World Environment Day
Our environment consists of the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, the ground we walk on, the houses we sleep, move, live in and the very climate that makes our planet conducive for habitation. The plant, wildlife and domestic animals all contribute to our safety. Did you know that marine plants produces over a half of our atmospheric oxygen? Did you also know that plants such as mature trees cleans our air by absorbing 22 kilos of Carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in exchange? These are but a few benefits we get from our environment. World Environmental Day was first celebrated on the 5th of June in 1974. It has since be celebrated every other year till date.
The UN theme for this years’ World Environmental Day is ‘Biodiversity’. Biodiversity is defined as the variety and variability among the living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur. Biodiversity shows the importance of all living organisms, irrespective of their size or class; they all have vital roles that are beneficial to all. Recent events which includes the bushfires across various nations and even the global pandemic further buttress the point of the interdependence of humans and the various lives in their environment. We are all intertwined and changing/removing a part of our environment affects the entire life system. And this have the tendency to produce negative, drastic consequences.
According to the UN, research has estimated that, globally, about one billion cases of diseases illness and millions of deaths occur every year from diseases caused by coronaviruses; and about 75% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic (transmitted to people by animals). Listed are a few activities you can do in celebration and protection of our environments;
• Plant local flowers, fruits, vegetables and trees.
• Help the Bees!
• Protect Natural Habitats.
• Take a walk!
• Support Farmers.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Buy local foods as often as you can.
• Educate yourself and those around you!
Our environment is hurting, we also are hurting. We hope that this day will create an awareness in your lives and spur you on to taking proper care of all living organisms. Happy World Environmental Day!!!