HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Why our Mother Earth deserves some extra lovin’.

By Delfina Rainoldi

We live on a gloriously sexy and beautiful planet, which we are all lucky enough to call our home. Out of the millions of other planets in our Galaxy and the Universe, Earth is the only one known to sustain life – it’s pretty amazing right? That’s why, from this Valentine’s Day, we are asking you to show our planet some extra lovin’…all aboard the Love Train where caring for our environment and taking action is the new norm!

Why give our Mother Earth some extra love?

Why, do I hear you ask? Well to put it simply, she is amazing. Our planet has provided us with so much already, that it is only right for us to care for her and respect her, just like you would your grandparents and parents! But if you need a little more convincing, then look no further, here are our TOP 5 reasons why:

1. Our Oceans

The ocean accounts for up to 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe and covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, accounting for 97 percent of the planet’s uninhabitable space due to its depths. It is full of life, and much of it that is yet to be discovered, or explored for that matter. Without the oceans that cover our planet we would have never come into existence! It is therefore the fountain of all life on Earth – pretty magical.

2. She is full of life

Planet Earth is home to 8.7 million species, including plants, animals and insects. Each of which has a significant role to play in balancing our ecosystem. Homo Sapiens seem to be the odd ones out, by trying to tip the scales in our favour. However, we are doing so at the expense of the planet’s Biodiversity and ultimately harming our species too!

3. She protects us

All aspects of life, from the animal kingdom, to the ecosystems have a purpose and have been built to perfection to sustain life. Mother Earth is so perfectly balanced that everything that occurs is for the protection of this planet. She has been around far longer than we have – 4.5 billion years to be exact –  so we should remain calm in trusting her ways. Changes in weather and natural disasters are her methods of signalling when something is wrong and that we must stop… and show her some love instead!

4. She is our only home

Yes, there are millions of planets scattered around the Universe, yet there is none other like ours. Our home is the most exceptional and special place there is, meaning that no other planet will ever live up to her standard, not even Mars! So, instead of already predicting the end of her being, let’s all make small changes to lift her back up to her potential…just as you would with your girl friends or guy friends after a heartbreak!

5. We TAKE more than we GIVE

We have caused more damage to Mother Earth in 200 years than ever seen before. Our presence on Earth has been so damaging that we have been creating the same conditions which led to the last Mass Extinction in the Permian Period 252 million years ago. We are depleting all-natural resources to the point of collapse and it will only get worse if we do not decide to change our views and ways.

How to love Mother Earth Unconditionally?

How we love our planet unconditionally isn’t just about swapping out our plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one or bringing a KeepCup to our favourite café. It’s about combining lots of small, effortless actions to trigger a big snowball effect. But making changes to become a sustainability god or goddess does not happen overnight. It takes hard work, research and most importantly commitment – especially as the temptation of cheaper (but nasty) alternatives can be found everywhere around you. The following tips are great kick-starters to ignite that sustainability spark – give them ago!

• Say NO! to plastic.

This pollutant is out to further harm our environment and all living species. It negatively impacts marine life and wild life across all levels in the food chain – including us. Did you know that humans eat the equivalent of one credit card per week from the fish we consume and that microplastics have now been discovered in placentas?! Crazy. It’s never been more important than now to ditch the plastic (especially plastic water bottles and choose the can) before it takes over one bottle at a time.

• Shop at your local Green Grocer, Butcher and Fish Monger.

This will not only reduce packaging and food waste – accounting for 8 percent of total Greenhouse-Gas Emissions – but you will also be supporting small, local businesses who are also in need of your love.

• Reduce your meat intake to 1 to 3 times per week or just go plant-based!

Did you know it takes around 2,500 litres of water to make your beloved beef burger? Overall, the meat industry accounts for 5 percent of all GHG Emissions and is the main driver of mass deforestation, biodiversity loss and land degradation across the globe.

• Plant trees!

Okay, hear us out, it is easier and less costly than you might think and you don’t need a massive garden! Use the search engine Ecosia as an alternative to the online monopolies. Ecosia plants 1 tree for every 45 searches you make! Alternatively, you can donate to different organisations that plant trees, such as Trees for Cities, WeForest and One Tree Planted to name a few.

• Ditch Fast-Fashion!

(if you can afford to). We can assure you that this step is not as difficult as one may think. There are tons of new independent, sustainable brands out there to replace your beloved high-street brands, or alternatively you can opt for second-hand and vintage shopping. They are not only better for the environment, but also allow you to consider what you really need vs what you really want. Try surfing through: Depop, eBay, Vestiaire Collective, Vinted and Good On You.

• Sprinkle in some “green” and “zero-waste” Social Media accounts to your following.

It’s a great way to engage, to learn interesting facts and discover simple ideas to help you on your sustainability journey.

• Watch ALL David Attenborough documentaries.

This is a must, to truly understand the beauty we have on our doorsteps and to understand the severity of human impact on the planet if we do not treat it with the love and kindness it deserves.

Loving our planet is not as hard as it is made out to be, and you don’t need to be a tree-hugging hippy to make a difference. All you need is an interest in making the world a better place for the generations to come. Make this Valentine’s Day the day you decide to follow more eco-accounts on social media, the day you cook your loved one a romantic dinner with produce from your local business and snuggle up to your loved one to watch Sir David Attenborough. Everyone has the power to love, so let’s start by loving our planet that extra bit more!

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