Dear Readers,
Did you know that we are in the middle of Environment Week? This year’s theme for South Africa is: “A Decade of Sustainability, our environment, our future”.
Ahh, sustainability, what an important word it is! It indeed means our future, as there is no future for us if we don’t finally stop robbing our natural resources.
The way most of us live right now is highly UN-SUSTAINABLE and our children and grandchildren (if we make it that far) will have to suffer the consequences.
“The environment in which we live is our single most important shared interest, and it is our common responsibility to protect, conserve and promote.” These were the words of the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, speaking about the activities planned across South Africa to mark World Environment Week.
I don’t know what you had planned, or what kind of “celebrations” (is there anything to celebrate really?) have been planned in your community – but it is time for real action ! Action that results in real changes! What are the actions we can take to make a difference ?
You can start as small as plant some herbs and lettuce in a pot in your kitchen or office. If we look at our planet and how undisturbed nature works, we see that there are plants growing everywhere, in great variety, covering up the vulnerable soil. It is a perfectly designed system which keeps itself alive. Everything gets ‘recycled” there is no waste. Animals are usually healthy, as they don’t eat junk food or laze around in front of a jungle TV. 
Us humans on the other hand, thought that technology makes our lives better, easier, more fulfilled, happier, healthier….and yet, if you open your eyes and your mind to the reality you live in, you will see that this is actually not the case! Our separation from nature has caused us many problems including lack of health, serenity, love, happiness, family bond. It has caused us more pollution, unmanageable waste, stressed children, toxicity in our environment, poverty!
In this week, think about what you can do to make just ONE STEP towards sustainability of human life! Plant a tree, help to establish a vegetable garden in a poor community, plant your own vegetables – they are the best, freshest, most nutritious food you can eat! It means less fuel used for transport, less herbicides being sprayed, less plastic packaging being used!
Convert half of your lawn (which is eating up water, chemicals, energy for mowing) into flower and veggie beds, orchards and fragrant herb gardens, which feed your soul and your body.
Use the naturally available water by catching it in rainwater tanks from your roof! Use less of polluting Escom electricity by heating your water with solar power or at least cover your geyser with a blanket and switch it off most of the time. Use your greywater in your garden with greywater recycling systems. Its all available, make us of it! Use chemical free, natural cleaning products! Its great on your hands and less toxins spilled into nature. What goes down your drain, goes back into nature! Your nature. Our Nature! Our Environment.
Your environment starts where your skin stops! The clothes you wear, the things you surround yourself with, the space that surrounds your house, the place you work. Make it greener, less toxic! Make conscious choices as to what you spend your money on!
Caring for the environment is not the duty of some organisations or the government, IT IS OURS!
Have a great week, a great month of June and see you back in July, if you have chosen to subscribe to this Online Mag
Green Greetings from Christine
