“We have Only One Earth”
Nature has warned us ever since we started development and urbanization at the expense of the bounty that marked this nature over countless centuries, to a point that nearly depleted the resources our ancestors thought were imperishable and inexhaustible.
Every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pitch. We can see our planet turning into industrial lands; lands with a pale shade of yellow covering any greenery left. But it is our Mother Earth and we are her children, and we really have Only One Earth. [1]
Proceeding from the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in 1972, with the aim of joining efforts in preserving and enhancing the environment, and solving environmental issues, the UN-designated June 5 as World Environment Day; a day celebrated by a partnership of governments communities, enterprises, and individuals, as they are the ones that need to unite their efforts for all world environmental issues.
“Together we must construct a new pact with the living world. This is an immense work in progress. It will require a broad consensus, both technical and ethical.” Message from Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Environment Day. [2]
Climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and unsustainable consumption and production; all lead to the deterioration of ecosystems, and human well-being. Here are some of the facts that we have overlooked:
Perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic was a true example that showed us how nature heals by slowing down the pace of our civil life and the increasing emissions that are leading to forest and land degradation, at a time when we are already vulnerable to many problems.
Also read: International day of UN peacekeepers.
To start out with the idea that we don’t want our rights to become a luxury. For example, with clean drinking water, we must keep free for all humankind. So our mission today is to protect what is left from the environment and keep it away from disasters such as climate change and crashing biological systems.
As individuals, we can improve our everyday habits by cultivating rooftops and terraces, building gardens, recycling waste, and launching awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of ecosystem degradation. Taking initiatives like a few women around the world with what they are achieving on the ground, namely: Fatemah Alzelzela, Julia Carabias Lillo, Nigeria Alicia Garcia, and others who were named Champions of the Earth by the UNEP. [4]
This can only be achieved with healthy ecosystems, through consolidating opinions and efforts, from individuals to countries, to revive the forests and agricultural lands, as well as save endangered creatures. Taking the effectiveness of sustainable solutions and alternative power seriously as the savior from today’s grave predicament.
The pioneering view of these solutions is that if we invest in what is left of our planet, we invest in our future and what works for us, to achieve livelihood and well-being. “For every dollar invested in ecosystem restoration, at least seven to thirty dollars in returns for society can be expected.” [5]
In addition to being one of the international days celebrated with the aim of educating on important issues, mobilizing the resources to address problems, and recognizing the achievements of humanity, World Environment Day is also a global opportunity for the young to engage in discussions with professionals and attend conferences and activities to raise their awareness on certain issues and participate in the solutions.
We, at Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative, believe in the necessity to take the lead in raising the awareness of societies about environmental issues, and include women in the process of finding innovative solutions, thereby promoting our goals and emphasizing the important role of women as part and parcel of the following:
♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.