At Iconic Africa, we believe that we all have an obligation to make each and every day Earth Day in our own worlds. Environmental consciousness should not be limited to one day a year, and it is the continuation of a mindset that will make the lasting differences to our planet.
According to the Earth Day Network, April 22nd marks the anniversary of what many people would consider to be the “birth of the modern environmental movement” that began in 1970.
The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.
Today, Earth Day is observed in 192 different countries and is considered to be the largest secular holiday in the world, bringing together more than a billion people each year. From the very start, Earth Day has served as a powerful platform for citizens of the world to send a loud message to world leaders that they care about the environment and that we must make protecting our planet a priority.
The beauty of Earth Day is that the theme changes every year.
“Healthy Environments for Children”, “Trees for Earth” and “Water for Life” have been some for the campaigns over the course of the Day’s history, as organisers recognise a rapidly changing world and the environmental threats that accompany it.
Ultimately, although the difference a single day of action can make may be negligible, the greater result that Earth Day aims to achieve is awareness. A subtle shift in the zeitgeist, with new buzzwords entering mainstream consciousness.
This year’s theme is “Planet vs Plastics”, with Earthday.org calling for a 60% production in plastics by 2040. By and large, the safari industry has already been embracing this approach for some time now. Lodges are providing glass bottles for their guests, or refillable multi-use versions; food that comes in packaged in cling-wrap is no longer acceptable; anything single-use is on the way out…
We are very much in favour of lodges that have a strong sustainability approach.
The use of solar, electric vehicles, and paraffin lanterns in the rooms all call for our approbation. Using local produce and co-opting farmers in the area to encourage a micro-economy gets two thumbs up.
As much as we can, we try to do business with lodges and companies that reflect the same values that Earth Day promotes each year. In short: sustainability and a drastic reduction of environmental impact.
Is it too late? Have we damaged the planet irrevocably?
We don’t believe so, although we’re teetering on the brink.
But one day a year is not enough. We need to live and breath Earth Day every day in order to save Mother Earth. She is an organism too. And it’s us that are slowly pushing her towards needing life support.
A focus on the outcome isn’t the way to go. We need to focus on the behaviours; the small changes in behaviour that over time become habit, which, also compounded over time, is where the real change lies…
