This year, I decided to do something very unique. I posed my question of the month to Facebook friends from around the world... making this a real global effort!!!!
I received enough replies to fill an entire page of the magazine for 2 separate months!!! That's a lot of global inspiration to share!
In this post, I have decided to share all of the stories for you to enjoy!
Feet on the Earthday Street - 2018
(Published in the Byron Villager magazine in the April & May issues)
Years ago, I was enjoying the sun while
eating my lunch on a bench in Springbank Park.
Sitting next to me was an elderly lady and we began to talk. Soon, we were discussing some of the problems
created by Global Warming and she made the comment, “Well – what can you
do?” “Anything!” was my response. This one word made her have a deep think and
soon she agreed with me. No matter how
big or small our actions may be, it all boils down to the point that how our
future is depends on what we do now!
With this thought in my mind, I took my feet on an interesting journey
down the cyberspace street to ask people – from around the world – how there
actions are making a positive impact on our world…
Peter Jam (Philadelphia)
I first found my
voice when I was a teenager! I learned
how to play music, write stories and songs and create inspirational art
works. Since then, my music has allowed
me to reach people from around the world and I have dedicated myself to bringing
peace, love and understanding to my audiences.
People all want and need to feel loved and when people experience this,
their hearts will open up and they can begin to see the world in a brand new
way. When this happens, we understand
more deeply why we are here and what we need to do while we are here. No matter what it is that we do… when we
connect to our hearts and find peace and love we can do anything!
Steve Sauder – aka
Mr. Earthday Canada (London, Ontario)
I have always had a
connection with the natural environment through play and work. I like to
connect natural systems to living. Our family likes to grow our own food, power
our home and car with the sun, use long lasting materials like enviro-shakes on
our roof, and planting 6,500 native trees on our farm. I love working for the
local conservation authority protecting people from flooding, helping species
at risk, improving water quality & soil sustainability, giving outdoor
education and recreation experiences. One of my long-term programs is helping
to host Earth Day London for the past 25 years! Looking forward to seeing lots
of Londoners out planting trees again this spring!
Sasha Marita Gous (Pretoria, South Africa)
As a teacher, I would enjoy thinking that
I am making a positive impact in students’ lives, each and every day. Inspiring young minds to be respectful
towards people and nature is a valuable life lesson that I often talk
about. Several years ago, I was invited
to get my students involved in an unusual art project that furthered these
ideals. I had just moved to China, for a
year-long teaching contract, when I received a letter from an artist living all
the way in London, Ontario! Mr. Jim was
asking people from all around the world to help him with what he called ‘A
Global Art Attack’! He wanted people to
draw peace-flowers, using chalk, on sidewalks.
I took this opportunity to teach my students about peace, art,
environment and the power of self expression.
My students worked on individual as well as collective peace-flower
sidewalk drawings and we sent in over ten photographs of our work!! Since that time, I have been inspired to
continue to be on the look out for other interesting and fun ways to inspire my
students in the classroom.
Mike Schreiner (Guelph, Ontario)
Growing up on farm, I learned from an
early age the importance of stewardship. I’m deeply inspired by the Seven
Generations principle that I learned from my indigenous friends. Everything we
do should benefit not only ourselves and our kids, but also the next Seven
Generations. I started one of Ontario’s first local organic food delivery
businesses in Guelph, with this in mind. As Leader of the Green Party of
Ontario, I spend my time working with people for changes in government policy.
Political change is essential to building a sustainable future. But it’s not
the only way to make change. Raising kids who love and value the outdoors as I
do is something that’s always been important to our family. Getting our hands
dirty together, from family canoe trips to planting trees to being part of
local events that clean up parks and rivers we find ways to make a difference
as a family.
Jessica Baynton (Vancouver, British
Columbia)
I am a biologist who has worked with
birds for the last ten years in many different capacities: education, rehab,
and wildlife management. They have been my co-workers, my teachers, my mentors,
and my inspiration. They, along with my parents, have taught me a deep respect
and love for the natural environment. I am grateful for all the lessons
learned, and because of them I try to make conscious intelligent choices every
day to minimize my environmental impact and try to inspire others in the same
way. I believe that maintaining biodiversity and natural habitats as well as
sharing this planet with all its diverse and wonderful creatures is important.
Ours is not the only perspective that matters, and everyday I wish I could see
the sky the way they do.
Maryanne MacDonald (Ottawa, Ontario)
Ottawa provides a
unique opportunity to provide input to the three levels of government, to speak
at public hearings, to march on Parliament Hill, and to meet with local members
of Parliament. Education of the wider community is at the heart of what I do,
not just highlighting the issues but more importantly providing individuals an
opportunity to develop their own vision and actions towards a better
environment. When we moved to Ottawa, nearly 5 years ago, our energies were
spent on developing a familiarity with the community and the natural landscape
and working on becoming the best grandparents we could be. We discovered,
through the extensive bike paths, conservation areas along the beautiful Ottawa
River but also came to understand this waterway is endangered. Water is life -
not just for humans but for all species. Upstream there are plans for a Near
Surface Nuclear Disposal Facility situated 1 km from this source of life. As a
founding member of the Water Care Allies it is important to me to educate
others about this developing catastrophe. I have been an intervenor in public
hearings, shared information on social media, and helped organize workshops on
the poison potential of this waste disposal - it concerns all Canadians. In
addition, last year and this year I organized groups to clean up the banks
along the river, organized a community candlelight sing-a-long celebration
about the river to observe Earth Hour, and was one of the leaders of a five
week Lenten Series "Water is Speaking - Are we Listening" which
included Indigenous elders to raise awareness about the sacredness and need to
protect water. The focus on water is intentional since all species require it
to survive. This Earth Day I will provide opportunities for youth to clean up local
parks while discussing what can be done to eliminate the type of waste found
and delving into a better understanding about how these items end up in the
waterways. Earth Day for me is every day.
Traci Plank Felsot (Texas)
There are so many ways that each one of
us can make a positive impact in our world, everyday of our lives. One of my hobbies is photography and I would
like to think that my photos of interesting landscapes inspire people to
realize how beautiful our Earth is and how we need to take steps to protect
nature. For many years, I worked as an
EMT - helping people who have been in an accident or an unsafe situation or in
need of immediate medical attention.
Each life that my crew was able to get to a hospital to receive care is
a victory in my books! Just recently,
the question about how I make a positive impact in the world has taken on new
meaning for me. For the last two years,
I have been in and out of the hospital many, many times, as I’ve been
struggling to fight cancer. Every time,
I felt frustrated when the treatments seemed too harsh, I always thought of my
family and especially my amazing husband, daughter and grandson. I drew my strength from them and I fought to
live so that I could be with them… so, now my positive impact on our world has
become very personal, as I look forward to just being there for my family!
Esha Minchin (British
Columbia)
I’m young and I move
around a bit. Even so, I always explore
the place where I am living to find local and sustainable food options. I like
going to farmer's markets, and even if I don't buy a lot, I try to supplement
my groceries there. I have apprenticed on an organic farm in BC, and through
this experience I have come to appreciate the dedication of small-scale
producers. At home, I love to recycle and to mend my own clothes. I also like
to use my bicycle to get places. In another way, I have a positive impact on
the Earth by enjoying the changes of season; going for walks to see the snow
blanketing everything in the Winter, or new leaves popping out in the Spring. Nature
surrounds us all, and simply being amazed by it, helps me to connect with it
and respect it!
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