“I completely forgot it was last week.”
I’m not feeling super well this week, for whatever reason. Partially it’s physical and I think I might be coming down with a cold or something (definitely not Coronavirus, though; I don’t feel that bad). But partially it’s mental, too. I’m just kind of stressed for no good reason, since I don’t really have any real responsibilities right now besides classes. It isn’t like I’m an essential worker or something, so why am I stressed? But that’s whatever. I’ll get over it one of these days. Probably.
Anyway, I just wanted to mention that last week was Earth Week! Or, at least last Wednesday was Earth Day, on April 22nd. My club at school generally does events all week, since we’re an environmental science club, so it’s Earth Week to us. But with my school being shut down and the virus being what it is, we didn’t really get a chance to celebrate this year, which is sad. I completely forgot that it was last week until it was already Tuesday! So I want to try and make up for that glaring oversight with a brief celebration this week.
As an environmental science major, I try to be conscious of the Earth in everything I do, so on one hand Earth Day/Week doesn’t mean much to me, since it’s kind of already my everyday life. But on the other hand, it’s always a great reminder to me that I can be doing more for the Earth, and it’s a great way to take a step back and appreciate the planet for what it is, too. And it’s a good excuse to get on my soapbox (or borrow my club’s box) and tell people the good news of the environment. But that was last week, and I already talk about the environment every so often anyway, so it wouldn’t be much different than this blog normally is. So today, I just really want to take a quick minute to talk about nature.
Recently, with the shelter-in-place orders and all that, there’s been a definite uptick in attendance at local forest preserves in my area. I suspect it’s a lot of people who are looking for something to do or a new place to work out at, but it’s great nonetheless, because it means that more people are getting out and experiencing the world around them. But as my brother pointed out, this is probably the first time ever that forest preserve parking lots are full, and mall parking lots are empty. And I don’t know when the world will get back to normal, but when it does, this may be the last time those nature parking lots are full for a while. At least the way they are now.
As someone who’s always gone to parks and nature reserves and things like that, I love that people are finally giving them the large-scale appreciation they deserve. But part of me also feels perhaps the same way that diehard sports fans feel when their team finally does well and suddenly everyone’s a “fan.” You’re here now when it’s convenient, but where were you before, huh? Fair weather fans and all that. That’s partially my line of feeling for these packed parking lots. And as much as I hope they stay packed forever, I suspect they won’t, and that’s what also bugs me.
I love that local parks are getting so much use. People are going out to look at the trees and walk around and smell the flowers. And it’s great, because it’s good for the people who need to get out of the house, and it’s good for nature because it gets more people to appreciate it. And if even some of these new outdoorspeople stick around after the quarantine is done, then I’ll be very happy, because it means that, hopefully, there’s more people supporting restoration and conservation efforts than there were before. But I just worry that once things go back to how they were, nature will once again fall by the wayside. Local parks and green spaces will once again become sideshows, minor attractions that aren’t as important as, say, a movie theater in the eyes of the majority. Things will go back to how they were before, with nothing gained. That’s my big fear.
Obviously this whole pandemic isn’t about that. Anything positive that comes out of this is a bonus, a small silver lining in the massive suffering that this virus has caused across the planet. But with Earth Day coming right in the middle of all of it, I can’t help but think that maybe this silver lining will be bigger than just that. Maybe even more people will realize how much we depend on the natural world around us, not just for physical resources but for our own wellbeing, too. And maybe when this is all over, and more people want to keep going to these parks and preserves that are very often woefully underfunded, there’ll be more people who are willing to support these parks and maybe #VoteEarth, especially since environmental regulations keep getting rolled back. And all that would be a great thing, and I hope that’s the case. Because these parks, and the world in general, deserve support as much as people deserve to use them.
I could complain forever about stuff like this, and talk about this chip on my shoulder that these overflow parking lots seem to have uncovered within me. But that’s no fun for anybody to hear about, and it’s no fun for me to write about, realistically. At that point I’m just preaching. And while I definitely do a bit of that here and there, it’s not something I necessarily want to do. And I definitely don’t want to gatekeep nature, because gatekeepers are assholes. Or at the very least, I don’t want to be boring. I guess my “too long; didn’t read” point is this: if you’re one of the people who’s going to local nature parks for the first time because of this quarantine, welcome. We’re glad to have you. But now that you’re getting something out of it, don’t leave us high and dry when things are back to normal. In fact, don’t “leave us” at all; just be a park person. Everyone should be a park person, if you ask me. Maybe that would generate a little more respect for the planet.
I think I’m being a bit of a broken record here, but as an environmental science major, I hope that one day it’ll very literally be my job to talk about this stuff. So I guess it’s better to get started somewhere than nowhere. If you’re lucky enough to have access to quality natural spaces, take advantage of them. Get to know them. And help them out when they’re in need. But follow posted guidelines, use common sense, and don’t litter. Because that’s actually a major problem, now that these parks are getting used so much; overuse leads to degradation, which requires more support. So I guess I’m also ragging on about that, too; in the world today, having access to these spaces isn’t free, and it isn’t equally accessible to all; while access to nature should be a human right, often it’s more of a privilege. And the best way to acknowledge that privilege, and the cost of it, is to support those natural spaces so others can enjoy them and, in turn, spread the reach of those natural spaces. Because everyone should be able to go to a forest, or a beach, or a prairie, or whatever the dominant native ecosystem in your region is. But not everyone can.
Anyway, that’s enough of that. Happy Earth Day! Briefly, here’s some things you can do to help celebrate Earth Day, Earth Week, and the Earth all year long.
Plant a Garden: I started doing this just recently. I took over the backyard garden from my dad, and I started some seeds for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, corn, beans, peas, and sunflowers. If you have a yard, or even if you have an open windowsill, you can grow your own plants! And more plants means more oxygen, even it’s just a little. If you grow flowers, make sure they’re native, and they’ll be sure to help out local pollinators and other animals. And if you grow food, too, that’s less stress on other human food systems! So you can’t lose by growing a garden, regardless of what’s in it!
Conserve Energy: There are countless ways to reduce your energy usage, from as simple as turning off lights when you leave the room to as complex as installing your own solar panels. Little things help in the long run, and sustainability is a lifestyle change. The best way to help the environment is always to vote for candidates who are environmentally friendly and to switch to purchasing products that are sustainably sourced, but even small things can help a little bit. Lower your thermostat a few degrees, try those fancy efficient lightbulbs. The earth will thank you.
Practice Environmental Activism: Teach others about the earth and how they can help! Education is the key to spreading a message, and outreach through community events is one of the best ways to do that. If you want to help the environment through activism and political action, you can do as little as calling or emailing your local representatives or do as much as organizing a community march against climate change. The lists are endless. I’m in an environmental activism organization, so if there’s anything I’ve learned, everything can be turned into positive activism. It just takes a little elbow grease and/or money. Here’s an example.
I’m still not feeling very well, so I’m going to end here. Also, there’s already a million different articles about how to green up your life. If you read this far, thank you for taking the time to read my nonsense ramblings. If you want some more info about the environment, check out the Earth Day Network. Or this link, or this link, for more comprehensive lists on how to make your life more sustainable. Big change starts from small actions. So if you’re beginning to be appreciate nature more so now, might as well start somewhere, right? It’s better than nothing.
