which we can make a difference. Find the true meaning of the day by capturing its spirit and making it a part of your life long after you’ve turned April’s page on the calendar.

Begin the day by challenging your family members to take the fastest shower or use the least amount of bath water to get clean! Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. Track the water you use in a given day and think about how you can improve on it.

Make an eco-statement with your clothes on Earth Day. Wear outfits in green, brown or blue colours to show your support for Mother Earth. Flaunt a T-shirt or bag with messages like “Plant a Tree”, “Save Earth”, etc., or animal prints like zebra and leopard prints, or flower and butterfly wing designs.

Organize a recycling drive in your neighbourhood. Collect paper, plastic, glass and e-waste for recycling.

Do your friends have books and board games that are no longer being used? Organize a swap party — a great way to get “new” games and books without new products being manufactured.

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It is encouraging to note that young committed students facing various obstacles are coming forward today in their efforts for climate change and their care for the environment. One such example is Sanjoli Banerjee whom we featured in the March 2022 issue of our magazine. Our December 2021 issue had highlighted the initiatives of young Vidyut Mohan and that of 14-year-old Vinisha Umashankar who have taken steps to reduce carbon emissions in their environment. We happily present in this issue the story of Ishan Kapur from Delhi who has found an alternative to wasteful plastic bags. This simply proves that it is possible for our youth to bring about big changes through small attempts as well.

As we celebrate Earth Day on 22nd April, Mahatma Gandhi’s oft-quoted saying, “Be the change you want see in the world” is worth pondering. Even the small change one initiates can make a big difference to the future. The happy future of our earth is in our hands. By caring for the earth we care for ourselves. Taking a cue from the young role models referred to above, we can take active steps to reduce, reuse and recycle all kinds of waste by bringing about changes in our food habits and lifestyles which will help protect our flora and fauna, even as we actively search for creative alternatives on every front. We can bring about this change by starting with ‘me-you-us’ today! Indeed! Following Mahatma Gandhi’s maxim, we can be the change we all desperately want to see!

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With the growing access to media and information through technology, we have become used to hearing or reading terms like global warming, climate change, environmental degradation, etc. Most of us have also taken the effort to learn more about the issue through further research or as part of our academic curriculum. Therefore, most of us understand what the issue at hand is. However, some of us do not know either the causes of the issue or its effects. Then, many of us do not know the solutions to the challenge but certainly a majority of us do not act.

What is the first word that comes to your mind when you think of nature, or what do you associate nature with? Trees, water, animals, air, pollution, danger? One important element we forget sometimes is ‘us’. We are a part of nature and nature is not ‘them’ but ‘us’. When we dissociate ourselves from nature is when we think it is just nature that is in danger but we are safe, and apathy could rise out of it. However, when we realise that we, too, are a part of nature, we understand that we are equally at risk and thus, need to take action at least to safeguard ourselves.

We cannot completely stop environmental degradation because it is inevitable with the growing population, scarcity of resources and changing lifestyles but we can certainly slow it down. This can happen by following the 3A concept: Acquire, Act and Achieve. I believe the first step towards change is to educate yourselves and become conscious and informed citizens.

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We all love piling up clothes of all kinds in our wardrobes, but do we ever think how this impacts our environment? We always think about how cars and factories create so much pollution but do we ever wonder if clothes do that, too?

This month, we’re celebrating Earth Day so let’s try and do our bit to save our Earth by starting with our wardrobes. Choosing eco-friendly materials or trying to reuse, recycle, reinvent and upcycle clothes instead of dumping them are just a few other ways to protect Mother Earth from our clothes! And this month I will help you do just that.

I know it’s not possible to completely transform your wardrobe to an eco-friendly/organic wardrobe but you can your little bit when you shop the next time or wash your clothes or want to discard them. Here are ways to turn into an eco-friendly fashionista!

Green your detergent

When we wash our clothes the toxins from the clothes detergent end up in our seas and oceans and contaminate them. This majorly affects the habitat of aquatic wildlife. Try using an organic or green detergent. These detergents are slightly more expensive but they are free of toxins thus preventing aquatic habitats from contamination. You can also wear your clothes more than once and thus wash them less. Try to avoid using the washing machine as it consumes more water. Hand wash your clothes instead. Also avoid using the dryer. Hang your clothes out to dry in the sun.

Go green, material-wise

Synthetic materials are produced by manufacturing units and the process of creating and dyeing these materials emits toxins that pollute the air and contaminate water. In order to reduce the damage done by the production of these synthetic materials we need to avoid buying them as much as possible. Buy natural materials like cotton, linen, wool, hemp, etc., instead.

Buy local

Buy clothes from local stores and designers. Big international brands and stores produce clothes in a different country and then bring them into our country. International transportation contributes to our carbon footprint, as it causes pollution and uses up natural resources. Buying from local stores and designers promotes local talent, requires less transportation (thus protecting our Mother Earth) and contributes towards our nation’s economy.

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