2019 has been the year of change. There has been change taking place all across the globe, many arguing we've been stripped of much needed protection laws, but good change has been made as well. As a way of saying goodbye 2019 and welcoming 2020 with warm and encouraging arms, here's a recap of the beneficial changes that have been made that will hopefully continue making a presence in the new year.
Salgado is known for the images he captured during the Rwandan genocide (Coppolino). What inspired this heroic act was a pact made by Salgado and his wife after the two watched the place they consider home, Brazil, be stripped of the large tropical forest they once knew in order to make room for new mines (Coppolino).
On top of Salgado planting 4 million trees, Royal Dutch Shell or SHELL, an oil and gas company, has pledged to put $300 million towards reforestation (Coppolino)! The plan is to replant around 5 million trees in the Netherlands and Spain within the next three years (Coppolino).
While we're on the topic of oil and gas, another piece of amazing news that will benefit us in the long run and will hopefully inspire other countries to follow in their footsteps, Canada has banned oil, gas, and mining from marine protected zones (Coppolino). This is a small step in the right direction, which I have hope will soon create a path for others to follow.
One Tree Planted is an organization that plants trees in different countries in order to help restore the tree population we've slowly been diminishing. Along with planting trees, the website has merchandise you can purchase, and has monthly good environmental news updates! You can do your part! Wether you donate or read their articles, or even share their website you're making a difference.
Many countries have taken it upon themselves to ban single-use plastic. In March, the European Union banned single-use plastic items that varied anywhere from straws to bags (5 Good Environmental Stories)! The creation of plastic has polluted our planet, but we're slowly making steps to help our planet recover.
Plenty of ideas for clean and renewable energy have been pitched without ever being put to use. This year, we did more than listen. More than 100 cities in the United States have made the transition to use clean and renewable energy and the numbers are only expected to increase (5 Good Environmental Stories).
The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy gas has also made an appearance in 2019. Renewable energy such as solar, hydro, similar types of renewable sources dominated industries such as coal corporations (5 Good Environmental Stories). Renewable energy presents a promising future and has the potential to help give our planet a chance to overcome the horrible virus that is pollution.
The questions now imposed on us from our own self-doing are simple. How are we to overcome the obstacles we've created? How can we continue to progress rather than taking steps backwards? Will we make the changes necessary before it's too late? The answer to these questions are transparent. Only time will tell.
The Good
To kickoff this post celebrating all the environmental changes made this year, over 4 million trees have been planted! A Brazilian photographer named Sebastiao Salgado and his team have helped reforest over 1,500 acres of land (Coppolino). |
| ("Sebastiao Salgado Planted over 4 Million Trees") |
On top of Salgado planting 4 million trees, Royal Dutch Shell or SHELL, an oil and gas company, has pledged to put $300 million towards reforestation (Coppolino)! The plan is to replant around 5 million trees in the Netherlands and Spain within the next three years (Coppolino).
While we're on the topic of oil and gas, another piece of amazing news that will benefit us in the long run and will hopefully inspire other countries to follow in their footsteps, Canada has banned oil, gas, and mining from marine protected zones (Coppolino). This is a small step in the right direction, which I have hope will soon create a path for others to follow.
One Tree Planted is an organization that plants trees in different countries in order to help restore the tree population we've slowly been diminishing. Along with planting trees, the website has merchandise you can purchase, and has monthly good environmental news updates! You can do your part! Wether you donate or read their articles, or even share their website you're making a difference.
Many countries have taken it upon themselves to ban single-use plastic. In March, the European Union banned single-use plastic items that varied anywhere from straws to bags (5 Good Environmental Stories)! The creation of plastic has polluted our planet, but we're slowly making steps to help our planet recover.
Plenty of ideas for clean and renewable energy have been pitched without ever being put to use. This year, we did more than listen. More than 100 cities in the United States have made the transition to use clean and renewable energy and the numbers are only expected to increase (5 Good Environmental Stories).
The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy gas has also made an appearance in 2019. Renewable energy such as solar, hydro, similar types of renewable sources dominated industries such as coal corporations (5 Good Environmental Stories). Renewable energy presents a promising future and has the potential to help give our planet a chance to overcome the horrible virus that is pollution.
The Years to Come
As concern for the environment arises, an abundance of climate protests and strikes have been making an appearance as well.
People all around the world have been attending climate strikes. Children, teenagers, adults, even the elderly are insistent on making changes to help the climate crisis.
Environmental activists continue to push for change and be sure their voice is being heard. Greta Thunberg, a sixteen year old girl from Sweden, is on a mission to restore our earth to the healthy state it was once in. Her message is being dispersed all over the world and inspiring others to fight for the cause they believe in and make a difference. She's just one of many who give people a sense of hope that change will happen and we will keep pushing forward.
If a girl like Greta, an ordinary school girl, can fight for what she believes in, the rest of us can.
People all around the world have been attending climate strikes. Children, teenagers, adults, even the elderly are insistent on making changes to help the climate crisis.
 |
| "Greta Thunberg Apologizes for 'against the Wall' Comment" (Associated Press) |
If a girl like Greta, an ordinary school girl, can fight for what she believes in, the rest of us can.
The questions now imposed on us from our own self-doing are simple. How are we to overcome the obstacles we've created? How can we continue to progress rather than taking steps backwards? Will we make the changes necessary before it's too late? The answer to these questions are transparent. Only time will tell.
Works Cited
The Associated Press. "Greta Thunberg Apologizes for 'against the Wall' Comment." NBC News, 14 Dec. 2019, www.nbcnews.com/news/world/greta-thunberg-apologizes-against-wall-comment-n1102326. Accessed 15 Dec. 2019.
Coppolino, Joseph. "Good News! 7 Positive Environmental Stories from April." One Tree Planted, 30 Apr. 2019, onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/good-news-april. Accessed 12 Dec. 2019.
"5 Good Environmental Stories from 2019: World Environment Day." Sustainable Biz Consulting, sustainablebizconsulting.com/sustainable-living/5-good-environmental-stories-from-2019-world-environment-day/. Accessed 15 Dec. 2019.
Sebastiao Salgado Planted over 4 Million Trees. Facebook, www.facebook.com/sebastiaosalgadophotography/. Accessed 15 Dec. 2019.
A nice post to end your blogging experience. Good job highlighting some positive changes. Do you think Canada's steps to end mining will be long-lasting, or will this change if there's a change in political parties?
ReplyDeleteHI Ms. LaClair! I do think this policy could change depending on who's in office, but hopefully other changes in the system regarding these types of policies will change too.
DeleteWhat change do you think has made the biggest impact? Good post, to highlight the end of a decade. Do you know of anything coming in the future that will greatly impact the environment?
ReplyDeleteHello Talia, I enjoyed reading your blog. It was very insightful! In my opinion, people do not listen to Greta's points because of her age. This must be very frustrating for her. How can we, as people of her age, can help push her point across further?
ReplyDelete