Today. April 22nd is observed as Earth Day, every year by people around the globe, in an effort to promote awareness for the environment’s health. We all know the damage we have done to our planet and will continue if we do not try to change our ways of being and do what we can lower our footprint. Did you know -
The industrialization around the globe has brought the level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere higher than ever before; US is the second highest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world.
The more food we waste, the more greenhouse gasses are emitted to transport and biodegrade the waste.
With climate change the temperature in the United States has increased by 2 degrees in the last 50 years causing extreme weather phenomenon - in 2019, over 120,000 records were broken in the US due to extreme weather. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the U.S. experienced 20 climate disasters in 2021, that cost more than $140 billion and caused 724 deaths,
These climate and ecological crises mostly affect marginalized communities already suffering from poverty, unemployment, and a failing healthcare system. They contribute the least carbon emissions but are often hit first and worse by climate change, and are least likely to recover. About 57% of people of color live in areas with at least one failing grade for ozone or pollution, compared to 38% of whites.
Beloveds this is the only earth we have to live on. We all need to do our part to save it and protect it as best as we can. Not all of us can do big things towards it but we all can make little changes in our lives to reduce our footprint. We can -
Take public transport to work or car pool, if possible,
Refuse styrofoam cups or containers at coffee shops and restaurants,
Shop at resale stores as much as we can, and buy reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, straws, etc.,
Plant more trees in our neighborhoods, conserve energy, use less electricity,
Take this Environment Literacy Quiz to learn more and possibly participate in becoming a part of the solution,
Anything else you can think of - do it yourself and share with us also so we can participate together!
Beloveds, let us continue to seek ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, to stop contributing to the pollution to the best of our ability, and educate ourselves of the consequent dangers of the choices of our generations. Let us always strive to do our best, be our best and do all we can to leave a livable world for the generations to come, and a safer place for our generations. And remember God loves you and so do I, and I look forward to seeing you in worship.
