One thing everyone can do to help our struggling planet is to stop participating in consumerism and buying needless items, including on Valentine’s Day. Your love and worth aren’t measured in what you buy someone on a specific day, but how you show your love consistently with that person. Be there for them. Listen to them. Show them you care with your time. We all need to move away from the capitalist lie that gifts are a form of love, because they are nothing but an illusion of love. Love takes action.
How can we show our love towards nature? By taking action to protect our planet. Start by switching things up. Instead of buying cut flowers, why not purchase a plant for the person you love? You can plant it together which would make it even more meaningful and lasting gesture of your love. Instead of buying your loved one a gold trinket from the store, buy them the gold trinket from a pawn shop or antique store. This will save you some money and also protects human rights abuses and the environment. You might even get a nice story about the item to go along with it. Instead of taking a plane trip which leaves a huge carbon footprint, take a local train trip with your partner and explore your state or country. No one will have to drive and you will get to fully enjoy the company together. Instead of watching a movie or show with your loved one, watch the sunset together. Sit outdoors and listen to music of nature and be present in nature together. Instead of going to a club, go on a nature walk or hike. You don’t have to head to a far-off trail, you can walk through the park together and share in the beauty around you with your love. That makes it all the more special and beautiful, when you can share your heart in nature with the people you love the most.
What are other ways we can show our love for our planet, which shows just how much we love the people on it? Keep up with environmental news and share the information you find. Here are some articles you should read and share this Valentine’s Day.
The Guardian: EPA again OKS use of toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease
Not just herbicides, but pesticides, insecticides, and rodenticides are toxic and deadly for both people and nature. If you love someone, urge them to not purchase these deadly chemicals. Help them if they need assistance tending to their yard. These are the ways we can show our love for the people in our lives and our planet.
The Guardian: Atlantic Ocean circulation nearing ‘devastating’ tipping point, study finds
We all need to be planning for the future. Start a vegetable garden in your yard (or even indoors). Reduce your carbon footprint with avoiding plane trips. Transition from a meat-eating diet to a vegetarian diet. Then you can enjoy a longer life with your loved ones.
Reuters: Global warming, deforestation, fires combined could hasten Amazon demise, study finds
This is a result of consumerism and providing land for cattle. Make that garden with your partner or family and keep each other healthy and the planet. Reduce your purchasing to necessities and try to buy used before new.
Here are some cards that I created for a green Valentine’s Day. You don’t need a romantic partner to share your love on Valentine’s Day. You can share your love with the world around you. Let’s all do our part in protecting our world.
