Sunday 22nd, 2018, was Earth day. Earth Day was first started in 1970, and in short, has had a tremendous impact on awareness of environmental issues. Indeed, the issues that were championed by Earth Day, such as Climate Change, now far outstrip mentions of Earth day in the media today. In most respects, Earth Day is now obsolete, as since 2006 annual mentions of Climate Change have exceeded 200,000, and since 2014, 400,000. In contrast to the issues it championed, and increased awareness of, Earth Day rarely exceeds 25,000 media mentions. Similarly, mentions of climate change are often balanced with significant discussion, whereas, Earth Day’s media mentions are very much a case of; “Earth Day was Today, and it has come and gone”.
Also, in the grand scheme of things; conservation and ecological friendly activities are a day to day reality. You either live that way, or you do not. To those truly invested in such living, Earth Day is just a passing fad. Similarly, one can argue that the Green Industries have crossed a tipping point. In the United States alone, 8% of electrical energy was provided by Solar and Wind Sources in 2016. Also, global investment in green industries is in the billions, rather than the millions prior to the new millennium. In some ways, a single day does not really matter anymore. Yes, there are many climate change deniers, and if we are honest with our selves, some of them are truly in dangerous positions of power. However, as with most matters of a changing human world; it is the species that is going extinct that makes the most noise. The general trend is that we are on the right track regarding the issues of the environment.
However, it is not the Jedi Way to sit back and accept that things are going right, and that we can leave it as is. Earth Day still matters in many ways, and still serves as a rallying point, and day of symbolic and meaningful gestures around the world. Politicians still use it as a day to discuss environmental issues, and though the media representation is skewed the fact the day is still acknowledged is a sign of its continued importance. Also, just because things appear to be moving in the right direction, does not mean that is the natural course of matters. It is because millions of people are doing something to facilitate this change.
Thus, the question I want to explore now is why should Earth Day matter to Jedi specifically? Pragmatically speaking, what are you standing, or sitting, or laying on right now? Once we remove all the between answers, we get to one single answer; Earth. 2020 will be the 50th Anniversary of Earth day. The most pragmatic projections state that humanity needs to reduce its emissions to 0% within 40 years, or the 100th Anniversary of Earth Day is more likely to be a Memorial Day than a day of activism and awareness. As Jedi, we recognise the impact our actions have on our environment, and vice versa, the way the environment affects us. Our path has a moral imperative that we monitor and adjust our behaviours according to outcomes; if our behaviours are contributing to the quickening death of our species, and the extinction of other species, then if we are sincere in our Jedi spirit then we must adjust these behaviours. Similarly, if we surround ourselves with items, and so forth, which make these destructive behaviours the easier, and convenient choices, we should do away with them.
This, however, is basic logic. It should not be revelatory thinking to any Jedi reading this. Thus, I want to discuss the barriers to ecological living, and what I would ask Jedi to do with Earth Day in mind.
Most individuals presume ecological living to be expensive. This is due to organic foods, and fair-trade items, and so forth being relatively expensive compared to other products. Similarly, the initial investment in ecological living can be expensive. Solar panels and so forth are not the cheapest items in the world, especially depending on your property.
However, that it must be expensive is a relative myth. There are accessible ways; for example, solar panel chargers for cars will not break the bank. Now, I cannot give a list of ways, because depending on where you live this will vary. However, I can give examples of my own efforts. I live in a town which has several community plots that operate on a first come, first serve basis, and are relatively cheap. I have taken advantage of that to maximise my self-sufficiency regarding food production. I focus vegetables which are fairly low maintenance, so if I drop by in the morning or the evening, before or after work, each day or every other day I can be fairly reassured they will be fine. I also take advantage of a local “Ugly Food” shop which accepts vegetables and fruits which were rejected by the supermarkets and have very reasonable prices. I also try to make use of end of day cafés and other similar ventures which are designed around using up food that would otherwise go to waste. I have also set up devices to collect, and filter, rain water so I have a ready supply of water that is off the grid. Going back to the solar chargers; I have several designed to charge different batteries around my home, to power different devices. I only rely on a mains supply for my computer due to my reliance on it for work. I also try to live a zero-waste life-style; I avoid non-biodegradable packaging where I can, and I maintain a compost heap to get rid of bio-degradable packaging in a controlled manner. For example; when I drink tea, I only use loose leaves rather than tea bags. Tea bags are often underestimated for their contribution to landfills and the like. Now, you may not have these options available to you, but I did not find them until I actively searched for them. You might find more opportunities for ecological living than you thought.
Now, another barrier we can find is a lack of support and assistance, and this is where as Jedi we can help each other and our wider communities. Online, we can share ideas and resources, about more ecological living. Offline, we could come together and work on projects. For example; the allotment I discussed. What is to prevent a group of Jedi getting together, working on a shared allotment, and sharing the end results? Very little, beside the fact many Jedi lives tens or hundreds of miles apart. However, it is not an unfeasible idea. As Jedi, we often discuss how we as Jedi can help others. We need to be wary not to forget the idiom; “'Physician heal thyself”. If we as a community are not helping each other to rectify the damage we do, then we are ill prepared to help those outside our community.
Sometimes, we can also struggle to find the language to be critical in a growth orientated way. Sadly, speaking of our own attempts at ecological living can seem like preaching, or come across as an attitude of superiority. To those who do live an ecological way; you should remember you have been given opportunities, and time to do so. Please do not forgot the hard work it takes, and remember it takes hard work. Those who feel defensive about not perhaps being as ecological as you could be, try to get past feeling attacked. Your fellow Jedi are not criticising you by pointing out ways you could live more effectively; they are trying to help you.
This post will of course have missed Earth day itself, but I would like to ask readers not to forget Earth Day and it’s meaning in the coming weeks. I would like to ask readers to set themselves some challenges with regards to Earth Day:
1. Keep a diary of your waste. What is the actual damage you are doing? When you get this in descriptive figures it can be an eye-opening experience.
2. Research the ecological living options available to you. Are there solar power options you have not considered? Are their self-sufficiency possibilities you have not considered? Do you keep a recycling bag, and is there a place where you can get reimbursement for handing in plastic bottles and the like?
3. Rectify the lazy behaviours. Are you using plastic bags, and containers, when you could use a reusable bag or container? Are you being careless with electricity, and leaving lights on and so forth? Are you failing to recycle even with the option open to you?
4. Be self-critical, but also do not be afraid to speak up to your other Jedi when they are failing but support them in rectifying their behaviours. Nudge, and offer advice, rather than demand and denounce. Also, be open-minded to the criticism others offer you; there might be jewels of wisdom you can take advantage of.
Now, I wish to state why I believe Earth Day is important to Jedi. It can be a day of reflection, and a day of action. We can look back over the year and ask ourselves, how did we care for the Earth this year? We can then look to the future, and ask, and find answers to “How could I do better?”. That, is why it is important to Jedi. It can be a book mark in our calendar, but much more than that. Every day should be Earth Day to a Jedi. The Official date of the 22nd April, though, should serve as a time of reflection and dialogue between us all. How have we served the Earth, and are we doing it well?