What can we do to heal the earth now?
“We need to reboot and come up with more positive solutions of how to create reconnection,” said Louie Schwartzberg during a recent conversation on the Quarantine Creatives podcast with Heath Racela.
One silver lining to the recent pandemic has been the reduction in air pollution.
People are beginning to understand how quickly nature can bounce back if we simply cut back on polluting behavior that damages the ecosphere.
More than ever, the time for clean air is now!
A New Holiday ?
On September 7, we celebrated the first-ever “International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.” We all have an opportunity to celebrate and honor the power of clean air in our lives.
In the place where you live, you may have access to clean air and blue skies. But that is not the case for people around the world. In Shanghai, China, for instance, air quality is still so poor that most people have been wearing masks when they go outside for years.
The time for clean air is now
Air pollution is not only about aesthetics, of course. Dirty air can also contain chemicals and diseases, making it even more harmful to plants and animals (and humans). Pollution damages the environment in irreparable ways and is a huge roadblock to long-term sustainability on Earth. The United Nations is inviting people to participate in addressing these challenges with their “International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.”
What do you know about the air quality where you live? Many people use a mobile application to check the weather report. If your locality has an air quality tracking system, you can probably check the daily air quality at the same time you check the weather.
Try to notice connections between human behavior and weather patterns that affect air quality. In summer, wildfires can create smoke that makes it difficult to breathe. Try looking up local organizations that are working to combat the effects of climate change on local biomes. Get involved with an organization focused on air quality that is actively seeking donations and/or volunteers.
You could plant trees with the Arbor Day Foundation, or find a local water clean up opportunity with Riverkeeper. GASP, or Group Against Smog and Pollution, is accepting donations and recruiting volunteers to help get the word out about air quality protection initiatives.
Remember, The Time For Clean Air is Now!