Is There a Path Away From Plastic?

There are a few key things we can do

Our lives are flooded with plastic. Plastic in our food, our waters, our soils, our clothes, our machines, and even microplastics and nano plastics in our bodies.

We do need plastic for things like medical applications and lighter (fuel efficient) car parts, and even for cleaner technology and energy. But for most things, it’s just trash added to our lives that all living species are better off without.

The first thing to do is vote with your wallet. Avoid plastic in bottles and jars. Choose metal, glass, or paper fibers whenever possible. You cannot do it alone, but just creating good personal habits does spread awareness. It can also help you feel less despair.

It’s true that the carbon footprint was created by fossil fuel giants, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore it altogether. Yes, they need to change, but we all participate in plastic, so we all have to change habits.

When we vote with our money we indirectly hold plastic makers responsible. They care about profit, not pollution, so they will only switch when public pressure is massive.

The destruction of our living systems, planet, and its only clean up is currently paid for by us. When corporations have to pay some of the price for the health damages done — then they will change tactics.

The second thing to do is vote with your votes. Support conservation causes. Get involved with a green group or anti-pollution task force. Being anti-racist and anti-sexist also helps. Climate injustice is real and hurts people of color and women and children disproportionately.

Dealing with pollution and your health is not a partisan issue. It matters to all living organisms!

Vote with your optimism. Giving up, even when all feels bleak is not a human survival tactic. We need to keep positive and remember that every single person makes a difference every single day — as the late Dame Jane Goodall said, you just have to decide what difference you want to make.

Part of optimism is trying to express concern without being a scold. It’s okay to vent dissatisfaction and express yourself, but always follow up with the idea that there is always more we can all do for positive change.

This is not only helpful, but it is true.

More connection to nature helps. We find the more you really immerse yourself in nature, the more you feel powerful inspiration, mental, physical and spiritual health.

We all fiercely protect the things we care about the most.

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