Make every day Earth Day

By Ashley Anderson

Today is Earth Day, the global day where we come together to reflect on the greatness of the planet that we are so fortunate to inhabit. Every day we have the privilege of waking up to our blue planet. Many of us live in awe of the beauty that lives and breathes above and below the surfaces. It seems strange that we only celebrate the planet one day a year, especially when the Earth’s existence is vital for our survival. We owe the planet protection, and yet many of us forget the magnitude of our impacts. As long as the seasons change and the waves continue to wash our shores, we have the inherited responsibility to treat the planet with a gentle and kind spirit.

It is not a secret that the diversity of our planet is at risk today, but we are not out of time. Here are a few small ways you can help our oceans thrive again:

• Consume sustainably. Ask yourself, “is your food wrapped in plastic?” and “where was it made?” and “what are the ingredients?”
• Choose sustainable seafood. If you are not dependent on seafood, take a break from fish. To the seafood lovers, download a sustainable seafood guide to see what fish we can sustainably consume in our area.
• Limit plastic. Get reusable bottles and use them. Choose reusable bags over plastic when possible. Think ahead and bring your storage containers to restaurants for leftovers.
• Shop sustainably. Visit a thrift shop or shop from an ethical store to reduce your carbon footprint.
• Use natural, plant-based cleaning products.
• Reduce energy. Limit water use, turn off lights, ride/walk instead of drive.
• Connect with nature. What area are you passionate about in nature? Please find it and do everything you can to protect it.
• Clean up the environment. Anything that nature did not create should not be left in nature. Keep up to date with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society and our beach cleanups for a fun, easy way to leave the beach better than you found it.
• Keep up to date with worldwide issues.  For example, study our sea turtle populations and how we can help them survive.
• Support environmental movements. Share what you know, and we will see change.

If you made today a meat-free day or a plastic-free day, the planet thanks you. If you made a difference in another way, the world thanks you as well. Each day you wake up and see or hear of another loss on our planet, take a moment to walk outside and hear the birds sing, and the trees blow. What you hear is the sound of change and a planet coming to life again. On this beautiful Earth Day, let us all remember how kind our planet is to us and reflect on what we may do to help it.