by Sara Peiris
Do you know what struck me immediately when I arrived here in Australia? It was clean. It was dry, less humid and not as lush and verdant as the tropical country I arrived from but it was pristine. The earth is a beautiful place full of wonders but most of mankind ignores this to pursue success at a price – the future of our planet.
Each person has a personal and social responsibility to the world we live in to act as a steward and advocate for the earth. The dramatic increase in human population is a major factor that impacts strongly on the environment. If we are to build thriving, just and sustainable ways of life, taking action is a key step.
In Victoria, our government has taken some measures to educate consumers by installing smart meters to reduce power bills, using advertising campaigns for rubbish collection and administering strict water restrictions. These are not fully effective as they are obeyed by the majority but are not adhered to by everyone. Retailers have been told to reduce the use of plastic bags, offices encouraged to join the Waste Wise program and implement simple steps such as switching off standby power on computers but not all of them do. The individuals and businesses that disregard the need for going by the rules are those who need the most encouragement because preaching to the choir achieves no benefit. Harsher penalties could be enforced such as fines or forced services but I don’t feel this would be received favourably. Perhaps like enforced army service in some European countries, paid community service instead of the Work for the Dole program to employ the assistance of people on unemployment benefits might be the way to go. What do you think?
Litter removal is not the most appealing way to make a difference and I can understand your hesitation. But if you wish to shrink the impact you have on climate change, these are feasible options.
• Wear layers of clothing in winter without resorting to heating.
• Pull the plugs off your home appliances when you sleep.
• Dispose of items like batteries according to manufacturer.
If you have more ambition and are devoted to the cause, you could host a fundraiser to plant trees that would look good on your resume, create an opportunity to socialize and contribute to a good cause.
