The Way We Live: World Environment Day 2019

A few weeks ago, on my way to work, I was sitting at a stoplight when I looked to my left. In the middle of a patch of pink buttercup flowers was an old tire. To me, the juxtaposition of the beautiful flowers and a well-worn tire were glaring. It was trash versus treasure. Ugly versus beautiful. Delicate versus tough.

This moment brought me back to the first time I was ever aware of the human effect on our environment. I was very young and all it took was one episode on the Discovery Channel. A sea turtle had been tangled in one of those plastic six-pack rings. And all I remember was that someone on the show encouraged the audience to make sure to cut the rings. He had said to cut the rings to make sure animals wouldn’t get trapped and die in case it ended up in the ocean.

That episode made such a lasting impact on me. From then on, I cut every six pack ring (my parents had a lot of house parties so there was a lot of beer and soda) I came across and still do to this day.

Several months ago, I wrote an article on sustainable brands you should know about in hopes of introducing you to another one of my passions. And while we’re on this subject, please know that this isn’t a “one and done” kind of topic for me. My goal is to share as much as I can to help drive change in the way we live, for the better.

Speaking of, today is World Environment Day. 

I’m writing this article to continue sharing my passion with you to do my part by raising awareness on how to take better care of the second place we have to live: Earth.

The first thing I want to do is share with you people and organizations you can learn from by following their Instagram accounts.

Instagram Accounts to Follow:

UN Environment

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByHbZ3bjlVO/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

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Paul Nicklen

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsyo4SQnWNM/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

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New Standard Institute

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw9NBfYg-dx/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

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Fair Trade Certified

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwkrDkGAIzB/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

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The New Fashion Initiative

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw49A4mnaSu/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

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Sustainable Brands

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByBG__KpdhR/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

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Better Packaging Co.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx_RjvHHXwh/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

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The Front Lash

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXKEucn0ur/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

I’ve always been fascinated with science and our environment, but it was that episode on the Discovery Channel that led me to realize how I live affects the bigger picture.

Life is full of beautiful moments and crazy adventures for us to experience and enjoy. However, how can we soak up the great moments in life with our loved ones if we don’t have any place to live?

We have to start looking at the way we’re living.

I leave you with this incredibly profound quote:

“Make ethical choices in what we buy, do, and watch. In a consumer-driven society our individual choices, used collectively for the good of animals and nature, can change the world faster than laws.”― Marc BekoffDoing

Tell me, how or what are you going to do to contribute to World Environment Day?

Join me over on my Instagram stories today as I take you down memory lane on where my passion for the environment all began. Stay tuned because there will be tons of content regarding this urgent matter.