According to the United Nations, the earth is in code red. Quite visible are the backups to this statement, ranging from the not so recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria to the recent flooding in Italy and the ongoing extreme climate changes in different parts of the world, to mention a few. Again, with wildlife going extinct, it is safe to say that indeed, the earth is in code red.
It is, however, interesting to note that most of these environmental issues are man made. Increased pollution as a result of industrialization, animal abuse and eating, and the use of natural resources to the point of almost-extinction, among others, have ensured that there remains an environmental imbalance, which has put the world in a very critical state. The current world population is about 8 million individuals, and in comparison to the amount of waste produced, and resources used without being replenished, it is only a matter of time before life both on land and under water becomes uninhabitable.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) started the celebration of World Environment Day on June 5th, 1973, and has since celebrated the day every year. Over 150 countries participate in the commemoration of this international day through outreaches and other projects that contribute to the sustainable development of the earth, making it one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreaches.
This year’s World
Environment Day is themed Solutions to Plastic Pollution with the trending
hashtag #BeatPlasticPollution. Plastics have proven to be a major crisis over
the years, ensuring that habitats and natural processes are modified and the
ecosystem’s capacity to adapt to change is reduced. UNEP states that over 7
million of the 9.2 billion pieces of plastic produced globally in the last 7
decades are still in the environment as trash because they are not
biodegradable. Indeed, we have a looming crisis at hand if we do not
#BeatPlasticPollution. And just like the UNEP Executive Director, Inger
Andersen, said, “We will not recycle our way out of the plastic pollution
crisis: we need a systemic transformation to achieve the transition to a
circular economy.
Therefore, together with millions of people and thousand of organizations who understand how critical #BeatPlasticPollution is, The Sapphires Development Initiative celebrates this year’s World Environmental Day with not just an online campaign but with a physical challenge that motivates individuals to join in the #BeatPlasticPollution program. This is in the hope that a truly sustainable environment is achieved, especially with plastics being recycled and awareness of the dangers they bring.
With further
reports to be updated on all our social media platforms @Instagram:
thesapphiresdev_initiative and @ Facebook & Linkedin: The Sapphires
Development Initiative, we are eager to record that the #BeatPlasticPollution
project done by TSDI was really beneficial to not just communities but to the
world at large.
Quite enlightening. This is a call to take responsibility. Thank you TSDI. Together we #BeatPlasticPollution.