A little effort can go a long way… total immersion is not required but dedication and persistence are. Start by clearly defining for yourself and others why environmental awareness and EcoActivism is so significant. Explain why the importance of sustainable healthy ecosystems matters to your friends and even legislators. Work to increase the understanding of the environmental crisis to those you know. Emphasize the gravity of the situation and the need to get the use of single use plastic packaging under control. Plastic does not need to be used for everything and until we can effectively manage and legislate the use of plastics the petrochemical industry will not do anything to kill its cash cow and will continue to make more and more plastic for profit. 

Don’t use plastic straws! Do you use a straw at home? Do you really even need a straw. Avoid disposable styrofoam and plastic cups made from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polystyrene (PS). Buy an aluminum or stainless steel water bottle and reuse it. Water should come from the tap, not plastic bottles.

Take a minimalist approach and encourage your grocers to have plastic free options and aisles. It is not necessary to sell vegetables and fruit in plastic bags or on polystyrene or styrofoam trays covered in plastic wrap. 

 Plastic was designed to last forever. Unfortunately, it has fulfilled its mission; plastic and microplastics are everywhere… in our landfills, in our oceans, lakes and rivers, in virtually everything you purchase, in our food supplies, in our bloodstreams and brains.  The petrochemical industry is diverting our attention as they Greenwash the plastic out of our memories and the devastation caused by the plastic they make and profit from. Do not believe their big lie; plastic recycling is for them an excellent marketing strategy.

Focus on the reality of the lackluster support of solutions and effective legislation by our governments. Sign petitions, boycott abusers, write your legislators… do something. A better solution is possible and achievable.  

Don’t ignore the problem. Instead, proactively work to understand the situation and do something positive, no matter how small and insignificant it might seem. This is the only solution. Just Do It! 

Our youth must join together as they did on the first Earth Day to make something happen. It is for them we work.

Get on your soapbox for them and all the creatures of Earth. Let the billionaires take their rockets to Mars. We can’t go. We do not want to go! We have much too much work to do!

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