By Nyawira Githae
I have been quietly noting small ways that people around me are playing their part to protect and conserve the environment. To be honest, the only way I have been contributing to the environment is by throwing my trash in the bin and telling people I know to pick up their trash when I see them littering.
When I think of contributing positively to the environment, it seems daunting. Are we all supposed to have placards and protest every weekend? Should I join an organization that goes door to door educating people on sustainable methods of farming and asking for contributions for our cause?
As much as I admire Greta Thunberg, I don’t think I will ever rise to her level as an environmentalist which is why being able to identify simple ways that other people were protecting and conserving the environment was inspiring. Here are 3 ways that you and I can start to actively play a part in protecting the environment.
1. Replace the Plastic Bin or Plastic Bin Liners in Your Home with Fabric Shopping Bags
I visited a friend for an early dinner a couple of months ago. Or was it a late lunch? Linner? After we had linner, I washed the dishes since my host had cooked. There were bits of rice that I wanted to throw in the bin but I couldn’t see one. I looked in the drawer below the sink and there was a stack of home cleaning supplies. No bin. Seeing me searching, my friend asked me what I was looking for and then pointed me to a woven shopping bag.
Fabric shopping bags, more so the ones made from sustainable fabric are great alternatives to plastic bins. If you already have a plastic bin, instead of using plastic liners, use woven shopping bags. Sometimes it may get messy but you can prevent this by wrapping damp or wet items in newspaper or some kind of paper wrapping before you throw it in the trash.
2. Use Glass Bottles Instead of Plastic Bottles When You Go the Beach or Forest
Two weeks ago, I went on a snorkeling excursion. Our pick up times were early and none of us had carried water so we all bought water in plastic bottles on the way before we got to the snorkeling site.
When we got to the snorkeling site, we were informed that we couldn’t get onto the dhows with our plastic bottles unless they are the reusable water bottle kind which they knew people wouldn’t discard. There were glass bottles of water being sold at the entrance to people who had carried plastic water bottles or hadn’t carried a water bottle.
This rule is in place so that people won’t litter the sea with plastic bottles which are far more harmful to sea life than glass bottles.
Plastic takes a long time to biodegrade and even when it does, the microplastics have numerous damaging effects on marine life. Glass on the other hand, sinks to the bottom of the sea and can be inhabited by sea creatures. Glass does have a higher carbon footprint when you consider the manufacturing process but it’s less damaging to both marine life and land animals.
Even for humans, using plastic bottles is not recommended. They contain harmful chemicals that can leach into the water you drink. These chemicals can also affect your hormones.
3. Plant Trees in Your Neighborhood
Wait. I know this can seem out of your comfort zone. Where will I plant the trees? What kind of trees can I plant? Will I have to take care of them? I have to get off the couch and go outside??
Let me give you the backstory behind this inspiration before I tell you how you can go about it. A lady I follow on IG, recently posted that for her 36th birthday, she was going to plant 36 trees in a forest within her city. I thought that was a fantastic idea.
If you search online for reforestation projects in your area, it is highly likely that you will find organizations that are looking for people to partner with them by buying and planting trees. These organizations direct you on where to plant and what kind of trees to plant. I don’t have a green thumb so such an arrangement would be ideal for me.
If you can’t find a reforestation project near where you live, you could call one that’s not close and donate. You could also plant trees in the following areas with the consent of the following institutions or the government office that manages those properties:
• Your nearest park.
• Your nearest forest.
• A neighborhood school.
• A graveyard.
