Environmental Anxiety

Today, my daughter Priya introduced me to a new term, “Environmental Anxiety”. Her explanation took me aback; it became so real that it shook me to the core. She said the way the environment is deteriorating, it is possible that in her son Zakir’s lifetime, he and his children may not be able to breathe this air.  And predictions of these kinds have created Environmental Anxiety in the parents of her generation.

After many decades of scientists preparing us for these days, the current heat wave, Canadian fires, the flooding in India, and many states within the US, increasing frequency, and the destruction from tornadoes are all becoming real. The effects of climate change are real and have arrived in our lifetime. And yet people are still acting ignorant about it. Almost everyone is talking about these changes but hardly anyone is changing their lifestyle. Personal convenience still beats global climate change in many people’s minds. 

There are still many ignorant people out there who believe it’s unnecessary noise made by liberals. This is not a liberal or conservative issue. This is our survival issue. Do we want to live a good quality life or do we want to watch humanity perish slow death by being selfish and ignorant? Think about our children and grandchildren. Think about humanity as a whole….  This is a wake-up call for all of us. 

Most people, including me, believe that one person cannot make a significant difference but I have started believing that 100 aware people can make a significant difference. And that is the purpose of this blog to bring change among at least 100 people, aware or unaware. Here are a few little efforts I make to make a difference in our lives. And everyone who reads this can share their ideas in the comments that they practice and can have a positive impact on our environment.  

1. I reuse and recycle anything and everything that can possibly be reused or recycled. I reuse all my plastic bags and wraps whenever possible. I reuse Saran wrap, and Ziploc bags until they are unusable; I reuse all plastic containers until they are not usable. And when they are not usable, then I recycle them. I don’t know if everything gets recycled so I don’t trust recycling either, hence, I reuse everything to its max usability. 
2. I hardly ever buy water bottles; carry my reusable bottle even on flights. I carried it in India and refilled it wherever I could. Water bottles are the biggest culprits nowadays in spreading the use of single-use plastic. I know we cannot live without plastic but we can minimize its wastage. 
3. Reduce the use of petroleum-based products that have an impact on the environment. Switched to an electric car, minimize plastic products; carry my own bags 90% of the time. If it is feasible, carry purchases in hand if I don’t have a bag. 
4. Certain grocery stores, Wegmans and Giant, in my area collect plastic bags for recycling. I religiously save every plastic bag, even Ziploc and saran wrap, and drop them off at one of these stores. And later I feel guilty for not supporting those stores, so I go buy groceries there. 
5. Keep my thermostat at 75 in summer and 68 in winter. 
6. Inspired by Priya, I am going to reduce my Amazon shipping, which I don’t use much anyway but sometimes there are not many options. Still, try to use their combined shipping packages option where possible. 

My mother used to say “We are what we eat”, and I didn’t understand back then but now I do. I have modified that saying to say – “Our environment is what we consume.” It is shitty because we are consuming shitty products.  Do you remember during Covid, the air quality became so good, and the wild and marine life around us started improving? Let’s try to bring that movement back by changing our habits. We can make small changes that may add up to be an impactful change. I don’t know the answer to the problem, I am thinking about how I can make a difference. I am hoping to influence people around me by learning from them and by bringing awareness. 

Here are a few things that I am urging people to consider about changing their lifestyles:

1. Be aware and think about how your habits affect your surrounding. Will it possibly have a positive or negative impact on my surrounding? Is this what you want your next generation to follow or do? Awareness is the first step on the road to recovery.
2. Reduce the waste in general, especially plastic and petroleum product waste, and reuse or change the product type. 
3. Stop buying and using plastic water bottles for daily consumption. They are also harmful to you.
4. Reuse, reuse, reuse.
5. Find ways to influence big product manufacturers and shipping companies like Amazon and Walmart to not use unnecessary plastic wrappings. Raise your voice against plastic wrappings. Write and demand wherever you can. We can start this movement. 
6. But before that Stop abusing the return policy of these large merchants. Don’t order products to test at home and return; don’t order items to use and return; don’t return products if they are in good condition but the box has no wrapping.  
7. Stop using environmentally harmful meat products.

Please share your good practices in your life that can have a positive impact on humanity. If nothing else we can try to reduce some environmental anxiety for our children and grandchildren.