| A green-caped hero is no superhero with extraordinary capabilities. He/She is simply someone who recognises the need for humankind to respond to rapid challenges from environmental issues, and to actively make informed choices in their everyday lives. Everyone can be a green-caped hero, but unfortunately, not everyone is a green-caped hero.
It is not my intention to inculcate “tree-hugging” values into you. Relax, I am also not about to stare you down with looks full of rancour for throwing away the 1,234th paper cup this morning, after you had your daily caffeine fix. Instead, I would like to ask you to think about what happened to that harmless-looking paper cup after you had discarded it.
Amidst the whirlwind passion-turned-violent romance of Chris Brown and Rihanna, and the mêlée of Mas Selamat’s escape, youths conscious of their carbon footprints and armed with a desire to exchange informed opinions have also undertaken a few noteworthy missions: the UNCSD which focused on sustainability issues with regards to agriculture and land, the Youth Dialogue at the World Bank, the Earth Hour and their active participation on Earth Day showed their significant, albeit humble efforts in spreading the message across to the public, and educating them of the plethora of choices that they could make. This goes a long way to ensuring that the dangerous consequences of our consumption behaviours could be mitigated.
The skeptic in you might ask, “Oh, come on, what’s the brouhaha about green movements and campaigns? They won’t change anything at all.” What’s more, the Earth Hour which encouraged individuals to switch off the lights had only reduced 0.004% of the average daily electricity consumption.
What happens after the lights are switched back on?
If you ask me, Earth Hour 2009 in Singapore was an unprecedented phenomenon. 20 government agencies, 61 educational institutions, 54 hotels, 311 corporate companies, 20 non-governmental organisations and associations and 101 buildings and monuments- even our own beloved Merlion!- joined this mass movement by switching off their lights to express our concern of climate change and its effects. Earth Hour is global; it has transcended state boundaries and illustrated an understanding of a global responsibility that we all have. It was about taking action, taking responsibility to avoid environmental degradation, amongst other global interests.
What began in September 1969 as a “national environmental teach-in” - the beginning of Earth Day by Wisconsin senator Nelson - quickly spread to rouse environmental awareness among the public. This movement eventually influenced the U.S. to establish the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, followed by the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The spirit of Earth Day had since manifested on a global scale, and gave rise to the exponential growth of non-governmental organisations and associations that are committed to not only a nationwide, but a global demonstration of concern for the environment. In Singapore, the National Parks did its part by planting over 780 trees in 2008, and in 2009, members of the public shared their own eco tips.
Have Earth Hour and Earth Day changed anything at all? Nelson’s humble effort created an awareness with positive spill-over effects, and influenced policy makers to include environmental concerns in their policies. Today, we see the proliferation of environmental campaigns and policies undertaken by governments to ensure the well-being of its citizens and nature. Earth Hour propelled thousands of Singaporeans to actively switch off their lights for energy conservation. It would be unjustified and grossly unfair to say that nothing has changed since the advent of Earth Day and Earth Hour, or of the different missions upon which the youth today have embarked. Would an environmental agency have been established if a norm such as environmental protection and sustainability had not been introduced? Would the public be aware of climate change, its effects and the actions they could take to prevent potential damage if campaigns were not present? None of these would have occurred, if not for the awareness established by individuals who created a norm cascade that spread to further the cause of preserving our environment. A clean and pollution-free environment, not to mention a sustainable one, cannot be created only through governmental efforts. It is essentially the responsibility of citizens - us. Environmental sustainability is not a top-down goal, but a bottom-up one, where all of us must be enlightened and aware that we have a responsibility to protect the environment and its beauty, and actually do something about it.
The question is: what’s next after Earth Hour and Earth Day? Continuing efforts and informed choices are imperative.
World Wide Fund Singapore had suggested various ways: buying energy efficient appliances, setting the air-conditioning to a higher temperature, taking public transport instead of driving, and the list goes on.
However, campaigns can only go so far as to rouse awareness and encourage people to change their habits for positive reasons. The individuals themselves must adopt these practices and encourage others to follow.
Indeed, everyone can be green-caped hero. And I am not referring to the idealistic I’m-here-to-save-the-world rhetoric. Instead, I am referring to the practical, pragmatic ways in each you could make positive changes in small ways. Being aware is a positive thing, but it is futile if we do not translate it to into concrete actions. Little conscious choices that we make can enable us to live in a more beautiful place- enjoying cleaner air and water, and watching flowers blooming gloriously in a pleasant environment. It is about believing and having courage to believe that our own informed choices can really change how we interact with our environment. Are you brave enough to put on your own green cape? E |
