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Earth Day 2021 - Restore Our Earth

By
Industry Observer with Nature As Neighbors

Earth Day - April 22, 2021 - Restore Our Earth

 

If there was such thing as a winner in the last year's shutdowns, it had to be Mother Earth. Air and waterways became cleaner while many wild animals reemerged from deep cover. Lowered levels of manufacturing and fewer cars on the road allowed the earth to literally take a breather.  NASA satellite and ground-based observations reported significant reductions in global air pollution over this time period. 

 

This glimpse into just one year of human activity shows how much our actions contribute to air and water pollution. So on April 22nd Earth Day, it's fitting the theme is "Restore Our Earth.”  As we move back into our daily routines, it makes sense to reflect on this past year and continue to promote conservation as a positive solution. In fact, EarthDay.Org - the official Earth Day site - is scheduling three days of activities from April 20-22 to underscore its importance.

 

This Earth Day theme also builds upon the pro-active and emerging concept of restoration. For example, instead of assuming we just need to accept climate change as inevitable, restoration offers pragmatism coupled with hope.  Governments are turning to natural processes such as reforestation and soil conservation.  Innovative thinking and green technologies can help restore the world's ecosystem and forests - and create renewable jobs. Large corporations are vowing to be carbon neutral within the next decade. These are all significant developments that will help Restore Our Earth. 

 

But, waiting for institutions to act can take time. As individuals we also play a critical role in the effort to Restore Our Earth. There are plenty of actions we can take on our own that, collectively, add up to major impacts:

 

  1. Reducing our consumption of single-use plastic containers is a start.  One easy step is bringing our own reusable bags to the store. Now that those are allowed again, it will be a good habit to renew. Likewise, using our own containers instead of buying single-use water bottles is a big one.

  2. Thoughtful recycling of products we buy still has a major impact on the Earth's recovery. Making sure items are clean and properly sorted helps the whole process.  Composting kitchen scraps is fairly easy and can improve your garden (or container) soil. Overall, we can do a lot to reduce waste in landfills and the oceans.

  3. Reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizer on lawns can help eliminate the toxic runoff that affects water quality.  Using safe, organic sprays helps protect pollinators so critical to plant and food growth.  Planting shrubs and flowers that attract these pollinators not only helps them, but contributes to the overall health of your own environment.

  4.  Go to the interactive Earth Day Event Map to find a local event or   activity you can support. 

 

With just a few simple actions and habits on our parts, Earth Day can be every day - and we can all help to Restore Our Earth.

 

(This article first appeared in The Columbian Special Features on April 18th, 2021.)

 

Posted by


Debb Janes  Bernie Stea
Brokers/REALTORS®
Call or Text 360-608-4900

We help buyers and sellers in Camas, Washougal, Brush Prairie/Hockinson, Salmon Creek, Felida, and other Vancouver, Washington Areas. 


We bring our passion for nature and beautiful environments to Real Estate. Multigenerational and family estates, country land and homes, and small farmsteads are our speciality.


We agree with our clients, "The true luxury of rural living is having elbowroom for the soul.

 

Comments (16)

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Debb and Bernie - any year(and events in those years) provides pause for thought.  It will be interesting to see how 2020 is reflected and interpreted in history.  I am amazed how quickly and how slowly things evolve.  

Apr 19, 2021 08:34 AM
Debb Janes

Michael, you are correct. And, it will be interesting to see how it is written in the history books. 

Apr 19, 2021 11:20 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Great post, Debb... and loved your featured photo. The tips you offer for reducing our footprint are well-taken and at the end of the day relatively easy to incorporate into our lives.

Apr 19, 2021 08:54 AM
Debb Janes

Thanks Nina. D 

Apr 19, 2021 11:19 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hello Debb and Bernie, what a great reminder to all of us. It really doesn't take that much effort to help mother earth thrive. You've offered great tips on how we can be a part. Have a great week!

Apr 19, 2021 09:00 AM
Debb Janes

Thanks Beth, the same to you. D

Apr 19, 2021 11:19 AM
marti garaughty
garaughty.com - Montreal, QC
a highly caffeinated creative type...

 

You're a featured sharp cookie @The Art of Marketing YOU... cookie image will be uploaded if/when AR fixes their chronically dysfunctional system !

 

Apr 19, 2021 09:34 AM
Debb Janes

Thanks Marti!

Apr 19, 2021 11:18 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Debb,

I have been thinking that we should have April designated as Earth Month.  Although our ocean waters were clean and see through when we tested it at the shore.  I think it is even cleaner now, and we have always had  clean air, and the sky is bluer than ever.  Mother Nature sure enjoyed her respite...A

Apr 19, 2021 09:54 AM
Debb Janes

Very true - let's hope we can continue the momentum. 

Apr 19, 2021 11:19 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Debb and Benie.  I remember the very first Earth Day in 1970. I was in high school and it was a big deal with the very same concepts and ideas......that is a long time ago.

Apr 19, 2021 11:14 AM
Debb Janes

It is a long time ago, Anna. And yes, still the same concepts. 

Apr 19, 2021 11:18 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Debb I especially appreciate that blonde guy from Sweden (can't remember his name).  He is full of amazing innovative ideas.

Apr 19, 2021 11:21 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Debb- It is amazing what a year of less did to increase mother Earth. 

Apr 19, 2021 12:16 PM
Debb Janes

Sadly, many of the numbers are way up again. China, in particular, is pumping out pollutants more than ever. Sad. 

Apr 20, 2021 07:09 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Debb,

We need to respect and take care of Mother Earth. You made lots of good points and we can certainly do our part.

Apr 19, 2021 01:59 PM
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Apr 19, 2021 03:48 PM
Debb Janes

And back at you. D

Apr 20, 2021 07:09 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

The pandemic may be just what Mother Earth ordered as more people are working remote and fossil fuel use is going down. Over the next couple of years, at least more people will be working remotely as they are more productive and it is less costly.

Apr 19, 2021 05:16 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

In the early months of the pandemic, when much of the country was in lockdown, I quickly noticed how much bluer the skies were.  It gave reason to believe there may be better ways of sustaining our environment.

Apr 19, 2021 05:22 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

It should be such a simple solution, yet money usually favors those that are polluting the world.

Apr 20, 2021 05:32 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Everything we can do to improve the earth matters. If everyone followed your ideas above, we could make some progress. And then there's all the other things we could do - car pool, walk more places, buy environmentally friendly products, etc etc. It all counts!

Apr 20, 2021 06:01 AM
Debb Janes

You get it exactly, Kat. It all counts!

Apr 20, 2021 07:09 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Debb and Bernie- We all can't do everything but each one of us can do our part. When the pandemic began, I cut up face cloths from Amazon and now use them when I would otherwise grab a paper towel. My usage of paper towels alone had been cut by about 75% or more. The towels can be tossed in the washing machine and reused. 

Larry loves finding items on Offer Up that he can repair and use instead of having them go in the dump. 

Each person doing one or two things can make a difference. 

 

Loved your post. 

Apr 20, 2021 02:21 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

People should always be making mindful decisions for future generations.  With many people today making a decision not to have children, I wonder if the will negatively change how these folks think about the future.

Apr 21, 2021 07:52 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

It is a good time to plant some more trees.

Take care, be safe and have a productive spring.

Apr 21, 2021 02:43 PM