Anyone who missed Earth Hour last month and Earth Day last week (April 22) still has time to make up for it.
Earth Month continues until the end of April, so including today, there are still five more days left for qathet Regional District residents to learn more or participate in initiatives such as this year's Earth Day theme: Planet vs. Plastics. Campaigns and activities took place in nearly 200 countries worldwide.
For those committed to the cause, one hour is not a chore, one day is easy and one month is simply a determined way to live with the planet in mind. Those efforts are commendable, but improvement is needed among the general population in order to see positive results.
An hour or day should be effortless and easy for the average resident, too. Of course busy schedules, prior plans and work can hinder involvement or participation over the time-frame of an hour or even a day, but with a month to work with (or five), there is plenty of time to learn and/or contribute to the cause, especially as efforts are not limited to time and can be continued throughout the year.
Educating everyone on rejecting, recycling or reusing plastics may seem like an ominous task, considering many everyday products are made of plastic, not to mention the endless packaging that fills recycling bins shortly after their purchase.
But recycling and reusing is simple. Does it get any easier than curbside recycling? Anyone choosing to dispose of those items in another way, such as in a garbage bin, should be embarrassed.
City of Powell River has made the sorting of garbage, recycling and organic waste even easier with its city-wide organics program. More than 5,000 households now have compost bins for weekly pickup. There is no excuse for food waste from those households to end up in a landfill.
Up to and including April 30 (and after), do something productive for the planet. Use less water, keep plastic out of oceans and off beaches by recycling curbside or at a depot, walk instead of driving, turn off a light, and make use of that compost/organics bin, unless a backyard system is preferred.
The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970. More than 50 years later, a billion-plus people participate in initiatives with Mother Nature in mind. Climate change still presents a massive challenge, but also an opportunity to build toward a healthier, more prosperous and sustainable society.
For anyone late to the initiative, or who hasn’t thought about making a concerted effort to benefit our planet, the last few days of Earth Month provide more time and opportunities to make a difference, even if the first step is a small one.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
