April 22, 2020 marked the 50th year of Earth Day. We are all reminded that now and beyond the present pandemic, we also all need to save our planet and people from climate change urgently, badly.
We all still need to do our own and collective share of climate action, “ to promote clean air, water and soil, improve protection of endangered wildlife and dwindling natural resources.”
Within and beyond this pandemic, will the 195 countries and territories that signed the Paris Agreement on climate change on Earth Day 2016 continue their commitment “ to implement actions to reduce their carbon footprint?”
Clearly, as the adverse effects of global warming are continuing even within the present pandemic, moving forward requires stepping backward to honor and practice prior commitment to protect the planet together, as a whole global world. While preoccupied about keeping everyone safe and protected now, we and the whole world also need to continue our vigilance and action to save our Planet Earth.
Gratefully, positive unintended effects for the planet have been observed during this pandemic.
With lockdowns and Expanded Community Quarantine (ECQ) that require everyone to stay home, there are hardly any busy street and heavy traffic now. Less air pollution has been reported, allowing for blue skies and even distant beautiful scenery to be viewed by many during the quarantine period. Sea turtles and other animals have been photographed to be enjoying reclaiming the seas, the beaches, and their former domain while the humans have been required to stay home!
Perhaps in the so-called NEW NORMAL that people are hoping will come soon, with the pandemic effectively controlled and all allowed to resume their routine, certain days of each month can be declared as stay home days to provide respite for the other creatures and our earth to replenish?
Staying home has proven to be an effective, doable climate action that can be practiced by anyone, anywhere in the world. Can all in the global community remember that this simple act of staying home, for a period of time, can save people and our planet?
Post-pandemic era will also benefit from sustaining the positive action of sharing and compassion extended by countless all throughout the world!
Imagine a simple vendor generously sharing his taho with others, totally unmindful of the loss of earnings for him and his family that day. A sari-sari owner shares her store items for free.
Day in, day out, there are heart-warming reports of people and organizations sharing their time, their resources, sourcing their donations from the food and other producers/suppliers unable to get their produce to the markets because of quarantine protocols.
One household started putting out a table outside their home with pan de sal for free for all to take and with the request for others to share and leave what they want on the table. The whole community responded and until now, their table continues to be filled with love offerings, providing food for all, especially the needy!
The best of these generous, selfless acts of kindness, including for the precious frontliners, should be remembered and sustainably adopted.
Big businesses are also realizing that they can save themselves by sharing their huge profits to save others! Can the world’s richest from now agree and volunteer to give 50% or more of their profits to help the needy and stabilize our world?
The pandemic is showing all that LOVE will save all - people and planet!
If only everyone shares selflessly, ours can be a wonderful, sustainable world and planet -- no more poor, all with decent homes, with sustainable access to essentials, everyone’s health and welfare taken care of, Mother Nature’s included.