This year the global environmental movement is encouraging people around the world to put pressure on local, national and international leaders and governments to take strong, real action to protect and conserve our ailing environment.
Talking about ‘sustainability’ is no longer an option, we all need to take individual and collective responsibility towards ‘living sustainably’. In Africa the high use of fossil fuels is literally killing our environment, and alternative renewable energies are essential.
One of the key focus areas for 2012 Earth Day is the ‘Campaign for Communities’ –a platform for leaders around the world to engage their communities in discussions about the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability and to come up with real solutions.
NASA astronaut Ron Garan said last year after returning from spending more than five months on the International Space Station situated 250 miles above Earth: “I looked down at this indescribably beautiful fragile oasis, this island that has been given to us and has protected all life from the harshness of space, I couldn’t help thinking of the inequality that exists.
I couldn’t help but think of the people who don’t have clean water to drink, enough food to eat, of the social injustice, conflict, and poverty that exists. The stark contrast between the beauty of our planet and the unfortunate realities of life for many of its inhabitants reaffirmed the belief I share with so many. Each and every one of us on this planet has the responsibility to leave it a little better than we found it.”
Post published in: Environment