One of David Attenborough’s latest documentaries is all about life on our planet and details the ways in which humans have damaged it over the years and lists the ways in which we can save it and ourselves and still live on this beautiful earth and thrive.
If you have watched this documentary and have come away feeling like you personally need to save the world , you are not the only one. It makes you want to jump into action and lay concrete plans on how to change the way we live and act on earth and how to protect it for future generations to come.
Growing up I watched many of David Attenborough’s programmes and it was a delight to see clips from his earlier life and travels where he was as excited then as he is today when talking about the various species that roam our planet and earth as a whole.
David Attenborough has a way in which to connect to his audience and his heartfelt pleas hit home. He doesn’t sugarcoat the destruction that has occurred already, the irreversible damage and lost species to name a few. There is hope though and you can hear in his voice as he outlays the changes and plans that need to happen going forward.
They are:
1. Put people and planet before profit.
Achieving commercial success doesn’t have to be at the expense of people and planet.
It’s fairly obvious that organisations can’t continue with traditional business models of shareholder primacy, and indifference to environmental impact.
2. Replace oil with renewable energy.
The world needs to urgently find ways (and implement them) to use fully renewable energy and deviate away from fossil fuels. The air and water will be cleaner and there will be less noise in the world.
3. Embrace a more sustainable lifestyle
Greenhouse gases need to be reduced urgently in order to start the process of reversing climate change. Converting wild spaces to farmland and other developments such as housing as well as the overuse of fertilisers and fresh water needs to be stopped. Reducing the use of our planets natural resources is the only way to secure a future for the human race.
4. Create no fishing zones in the ocean.
The fishing industry is causing the most damage to the ocean. By creating these no fishing zones, the marine world will have time to recover, fish will get a chance to grow older, reproduce and repopulate other areas. Cutting down on your consumption of fish is imperative and giving up altogether is recommended.
5 Farm smarter and eat less meat.
Grain grown to feed cows consumes 60% of all farmland which means we are eating far too much meat.
In order to get more food from less land humans need to reduce their meat consumption and live off a more plant based diet. Habits can be changed and a concerted effort needs to made to do this.
6. Protect the forests.
By destroying forests we are losing carbon dioxide to the air and forcing certain species into extinction. Ways need to be found to turn the forests and all wilderness into something viable for those who use it and live from it and this in turn will protect the biodiversity. Plant trees where and when you can. If we all plant just one tree imagine what a difference it would make in years to come.
7. Raise people out of poverty to slow the population growth.
Raising people out of poverty is the key to bringing rapid population growth to an end. By doing this everyone gets a fair share , diet and health care improves, child mortality rates decrease and families have fewer children.
There are ways that we, as individuals can contribute to saving our planet. We can’t rely on only the leaders of nations to make these decisions, we need to take a stance and help too.
Reduce, recycle and reuse whatever you can, grow your food, where possible (potatoes can be grown on an apartment’s balcony) , buy less products that use plastic packaging ,(this is vitally important as plastic is affecting our ocean life and our wildlife too) use the less is more approach, don’t buy things you don’t need, unplug devices when not in use and choose renewable energy where you can.
If we all start making changes to the way we live and breathe our planet will reap the rewards and slowly start to recover. It is each individual’s responsibility to act now, before it is too late! Take action now !!
