By: burgundy bug
NASA image acquired April 18 – October 23, 2012 This image of Asia and Australia at night is a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012
Source: NASA Images
Earth is about 4.54 billion years old (give or take 50 years or so), and yet it took until 1970 for humans to dedicate an official holiday honoring this big, blue marble that we call home.
And now, for Earth Day’s big 5-0, the entire world has found itself on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
So, how is one to celebrate the environment while stuck at home? Don’t fret, there’s plenty you can do to subtly say, “I love you” to this breathtaking, selfless space rock.
Celebrating Earth Day On Your Own
Be Mindful of Your Ecological Footprint
“Ecological Footprint” refers to how your lifestyle choices impact the environment through consumption of natural resources, waste production, and carbon emissions.
Read: The 35 Easiest Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
The Earth Institute at Columbia University
Little things, like turning the water off while brushing your teeth or making sure each light is flicked off before leaving a room play a major role in reducing the ecological cost of human life.
The ecological impact of living like burgundy bug – a full-time home-based freelancer and vegan who doesn’t have her driver’s license, according to the Global Footprint Network calculator
Source: Global Footprint Network
Unplug For a Few Hours
Take a deep breath and step away from the screen. In fact, why not make it a challenge in your household and see who can entertain themselves for the longest without using electricity?
Instead of watching syndicated reruns on TV or mindlessly grinding video games, try keeping your hands busy with a little art (bonus points if your art supplies are environmentally friendly, or if you incorporate recycled materials), music (even if that means singing unfathomably loud on your bedroom floor), exercise, reading, or any other number of activities that don’t require power.
Show Your Backyard Some Love
A yellow daisy shows off its petals in full bloom
Source: Yellow Daisies | Penelope Peru Photography
Ah, there’s nothing like getting a little fresh air from the confines comfort of your own backyard. After all, staying at home doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stay inside the entire time.
Whether you sunbathe, meditate, or engage your green thumbs in a little gardening, showing your backyard some love can help you feel more connected to the environment without having to leave your property.
Read: April is National Garden Month
The Burgundy Zine
Eat More Greens to Go Green
Vegetables displayed on the counter of a locally owned grocery store
Source: Kale | Penelope Peru Photography
As a biology professor told me during my first semester of college, “cow farts are one of the leading causes of carbon emissions.”
While it may sound like literal bullshit, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States reports 14.5 percent of global emissions come from livestock, with cattle contributing to about 65 percent of those emissions.
If cows aren’t leaving cell phone chargers plugged in or forgetting to the lights off, what on God’s green Earth are they doing that contribute all of this pollution? The answer lies in methane released by enteric fermentation.
“Enteric fermentation is a natural part of the digestive process in ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo,” says the Climate & Clean Air Coalition. “Microbes in the digestive tract, or rumen, decompose and ferment food, producing methane as a by-product.”
In fact, about 30 percent of methane emissions come from livestock including cattle, sheep, goat, and buffalo, according to a 2016 Climate & Clean Air Coalition study.
We’re not saying you’re a monster if you like bacon with your eggs, but what could it hurt if you were to try a veggie-dominant, vegetarian, or even vegan diet, just for the day?
After all, “producing 100 grams of protein from peas emits just 0.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq),” says a 2020 Our World in Data study. “To get the same amount of protein from beef, emissions would be nearly 90 times higher, at 35 kgCO2eq.”
Read: Beetles Over Beef
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Travel Around the Globe – With Google Earth
No travel, no problem. With Google Earth, you’ve got “the world’s most detailed globe” at your fingertips.
Overwhelmed by all the possibilities? Check out “some of the most interesting places to explore” via Google Earth here.
Celebrating Earth Day Together… Digitally
Hang it in the Window
The United States Environmental Protection Agency encourages you to celebrate Earth Day with them by decorating your windows with Earth Day-inspired art.
You can also print out their “Happy Earth Day 2020” coloring sheets and complete them with your kids or your cats to adorn your windows with.
Join the Conversation
In addition to celebrating Earth Day all month long, NASA will host a live stream at 3 PM (EDT) today, according to their website.
“NASA Science Live will air a special edition featuring a discussion about Earth science with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, in addition to features on how NASA technology is helping our planet, from mapping coral reefs, the newest electric airplane, and how we use technology developed for space on Earth,” NASA says.
Furthermore, the Earth Day Network has compiled a list of Earth Day live streams that’ll be taking place from 9 AM to 8 PM (EDT) today.
In Conclusion
(3 Oct. 1962) – Western horizon over South America taken during the sixth orbit pass of the Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) mission by astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. with a hand-held camera.
Source: NASA Images
It took this long for humans to finally honor mother Earth with her own holiday, so we encourage you to show her your thanks. Whether your actions seem subtle, it’s much better than living carelessly and parasitically on the planet.
Read: Human Impact by Natalia Bennett
The Burgundy Zine
For more information on the history of Earth Day and its 50th anniversary this year, head on over to the Earth Day Network’s website.
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