With all the dreary reports on the effects of global warming, one might feel overwhelmed and be under the impression that there’s nothing much that can be done to affect change.
So why even bother? Because it’s better than the alternative, that’s why – and in that spirit, Earth Day was founded in 1970 to help shed light on environmental issues.
Here are some of the things you can do to celebrate Earth Day this Saturday. You are guaranteed to have a great time, while doing something good for Mother Nature.
1. Fashion Revolution Week
The fashion industry poses a huge threat to the environment, producing about 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. When it comes to workers, fast fashion is responsible for numerous human rights violations.
As the local chapter of a global movement that advocates ethical and fair fashion, Fashion Revolution Malaysia is holding Fashion Revolution Week until Monday at REXKL in the city centre.
The campaign features talks and events that promote circular, conscious and slow fashion, such as workshops on upcycling denim, weaving, natural tie-dyeing, and restyling, in addition to clothes swapping and popup thrift stores.
Visitors can also check out the event’s main attraction – multidisciplinary artist Dhan Illiani’s week-long interactive installation, “The Big Waste”.
Check out Fashion Revolution Malaysia on Facebook for more information.
2. Mangrove tree planting
The Kuala Selangor Nature Park will be organising a tree-planting session on Sunday, with the goal of planting 2,000 saplings in their mangrove forest, and volunteers are welcome to join in the fun.
Managed by the Malaysian Nature Society, the park consists of a secondary forest and wetland, and is home to a vast amount of flora and fauna.
What better way to spend the Earth Day weekend than being in a beautiful nature park while contributing towards a good cause? Online registration closes tonight, so hurry!
To sign up for the mangrove tree-planting session at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, click here.
3. DIY beach cleanup
Now that Malaysia has moved on to the endemic phase, many are planning trips to the coast to get some much-needed “beach therapy”. If you’re one of them, perhaps consider organising a beach cleanup with your family and friends.
Klang Valley residents who aren’t planning on travelling far could always head to one of the beaches in Selangor, such as Morib or Bagan Lalang.
In addition to taking hundreds of years to decompose, trash in the ocean poses a serious threat to marine life. And, at the end of the day, saving the ocean saves humanity.
4. Catch a meteor shower
Watching shooting stars is a magical experience: one is often left in awe at the beautiful sight, while being reminded of humankind’s tiny existence within the vast universe.
The Lyrids meteor shower takes place annually between April 18 and 25, and peaks on April 23 with an average of 18 meteors per hour.
Although one can spot the shooting stars with the naked eye, it is necessary to be in a location that is free from light pollution.
With enough patience and a sufficiently dark sky, you are sure to spot a shooting star or two, so make sure you spare a wish for Mother Nature!
5. Recycle
Most Malaysians are still not well informed when it comes to waste segregation. But come Saturday, sustainability and environmental non-profit Zero Waste Malaysia will launch their webpage Trashpedia, also known as Trash Encyclopedia.
In addition to interactive information on proper waste segregation, the site will provide resources on zero-waste alternatives, as well as tips on waste management.
The launch will be held from 11am-5pm at The School in Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, and includes a tutorial on Trashpedia, panel discussion, Q&A session, games, and t-shirt silkscreen stamping activity.
There will also be a 3m-tall art installation made of trash items by the art collective Co2_Karbondioksida.
Sign up to attend the launch of Trashpedia here. Happy Earth Day!