CHANGE STARTS HERE
OUR TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE
2031
POINT OF NO RETURN
BY MELANIE ROBITAILLE, SR. STAFF WRITER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Photo by Vlad Kutepov on Unsplash
2020
Eleven years they said, eleven years before there’s no turning back; before we cross that line and push our planet to the brink of damage beyond repair. That was the message presented to the world during the United Nations General Assembly, a year ago already, where world leaders heard the message that they were the last generation capable of preventing irreparable damage to our planet. There’s no more passing the buck, change needs to happen now. Being isolated and practicing social distancing has shown us just how much impact our daily lives have on the planet. With pollution dramatically clearing in the skies over China, and the waters of Venice returning to crystal clear canals filled with wildlife, the message is obvious. Saving the world sounds like such a heavy thing doesn’t it? And when we’re at our worst, we begin to diminish ourselves to a single person unable to tackle such a momentous problem, when we’re actually the whole solution.
Change lies somewhere between want and need. We all need a place to live, so where do you want to see yourself in our world a decade from now? We are the many, the consumer, the demand for what was once thought to be an endless supply. As such we hold an absolute power and a great responsibility. We make a difference by making choices that will tip the scale and drive change. Together, we can hold suppliers accountable, and disrupt the inertia of consumerism. There are so many small moves that, when made together, create a huge impact. Let’s start by doing away with single-use items and keeping reusable options everywhere we may need them, like washable cloth or paper shopping bags and produce bags in the car. Why not switch to washable bento boxes, snack bags, and beeswax wraps for food storage and
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