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Making Real Change Beyond Earth Day
With another Earth Day drawing to a close, Ross McMillan, President and CEO of Tides Canada, says what happens in the next 364 days is what really matters for those interested in driving significant social and environmental change.
“We all need to think hard about our overall impact on the planet beyond these 24 hours,” says Ross. “Whether you are looking at marine issues, climate change or social justice issues, the time is now to make not just symbolic but substantive change on an unprecedented scale.”
According to Ross, Earth Day is not:
- A platform for soft pronouncements and posturing
- Celebrating the earth and the environment for just one day a year
- Rewarding isolated, short-sighted policy decisions without understanding the broader context
Rather, he says Earth Day is about fundamental change in our personal and societal behaviours.
It is:
- Rethinking our cities, communities and transportation modes to decrease our footprint
- Fostering local food production
- Determining how to promote environmental change that does not occur at the detriment of the disadvantaged
- Real action on sustainable economic opportunities and green jobs such as those being created in the Great Bear Rainforest for First Nation communities through the Coast Opportunities Fund
- An activation of Canadian and global philanthropy to address these issues and to partner with other sectors and governments to pool resources to seed needed innovation and change.
Many Tides Canada initiatives and partners exemplify what Earth Day is really about. They run smart, strategic campaigns and are achieving remarkable results towards preserving the environment. You can make the values of Earth Day a reality by supporting the work of projects, like those below, in their mission to achieve long-term change:
Stop Junk Mail: Do you receive an endless supply of junk mail? 98% of us throw it out, resulting in a massive waste of trees and energy. The Red Dot Campaign of Forest Ethics gives you the tools to stop junk mail suffocating your mail box. Cycle To Work: For trips under 10km, cycling is often faster than driving. Vancouver’s BEST (Better Environmentally Sound Transportation) provides cycle routes around Vancouver and safety tips for traveling to work in the city.
Change your eating habits: Learn more about the environmental and social impacts of the food you eat by joining groups like Sustain Ontario, which advocate for better food production processes in Ontario. Be Informed: Policy change on the environment is only good if it doesn’t hurt the least fortunate. Read cuting edge research on this issue from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and make informed decisions.Donate Now: Social and environmental change goes way beyond addressing the symptoms. It aims to address the root causes. As another Earth Day passes, please consider supporting meaningful change because now, more than ever, these organizations need our continued support. We hope you will peruse the list of our funds and projects and consider making a donation to one of these great organizations. Support change that lasts forever.
