Earth Day 2020, which will be celebrating its 50th edition on April 22nd is far more than a day. It is a historic moment when citizens of the world rise up in a united call for the creativity, innovation, ambition, and bravery that we need to meet our climate crisis and seize the enormous opportunities of a zero-carbon future.
In Los Cabos we celebrate Earth Day with thanks and appreciation of our special part of mother earth – where the desert meets the sea. The ecoregion of the Baja Desert and our Sea of Cortez, which Jacques Cousteau referred to as “the World’s Aquarium”, are precious to our Baja lifestyle.
These days, traditional and online media and social outlets feature many stories of reportedly cleaner areas of the world that used to be environmentally stressed or polluted. People talk about cleaner Venice canals with fish and dolphins now in sight, a myriad of fauna roaming the temporarily deserted streets, clearer skies in China and birds chirping all over. Regardless of whether such reports are factual, one thing is for sure: our planet is in no doubt getting a break and a ton of relief from human activity. We can think of these events as a good backdrop to celebrate Earth Day, which should also inspire us to extend it to an Earth Month – or even an Earth Decade if possible – for the benefit of all of us.
As we continue to abide by our shelter in place, due to the current health crisis, we can dust off our enthusiasm and commitment to create a new plan of collective action for our planet. Good habits can better everyone’s home – planet Earth. Below are four simple things we can do while staying at home, hopefully they remain in our memory long after the outbreak fades away…
Reading or streaming?
Although useful for entertainment and work, let’s ease down on it when possible. Video streaming is considered to be highly carbon intensive, so a mind-soothing activity like reading, writing or reading could probably replace streaming once you are done with the workday.
Compost
When you’re house bound, you can get creative and try some new new recipes using foods like dried fruit, mushrooms, fresh fruits and vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds or dry beans and rice. A plastic container with a lid that can be stored under the sink or in your freezer until you can compost them into the earth.
Shake your groove thing!
If you are lucky enough to be located in an open space that allows you to practice social distancing from others, you could try taking a few minutes to get out and spend time in nature and open spaces, of which Los Cabos has no shortage. This might significantly reduce stress and anxiety, and ultimately, help to produce a better, healthier, more productive version of ourselves.
Purchase locally produced foods
Check out what is produced locally you could be surprised – items such as eggs, baked goods and honey. This supports our local businesses and cuts down on the carbon emissions used to transport these items from elsewhere.
Our long-term life calendar should not contemplate just one day, but an entire Earth-friendly lifetime. We at The Agency Los Cabos are making our descendants will enjoy this planet as much as we did. It is a worthy reason to celebrate year in and year out.
