As we welcome the new year, many start by making resolutions including big and small changes they can make in 2021. At Green Schools Green Future, we are always encouraging green initiatives that can benefit both the planet and your individual life. We will discuss three changes you can make in 2021 to create a better environment for planet Earth and to challenge yourself to live green!
- Go Plastic Free
Going plastic free is a great way to challenge yourself in the new year.
As discussed in the book Plastic: A Toxic Love Story by Susan Freinkel, the planet has produced nearly as much plastic in the last ten years, as we have in all previous decades put together. A staggering thought, but not surprising. With plastic use on a high, it is important to be mindful and make changes where you can.
Freinkel continues to say, “Our annual global plastics production, if present trends hold, could reach nearly two trillion pounds by 2050. If it feels like we’re choking on plastics now, what will it feel like then, when we’re consuming four times as much?”
It’s a scary thought as plastic causes so much damage to the planet today. Single-use plastic consumed all over the world ends up in landfills, or as litter, that eventually blows into streams and rivers that lead into the ocean. Marine life has been largely impacted by the plastic crisis as products settle into their once clean homes, and can sometimes be fatal to marine mammals who consume the plastic as food, or are tangled in the waste.
It is unrealistic to think we can give up the use of all plastics by tomorrow. However, if we can all make small changes we can see the benefits. Using bar soap or bar shampoo instead of bottled, or completely eliminating plastic water bottles from your home can be a simple challenge for you and your families in 2021. A challenge that planet Earth will really appreciate.
To read more about the war on plastics, visit Green Schools Green Future for a more detailed explanation and to see what you can do to help.
- Reduce EMF Exposure
With the recent lockdown in effect, it is easy to fall into the screen trap. As we sit at home, we often find ourselves scrolling endlessly on our phones or laptops. Many find themselves working from home which causes additional screen time, sometimes with no “clock-out” time.
While screen time often hinders time spent with family, truly relaxing, or enjoying nature outside, it is also causing health problems from many people. EMFs, or electromagnetic fields, have been the culprit of health issues such as headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and a list of other dangerous symptoms. In extreme causes of high EMF exposure, cell damage has been reported with links to cancer, unusual growths, and infertility in both males and females.
So what causes all these physical and mental issues? Every day appliances such as computers, cellphones, bluetooth devices, and Wi-Fi routers. Invisible energy waves travel from each device and are very harmful to your body and mind.
Simple changes such as using the speaker phone function on your mobile, instead of holding your phone up to your ear, can make an impact. Putting your phone on airplane mode when not using it, or shutting it off completely at night can reduce the blue light exposure that makes you restless at night. Moving your Wi-Fi router to a location of your house that is not heavily circulated can protect yourself and your family from the harmful rays it releases.
There are many defences you can take against EMF exposure. Positioning your appliances strategically around your house, or using products such as the DefenderShield, which helps protect you against the harms of your cell phone. Visit our GSGF online shop for suggestions on the best products to defend against EMFs.
Click here to learn more about the dangers of EMFs at home, and how you can protect yourself and your family.
- Shop Local
Use 2021 as a year to make changes to your health and lifestyle. Shopping local at facilities and farmers markets is a great way to support your communities and economies. Better yet, grow your own food!
Buying local promotes agriculture, local wealth, and reduces the use of fossil fuels which are all important components considering the current state of the world and recent lockdowns within our city.
Supporting local farmer markets provides you a healthy option for fresh foods that boost your personal health. While many start the new year with goals of being healthier or losing weight, shopping local is a great way to start. The personal health benefits of raw honey always outweigh store bought products.
Utilizing farmer markets also supports local wealth, instead of always turning to chain retailers for less-fresh food options. After a difficult 2020 for many small businesses, it will be especially important to support locals in 2021 to create wealth and jobs in local economies.
Shopping local eliminates the travel time spent by most products going from farm to chain retail stores. When you shop local, your food is going from farm to table, reducing the energy consumed through planes, trains, trucks, and ships. Each form of transportation contributes to the unhealthy air quality and gases that cause global warming. A trip to your local farmers market could make a difference in limiting the use of fossil fuels.
To learn more about how you can support local and small businesses, click here.
As we enter the new year, think about the changes you can make to benefit your life and Earth’s life. Going plastic free, reducing your EMF exposure, and shopping local, are just a few options when considering beneficial lifestyle changes in 2021.
To learn more about Green Schools Green Future and how you can support our green goals, visit greenschoolsgreenfuture.org and donate or sign-up for our monthly newsletters.
Sources:
https://www.terramovement.com/the-easiest-sustainable-resolutions/
https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/could-you-go-plastic-free
https://www.healthline.com/health/emf
Blog Image Credit: Pixaby
Written by Cassandra Briscoe
