Many environmentalists say they are fighting to preserve the world as we know it- the trees, the plants, the animals, the Amazon, etc. I, without a doubt, am no different. Being in nature gives me a sense of serenity and calmness that nothing else does. But us- within the environmental community- already know what is happening. Scientists since the mid 1980’s have been telling us that the climate is changing. We know that glaciers are melting; species are becoming extinct, along with the frequently researched ocean acidification and sea level rise. We know this. But the problem is- not everyone does.
Campaigns like Give Me 5 offer a sense of community and information sharing that we desperately need in this crazy world we live in. I want to reach out to every millennial I know and don’t know- that might be aware of small environmental issues- but don’t act upon them. At the end of the day, I want to see young people making lifestyle changes. Actions such as boycotting water bottles or other plastic bottles, going to local town hall meetings, and talking about this prominent issue with your friends and family are what is truly going to push the environmental movement forward.
To realize that the majority of us, especially in the United States, are not living sustainably is one significant realization we need to make public. It is not until we realize that if climate change is a train, the train has already left. Even though it has left, the reality of it is that we do have the means to slow it down if we act now. Lifestyle changes on the individual level and strides in both the private and public sector will lead the fight against climate change.
Now I know what you’re thinking if you think like I did about four years ago. My student loans are adding up, I have a job to worry about, I want to have fun with my friends, school is taking up my brain, and I don’t have time for this. That is okay. We are the most educated generation there has ever been which in turn makes us one of the savviest. We have to learn to balance our time correctly and manage our lifestyle the way we want to. Every millennial I talk to says they know climate change is happening and it’s scary when they think about it. Just because we are afraid of it does not mean that it will just go away and we can ignore it. Lifestyle changes from the public eventually influence businesses and how the world works. I joined The Give Me 5 Campaign because I truly believe we can make a difference in this crazy world. Campaigns, in today’s political climate, are what we turn to to organize efficiently and work hard toward a more sustainable population.
By: Amanda Colombo