A couple of weeks ago I posted a drawing of a forest goddess to highlight the silent tragedy that is the destruction of the Amazonian forest - which could cause a worldwide catastrophe if it goes unchecked in the next few years. Little did I know that HUGE fires would start the week after in Alaska and Siberia. Just to give you an idea of what we’re talking about, you know the state of Belgium, in Europe? That’s the SIZE of the FIRES. That’s how much is burning.
The fires are so intense and the dry storms so severe that the Russian government has sent the Army to put them out. The United States have sent their own firefighters to Siberia to help. They still can’t manage to put them out. What’s worse is that this is releasing HUGE quantities of CO2 in the atmosphere. This is especially bad not just because the smoke is toxic to breath and it’s reaching the population who lives in the region - but also because CO2 is a direct cause of the Greenhouse effect, the process that makes the ecosystem warmer. It’s basically a dog eating its own tail and it’s just spiralling from bad to worse.
As I said before, the situation is DRAMATIC, but it’s no use ignoring it or getting discouraged by it. There are THINGS WE CAN DO about it:
- boycott brands that are not sustainable (I’m talking about fast fashion, supermarkets, chains, etc)
- contact and pressure your government to push climate change to the top of their agenda (get in touch with your local representatives or take part to grassroots movements and demonstrations, there are many options out there!)
- read, read, READ! Information is key. When the sky comes down on us it won’t do to say ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that’
- change your traveling habits
- watch what you eat (either buy food produce in your area or avoid buying meat and dairy!)
Below you can find the resources I used to write this post and some additional action you can take to be more environmentally friendly! Keep up the fight, it’s the most important one we face this century.
Situation in the Arctic Region —> https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49125391
https://www.linkiesta.it/it/article/2019/07/29/incendi-alaska-siberia-cosa-succede-conseguenze-riscaldamento-globale/43025/?fbclid=IwAR2S4gQa5SiuxsRDY5R_0k7YwcQt61HxKooUGHFdglj_1UVoOouHwnjC-A4
What does CO2 do? —> https://sciencing.com/carbon-dioxide-affect-environment-8583965.html
What can you do? —> https://www.wwf.org.uk/thingsyoucando
https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/nine-things-you-can-do-to-save-the-environment/
