Like our relationships with each other, we all have a relationship with nature. For some it is deeper than others but planet earth would really benefit from having more people respect it and love it. We can teach our children to respect nature and care for it and thus help the planet.
It amazes me the amount of rubbish that litters our highways, parks, beaches, waterways and oceans. Why is it so difficult for us to put our rubbish in bins or take it with us to dispose of properly? Go to any sporting event or even a picnic and the area afterwards is scattered with litter. Our actions all have consequences. This includes the action of littering or dumping waste where it doesn’t belong. How many animals have died from trying to digest plastic bags or the remnants of our rubbish? Too many, including the poor bird in the above picture.
Our world continues to grow in population putting further demands on our planet. We have exploited nature by stripping old growth forests, polluting our soils and our waterways, destroying ecosystems and causing species to become extinct or vulnerable. We can’t change the past but we can continue to educate and take action for a better future. Our children are this world’s future. A world without the vastness of nature as we know it, would be a substandard one.
Children today are more environmentally aware than previous generations which is a start but do our children know, that as individuals, they can make a difference? We can all make a difference. As parents, we can be instrumental in teaching our children about nature and how to preserve it. Start in your own backyard. What creatures live in your backyard or visit it by day and night? Every living thing has a purpose. Some people may have a fear of spiders but they are amazing in the way they spin their webs and they are an essential part of the ecosystem. Earthworms might not look like much but they work wonders in our soil; aerating it, improving its fertility and assisting with the health and growth of plants to mention but a few of their benefits. Most of us have seen earthworms stranded on paths and driveways due to heavy rains. Why not give the earthworm a helping hand if it’s still alive and put it back in a soiled area? Little things like this and picking up rubbish can make a difference even if you don’t think it will.
One day, we came home to find bees in our kitchen. They came in through the rangehood that vents outside. We found a gap in the bricks where they were intending to settle and build a hive. The side of our house is not a viable place for a beehive with two children who enjoy playing outside. On top of that, I am allergic to bees. Luckily for us, the bees had not long arrived. Anyway, between my husband and myself, we must have caught at least 100 bees and released them back outside (plugging up their access point so they wouldn’t end up back in our kitchen or building a hive). It would have been a lot easier for us just to spray the bees but they are important creatures and I would have felt guilty killing 100 bees. We were fortunate as we had manageable numbers in our kitchen to deal with at any one time. Our kids thought the whole experience was hilarious. They observed us doing everything we could to get the bees back outside and learnt something; we can all make a difference and where there is a will, there is a way. I am happy to report that the bees moved on to find another more suitable place to build a hive.
Schools in general, are educating our children to be more environmentally aware. Many schools have their students involved in growing vegetables, encouraging rubbish free lunch days as well as sorting rubbish into recyclables, compost and rubbish destined for landfill. Walk to school programs are also becoming popular. The key is that we can all make a difference whether we are children or adults. If we see something that can be improved upon and have ideas on how to improve it, we are best to speak up. Change requires action and courage. If we all respect nature and acted accordingly, our planet would be a more harmonious and cleaner place for all.
Would love to hear your comments or feedback.