WOSUP
WAKE UP / OWN UP / SHOW UP
As a lecturer I teach a scientific inquiry unit where students must select an environmental issues that they feel strongly about. It may be something that affects them directly in their home or community, or could be a more global problem. After reading 100's of research papers I have been exposed to many issues that had been outside my scope of awareness. Out of this I have come to realise that with every one of these problems there is no simple solution and they need be addressed on multiple fronts and at multiple levels. Another realisation is that ,regardless of the 'degree of separation', there is almost always a link back to my own personal behaviours, attitudes and actions.
Consider the following examples:
EXAMPLE ONE
Orang-utans in Borneo are facing significant loss of habitat due to deforestation. Their habitat is being replaced by palm oil plantations. Palm oil is found in literally hundreds of products you find on the supermarket shelves (Wake Up) Until recently I would buy products I wanted without looking at where the ingredients were sourced (which meant I was contributing to the increasing demand for more oil palms to be grown. (Own Up)
I now will not but any products with palm oil. (Stand Up)
EXAMPLE TWO
Every year over 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen ends up in the ocean. Many of these lotions contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate which destroy reefs and harm marine organisms. (Wake Up) We are constantly told to "Slip, Slop, Slap" to avoid skin cancers but the consequence of that is that we are poisoning our oceans. (Own Up)
I will now only buy 'reef-friendly' brands of sunscreen or wear a skin suit and only apply minimal sunscreen (Show Up)
These are just two of many small changes I have made in my purchasing choices as I have become more and more aware of what my buying and disposal habits are contributing to in the way of damaging the planet.
If we want to make the changes needed to mitigate the anthropogenic actions of humans, we need to do it on many fronts. We need to change our personal behaviours in our own homes, workplaces and schools and influence, where possible, actions in the wider community and even globally through international movements and organisations. You can do as much or as little as you like but I believe that to really make a difference these three ingredients are essential:
Consider the following examples:
EXAMPLE ONE
Orang-utans in Borneo are facing significant loss of habitat due to deforestation. Their habitat is being replaced by palm oil plantations. Palm oil is found in literally hundreds of products you find on the supermarket shelves (Wake Up) Until recently I would buy products I wanted without looking at where the ingredients were sourced (which meant I was contributing to the increasing demand for more oil palms to be grown. (Own Up)
I now will not but any products with palm oil. (Stand Up)
EXAMPLE TWO
Every year over 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen ends up in the ocean. Many of these lotions contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate which destroy reefs and harm marine organisms. (Wake Up) We are constantly told to "Slip, Slop, Slap" to avoid skin cancers but the consequence of that is that we are poisoning our oceans. (Own Up)
I will now only buy 'reef-friendly' brands of sunscreen or wear a skin suit and only apply minimal sunscreen (Show Up)
These are just two of many small changes I have made in my purchasing choices as I have become more and more aware of what my buying and disposal habits are contributing to in the way of damaging the planet.
If we want to make the changes needed to mitigate the anthropogenic actions of humans, we need to do it on many fronts. We need to change our personal behaviours in our own homes, workplaces and schools and influence, where possible, actions in the wider community and even globally through international movements and organisations. You can do as much or as little as you like but I believe that to really make a difference these three ingredients are essential:
We need to wake up to the enormity of the problems that are facing this planet both in our own backyards and on a global scale.
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We need to own our actions and recognise that we are the problem, both individually and collectively.
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We need to step up and change our behaviours. Even the smallest of actions, when combined with others can be powerful.
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Words to ponder
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Programs to consider....
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There are literally hundreds of programs you can get involved in or, if you want to start your own movement, there are plenty of inspirational people out there who are doing just that. These are some of my favourites:
Anyone can make a difference....
Fionn Ferreira - Plastic Soup |
Boyan Slat - Ocean Cleanup |
Dean Roosegaarde - Smog Free Tower |
Kelvin Do |
William Kamkwamba |
Ocean heroes - 5 Gyres Institute |