Have you looked at the sky lately? Did you notice the ocean, the trees and the birds that surround you? If not then spare a minute, open your eyes and look around you. What do you see? Do you see the green bountiful earth that used to exist? Sadly, I don’t think you will. That planet does not exist anymore. It has been replaced by the dark, dilapidated, gruesome world that lies shabby and decadent taking its last few breaths.
It is a shame to admit that it is we humans who have turned our mother earth into this. We have been so busy with our lives that we have failed to notice the smog layered skies, the dying trees or the dwindling animal habitat that cry and plead for help. Do not be so oblivious and ignorant. Take a step to help our bleeding planet. It is our duty to protect and preserve the earth that we live in. To make a difference you don’t have to spend much time or money. Some simple everyday chores are enough to get this planet up and running. The following are some duties that we have towards our planet. Incorporate them in your lives to bring about a better future- not only for the planet but for man as well.
Trees are our lifelines
It is high time that we start restoring the lost green on the planet. We need trees for the air we breathe. Trees make the air fresh and reduce pollution. Start your morning by watering the plants. Make your own garden and plant as many trees as you can. If you don’t have the space to make a garden, try to plant trees anywhere in your neighbourhood. You need not do this every day- once a month is enough.
Commute wisely
We all know how vehicles are causing pollution in the air, not to mention the depletion of fossil fuels. But cars are a necessity rather than a luxury and we cannot survive without them. It can be difficult to bid your car goodbye but there is a way to minimise its use. Take turns with the car while going to work. Instead of everybody taking their individual cars, give each other a ride once in a while. Even better, create a car duty schedule for every day of the week. A great idea to reduce your dependency on cars is to buy a cycle. Ride your cycle while travelling short distances. This way you are getting some exercise while caring for the planet. Also, turn the ignition off every time you wait at a signal.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle
The three R’s that make a happy planet are “reduce, reuse and recycle”. Cut back on unnecessary products that you won’t ultimately use. The key here is to buy only as much as required and not waste anything, from food to paper. Use both sides of the paper while writing and buy food in small quantities. The next step is to reuse things rather than throw them away. If you have old toys or furniture laying around that you would rather get rid of, donate them to charity. Hold a yard sale to get rid of old and useless items. You will be surprised how others find those stuff useful which you have no use for. Try to use reusable materials in your daily life. The third and final step is to recycle. Assign a separate garbage bin for the recyclable waste. Anything from newspapers and glass to aluminium tins and plastic bags can be recycled. 
While these were the responsibilities that we ought to carry out in our daily lives, there are certain things that we should not do for the sake of our planet. Let us read about a few things that we do which need to be stopped-
- Use of electrical equipments like air conditioners, water heaters, television, computers and microwaves and so on. We have grown so accustomed to these amenities in our life that it may take a lot of effort to free ourselves from them. But we do have eco-friendly alternatives that we can replace them with. Solar heaters or solar powered cars and air conditioners can replace the existing ones. Even if the television and computer are too important to throw away, you can lessen their usage. More importantly, switch them off when not in use.
- We waste water. Don’t keep the tap running in the bathroom or while washing your dishes. Take shorter showers from now on.
- We keep the lights and fans switched on when not in the room. This is a huge wastage of electricity. Try to be conscious next time you leave a room.
- We use too much plastic. Make a wise choice and switch to paper bags. Try to reuse the paper bags as many times as possible to save paper.
- We shut our eyes every time we see someone harming the environment. Everyone needs a wakeup call once in a while. Don’t criticize or rebuke them, rather explain their fault to them calmly. Try to share your ideas with other people and inspire them to work for the betterment of the planet.
Follow your duties towards your planet. Give your planet a chance to live and thrive again.
Leave a Reply