Seven Summits: Make EVERY day Earth Day
By Seven Summits Centre for Learning
Be the solution, not the pollution.
Once a year, the calendar invites global citizens to make proactive changes to their lifestyles to protect the earth. Earth Day started in 1970, a precursor to the laws protecting the environment. Today, advocacy has strengthened and gained popularity. “Invest in our planet” is the theme for 2022, and this message asks the general population to make a better tomorrow for the earth.
Big-box companies promote activities such as eliminating single-use plastic bags and plastic packaging. While climate change and environmental action plans are political footballs, there are many good points to be gleaned from these types of action plans. However, the important issue is – what can a simple homeowner in Rossland do?
Grade 11 student Aisha Goertzen says, “Become aware. Act in a way that prepares you to make simple changes that will greatly impact the health of the environment and animal habitats.”
Goertzen has a special interest in environmental studies, in particular how these studies relate to animals.
“The health of the habitat reflects in the health of the species, which is why I am so concerned for people to join in taking actions to reduce, reuse, and recycle, not litter. People need to stop littering and pack out what they pack into nature. They can wash their plastic containers to be recycled. They can reuse plastics or choose better options like metal water bottles. They can stop accepting plastic bags when shopping. Once it is in your house, it will become part of the garbage in the environment.”
At Seven Summits Centre For Learning, Goertzen is part of an Earth Day advocacy group of students at the Harry Lafevre Square on Earth Day Friday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Students at Seven Summits believe “Every day is Earth Day.” For example, Goertzen notes the Centre has an active compost. Students are also trained to be conscious about the recycling waste they produce at the Centre. “It is understood that littering is bad. Not just for the environment but for animal habitats as well. We are just more aware and stricter about being strong environmental stewards,” states Goertzen.
The Seven Summits science department has been educating students about their carbon footprint. Using calculators such as the one available at Climate change food calculator: What’s your diet’s carbon footprint? – BBC Newsthey calculate how their personal dietary choices contribute to global warming. According to a University of Oxford study, up to a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions come from food production. Learning options to identify one’s carbon footprint can be an intriguing and helpful way to promote change.
Join Seven Summits in making a few simple changes to contribute to a healthier environment, and stop by the Earth Day booth for more information. “We need to take control and realize that we are killing the only planet we have and poisoning animal habitats. With only a few small changes, we can stop the hurt and create a healthy world safe for human and beast.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the actions of the environmental Stewardship programs at the Centre. These initiatives include repairing and extending the existing compost bin, planting a garden, building garden boxes, and other sustainable ideas. Goertzen concludes, “We just want to get the message out to help people be aware, and then take actions to make changes either as doers or donors to save the planet.”
