So for the past two days I have been stuck to my Twitter feed constant because it seems to be the only place I can get relevant information on what has been going on over in the Amazon Rainforest for the past 20-30 days.
I have never been so appalled, angered, saddened by the state of the mainstream media than I am right now. This is something that everyone should be talking about. Certainly not about how MIley and Liam are breaking up yet again. People have become so ignorant and complacent on these issues, that when the time comes, and we are on the brink of a dead planet, no one will care.
Oh Wait, we are already there!
The most we see being tweeted is #Prayfortheamazon , and like with school shootings and other issues, saying ” Sending thoughts and prayers” just isnt going to cut it. As Humanity as a whole, we are the ones who have the tools to actually make a difference.
I know now you may be asking yourself ” Well what can I do? I live half way accross the world in another country.”
This is what I found on wikihow.com, and sums up some of the small things you can do at home to help.
Shop Conscientsouly,
Avoid palm oil and the products that contain it. Palm oil is the most commonly used vegetable oil in the world, and over half of the packaged products in most supermarkets contain it. Unfortunately, expanding palm oil plantations have led to widespread rainforest deforestation. The exponential production of cheap palm oil has also endangered many species of animals, and many palm oil companies are guilty of human rights exploitation.
- You can avoid palm oil by avoiding processed foods. Consume mostly fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains.
- Read labels and avoid products that contain palm oil.
- Learn the sneaky names for palm oil. These include (but are not limited to): vegetable oil, palm kernel, palm kernel oil, palm fruit oil, palmitate, palmolein, glyceryl, palmate, palmitic acid, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearate, stearic acid, and sodium kernelate.
Refuse Brazilian beef. About 60-70% of the deforestation in Brazil has been the result of cattle farming, and this number is rapidly growing. You can help save the rainforest by avoiding this product. If you choose to eat beef, select grass-fed options local to your region, and say no to Brazilian-raised beef.[1]
- Fast food chains use the majority of this beef. You can begin avoiding Brazilian beef by saying no to fast food burgers.
Buy sustainable coffee. Consumption of coffee can have a negative effect on the world’s rainforests. Coffee farms, like palm oil plantations, have also led to deforestation, and have also been known for their poor working conditions and human rights violations. You can work to lessen the ongoing damage to our rainforests by selecting coffee that is sustainably farmed.[2]
- Look for a “Rainforest Alliance” label to show that this coffee was produced under sustainable conditions.
Avoid paper products or buy recycled paper products. Paper products contribute directly to rainforest deforestation. Products like toilet paper, paper towels, coffee filters, notebooks, printer paper, and others are created from rainforest trees. Do your part by using reusable materials whenever possible (such as reusable coffee filters or coffee mugs).
- When you must use paper products, select products made from 100% recycled materials.
Avoid wood products made from threatened rainforest woods. Despite the delicate state of the world’s rainforests, trees are still harvested to build guitars, furniture, and other products. Avoid products made of mahogany, rosewood, ebony, and other tropical hardwoods. Instead, opt for products made from white ash, black cherry, or maple woods.
There are also was to donate to help with deforestation, and planting trees.
One last thing is to get on your Governments case. Email, write letters, call, and call , and call for them to make changes and to help the amazon and all enviroments.
We only have one life to live, and there is only one planet to live it on. Once earth is gone, so are we. We should be trying to take care of our home alot better than we are.
Lots of love on this Thursday Afternoon.
Crystal 