Article 20: Getting Involved Helps – A True Thanksgiving Tradition!
by
Juie Deo, Seeker, Environmentalist
Thanksgiving is a time of cherished traditions, uniting families and communities. Mother Earth is our shared family, so this Thanksgiving weekend, consider establishing a new tradition by supporting motivated youth and young adults who are working to shape a better future.
Over the past three months, seven teams from the Pioneers for the Planet Initiative (https://tinyurl.com/Pioneersfortheplanet) have diligently researched and developed innovative solutions to address our planet’s pressing challenges. Guided by mentors and dedicated activists, they’ve reached out to organizations, researchers, and potential customers. These young pioneers have stepped out of their comfort zones, acquired new skills, and embodied admirable virtues. They are now prepared to present their solutions to the wider community.
Be part of this tradition by joining us at the online event hosted by Pioneers for the Planet, Prthvi Sevasnaga, on November 26, 2023, at 9 pm EST. During this event, you’ll have a unique opportunity to engage with the Thanksgiving tradition of getting involved, supporting, and encouraging impactful youth-driven solutions for our planet. Pioneers will unveil the details of their innovative environmental solutions, face probing questions from advisors, and your participation may directly influence which teams receive critical funding. Don’t miss out; Registration is your key to an exciting contribution and experience: https://lu.ma/prthvisevasanga
Pioneers for the Planet isn’t just about the planet; it’s about us, too. Research indicates that roughly 75% of young people harbor deep concerns about climate change, often envisioning a bleak future. The vulnerability of youth in their developmental stage magnifies the mental health toll of climate change. Yet, studies highlight a vital point: when climate anxiety meets strong activist commitment, depression symptoms remain at bay. This underscores the pivotal role of social and peer support within activism in preventing depression. Pioneers for the Planet serves not only the planet but all of us.
The Pioneers for the Planet initiative has chosen to respond to the challenges faced by Prthvi (Mother Earth) and all of us with remarkable solutions:
- Soaper Heroes, Upstate New York: Sharing planet and pocket-friendly homemade laundry detergent.
- Rainbow Flowers, Tamil Nadu: Offering seed-saving techniques to farmers.
- Vattara Sandhai, Tamil Nadu: Raising sustainable local organic farm stands.
- Aquanauts, Georgia: Devising ways to prevent soil erosion.
- Earth Children, Oregon: Inspiring eco-friendliness through video games.
- Cheers to Choice, Maharashtra: Encouraging the use of menstrual cups through film.
- Bio Inputs Prep, Tamil Nadu: Making organic farming sustainable with bio inputs.
This Thanksgiving, celebrate with a blend of encouragement, gratitude, self-effort, and living examples of virtues brought to you by these remarkable youth and young adults.
Register to join our family celebration of Thanksgiving: https://lu.ma/prthvisevasanga/
References:
- “Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey” – THE LANCET Planetary Health, December 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3
- “As climate changes, climate anxiety rises in youth” – CBS News, March 2, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-anxiety/
- “Climate change anxiety in young people” – Nature Mental Health, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00059-3
Action to Implement
Post your reflections & observations in the comments section below ⬇️
🌱 November 2023: Explore the solutions proposed by the Pioneers for the Planet in the article. Select one solution and conduct research to share your insights with the Pioneers on the Pitch Day event and beyond!
Past Months Action to Implement
🌱 October 2023: 💻 Access your latest electricity bill and keep it handy for Oct 22nd!
🌱 September 2023: 🔍Find a local community farm.
🍅 Sign up for a trial of their produce.
🌱 August 2023: (1) Download the Prthvi Seva guide. (2) Choose an idea from the guide to try before the workshop
🌱 July 2023: Register and join us for the Prthvi Utsava Celebration and spread the word.
🌱 June 2023: 🏢 In your workplace, join or initiate a “green team” that is committed to reducing emissions and educating people on climate change.
🌱 May 2023:
- 🏪 Make a list of places (local cafes, stores, etc) where plastic use is unavoidable.
- 📝 Create a plan to reach out to one place to reduce their plastic use.
🌱 April 2023: 💝 Gather your loved ones and plant native trees and native perennials!. 🌳 Track progress and share pictures with the Community to reach the goal of 1000 trees by Arbor Day! (April 28th).
🌱 March 2023: (1) Plant seeds to start a kitchen garden indoor or outdoor. (2) share pictures in the comment section below.
🌱 February 2023: Research a local environmental group and attend their upcoming meeting
🌱 January 2023: 🌍 Create your personal practices for the 6 fundamental virtues
🌱 December 2022: ✅Do the following:
- Simplify one closet or one drawer in your home every week. Remove items that have not been used in the last 1 year.
- Dispose of unneeded items in a responsible way.
🌱 November 2022: ✅Make a list of the gifts you usually give during the holidays.
🌱 October 2022: This month, add 1 or 2 regional plants from the Xerces Pollinator Conservation website to your landscape!
🌱 September 2022: This month, review the Green Building list & commit to 1 simple and 1 challenging item to implement in your community/center.
🌱 August 2022: This month, read the Prthvi Seva Guide & commit to at least one practice to make your center/community more sustainable.
🌱 July 2022: This month, take a closer look at your travel impacts:
🔢 Estimate the carbon emissions of your mode of travel, lodging, food, and purchases
🙋🏻♀️ Commit to making one change to reduce your carbon footprint
🌱 June 2022: This month, take a closer look and identify your food waste as:
🍌 food prep scraps
🍽️ plate waste (unfinished food)
🤦🏻♀️spoiled or unwanted foo
🌱 May 2022: Implement the following actions.
- Reduce food Packaging.
- Learn about local and seasonal foods.
- Support a local grower & shop at Farmer’s Markets.
🌱 April 2022: Sahasra Vrksha Sankalpa – As a CommUnity, bring your heart and hands to the ground to plant 1000 trees together. Track and share here.
🌱 March 2022: Contribute to the health of our planet and the health of beings by doing the following:
Each day take inventory of what goes in the trash.
Identify the most common item.
Find an alternative that eliminates this waste.
🌱 February 2022: Implement the following and encourage others to follow:
- Unplug chargers when not in use
- Use the ‘Energy Saver’ mode on phones & laptops
- Use cold water for laundry & line dry
🌱 January 2022: Identify 3 actions you do that help the environment and 3 actions that harm it
