EARTH DAY! … April 22, 2018 … End Plastic Polution!

I’m Done! (With Disposable Plastic)

“How do you make a lasting change in your behavior? How do you take a desire to be and do better and turn it into action? In the past months, you may have been exposed to powerful information and imagery, showing the drastic tolls that plastic pollution is having on our environment, our health, and the health of the other organisms that we share the planet with. You may have even gone to the effort of finding out ways you can stop contributing to the problem, by refusing plastic straws and shopping bags, or by purchasing clothing with natural fibers instead of plastic fabrics that release microscopic plastic fibers into the water system. But even though you are aware of the problem and taking some action, you may still not be living up to your own expectations. You still consume disposable plastic too readily and occasionally dispose of it in a less than environmentally friendly way. We know that giving up plastics is difficult! It happens to all of us. Many of us at Earth Day Network have been realizing with close introspection, that we aren’t reducing our plastic pollution footprint as much as we would like to be. So, what can we do?

We have realized that a blanket commitment to reduce our consumption of plastics does not work. There are way too many different plastic items, and the best way to reduce our consumption is to think about them one by one. And then resolve to reduce your consumption of each one by a specific amount!

The best way to make sure you stick to your goals is by clearly articulating them and then publicly proclaiming your intention to stick with them through to the finish. We all have habits and routines that are difficult to break. If no one knows that you plan to stop using plastic straws, no one will know when you start slipping up and help you remember your commitment.

The campaign to ending plastic pollution is a group effort. It will only happen if we all know that we are working together to come up with every solution we can. We will reduce our consumption much more if we know that we are part of a community that is striving together to change our habits and behaviors. You will be joining a global movement of billions of people all doing the same thing. This will make a difference!!”[1]

[1] www.earthday.org/2018/04/18/im-done-with-disposable-plastics/

    Until next time, remember,

• You are not alone.

• You are not your circumstances.

• You have everything within you to live a purpose-filled life.