Take some responsibility
Firstly, thank you to Alexandra Springett for her excellent letter last week regarding paying attention to where your food comes from and to source it locally if you can.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
I heartily agree.
Secondly, it is obvious to me that our governments are either unwilling, hamstrung by vested interests or lacking the money to look after properly what remains of our wonderful natural environment.
Also, it is not just up to government but is everyone's responsibility to help repair some of the damage we have wrought upon it.
It really is the most precious thing we have and every species extinction we cause is a great shame on us all.
To that end, let's not wait for governments to lead the way.
It's time to get off our comfortable behinds and take some responsibility ourselves.
Start with your own patch.
There is so much you can do to get your own place in order before tackling the larger problems.
Just some of the things you can do include:
- Get the environmental and noxious weeds out of your property. They invade bushland and take over native habitat. Find out from council what plants are weedy in our area and get rid of them.
- Replace them with some native plants. Council can help with that too through their habitat for wildlife program.
- Grow some of your own food. Even just a few herbs can get you started. You might find it addictive!
- If you are planning a new home make sure it incorporates passive solar principals and energy efficient building techniques.
- Install solar panels if you roof is suitable. Millions already have despite the federal government’s love affair with coal. It's so cheap to do now it should be a no-brainer.
- Make sure your cats and dogs are de-sexed.
- Switch to more energy efficient appliances and lightbulbs.
- Can you walk, ride a bike, take public transport or use your car less?
- Join one of many volunteer conservation groups.
The list could be endless but you get the idea.
We can't afford to put it off any longer.
