Environmental Issues - Tumblr Posts

I can’t believe people are mad about a 16-year-old girl wanting the earth to get better

Throughout human history there was an element of reciprocity that reliably happened between Earth and humanity.

Human and animal waste, food scraps, fallen leaves, garden trimmings, and other organic components; were almost guaranteed to be returned to the soil, to be broken back down into fresh soil...either via composting, or via burying the organic waste.

Substantial things made of metal or wood (or more recently, plastic) often got taken to the "junkyard".... and it wasn't uncommon back then for people to take a trip and purposely go browsing there: in order to find and repair, or else, break down old items into component parts, for reuse elsewhere.

Now?

EVERYTHING is landfill.

Everything just gets thrown all together into a garbage dump or a landfill... and I don't think that it is a coincidence that Earth is suddenly experiencing a problem with running out of topsoil in which to grow crops.

This has been compounded by the fact that the corporations throw away literal hundreds of tons of perfectly good food (organic matter that should at LEAST be returned to the soil to replenish the earth instead).

They do this because it then makes it possible to raise prices on their remaining supply of produce, according to their bizarre rules concerning supply and demand...

Is it any wonder that topsoil is disappearing, given these capitalistic changes, where now there is an artificially-increased rate of overextraction of resources from nature, coupled with a drastic decrease of sustained reciprocation?

NO LIES DETECTED.

A Piece On Sustainable Tourism

Travel Truths: Clearing the Air on Sustainable Tourism

  With the push for environmental conservation stronger than ever, more and more people are now practicing lifestyle changes that can help make our world a better place to live in. Even the way we travel has affected millions of eco-conscious individuals to the point where they seek alternative avenues to make their journeys more conscientious to the well-being of the planet. And part of this burgeoning movement within the green revolution is what many environmentalists call “sustainable tourism”.

In recent years, global tourism has been leaning towards a more sustainable approach in order to entice travelers, backpackers, and adventurers to be more aware of where they are going and what exactly they’ll be doing to help save the places they are visiting. Despite this gradual paradigm shift in the international travel scene, a lot of people still don’t understand what sustainable tourism is about. So what exactly does “sustainable tourism” even mean? What does it even entail?

Well, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sustainable tourism is defined as “a form of tourism that participates in the management of all resources that fulfill economic, social, and aesthetic needs while maintaining cultural integrity, biological diversity, and environmental quality.” In this regard, in order for a certain destination to be considered as a sustainable tourism hot spot, it must address three key factors—environmental, socio-cultural, and economic.

Environmental

Travelers going to nature-crafted places, as opposed to destinations constructed by human hands, is a common misconception about sustainable tourism. The truth is, any location around the world can be dubbed as a sustainable location for travel, provided that the locals are committed to preserving the natural (forests, mountains, rivers, etc.) or the artificial (villages, historical ruins, iconic monuments, etc.) destinations for the sake of future generations.

Socio-cultural

Many exotic destinations around the world are now swarmed by foreign visitors, and this, in effect, produces a typical clash of cultures that could negatively affect the tourism rate of a given country. Sustainable tourism in socio-cultural aspect means travelers should respect local customs, traditions, and beliefs while making a genuine effort of supporting the indigenous culture of the place they are visiting. A good example of this would be to actively participate in non-profit volunteer work to help build shelters in developing nations so that one may be able to see and understand how people live in different environments.

Economic

A large part of global tourism involves economics, for even the most beautiful beach resorts in the Pacific Islands or remote mountain villages in South America cannot be sustained without the financial gain they generate from countless travelers who explore their wonders. The locals of such popular tourist destinations must defend their rights to earn from local tourism and should not let foreign-operated businesses dominate. The locals must be able to prosper side by side with their local showcase. 

Bottom Line

With the subject of sustainable tourism cleared, it should be clear to you also that it actually promotes a positive effect towards millions of people and not just towards the destinations travelers explore on an annual basis. When it comes right down to the wire, tourism is a two-way street: visitors help boost the tourism rate of several countries while the local community provides a unique experience to travelers seeking fresh perspective.

So the next time you want to go on a vacation, ask yourself: is the place I’m going to fulfill the necessary requirements that make it sustainable?

If it ticks all the boxes for sustainable tourism, then you’re certainly good to go for an adventure of a lifetime!

We are Water Protectors picture book

Review

I stumbled upon this book in the best way possible. I was strolling through the park basking in the nature when I saw that my library was doing a story walk. It was my first exposure to a story walk and its such a brilliant idea. Each page of this book was displayed around the park walking trail.

This picture book is less of a story and more of a call to action. It informs readers we are all born from water and we must protect it from the black snake known as oil. It's important to note that this was written in response to the Dakoto access pipeline protests. The native American population of Dakoto rebelled against the construction of this pipeline due to the damage it would cause to the water supply and cultural sites.

Author Carole Lindstrom urges readers to cherish water while educating us on its cultural significance to the Ojibwe people. Water is characterized as a nurturing force that gives us all life. It is our duty to keep water safe and protect the defenseless inhabitants of this world. Michaela Goade does a phenomenal job captivating the eyes with her breathtaking drawings.

This is an important lesson for everyone to learn because environmentalism isn't taken seriously enough. There's so much harm being done to the planet every day and we need to take a stand. We are water protectors feels like a folktale that should be passed down for generations upon generations. Do your part and save this planet.