annewalshcoach - bring your best self to light

TIMBEERRR! Did you know that the rate of deforestation in the world is 149 acres per minute. #EarthDay, #STiAbout 137 species become extinct every day. If the current rate of deforestation continues, the world’s rain forests will vanish in less than 100 years. For every tree that is cut, the numbers get more and more shocking.

As the population grows this should give us more reason to preserve trees and forests as much as possible. They balance oxygen levels, combat the environmental negativities, support wild life, enrich the surrounding areas, green the system.

Another sadly astounding fact that I recently came across was that if you clear forest lands for farming areas, its soil only stays fertile for two years. After 2 years that land becomes barren and uncultivable. What is the logic behind pulling down entire forests for those 2 years worth of cultivation?

There are some societies that have taken this one issue as their driving source. They are providing re-plantation services for reviving rainforest lands with timber and other forestation trees. Basically they buy back those lands and prepare it for turning into forests. They revive and enliven the area for wild life and plants.

There are a number of such initiatives budding around us. Sites like “the new green economy” and “tree hugger” have formed trusts where people can contribute to this cause. So essentially you would be “buying” those lands back from the deforestation committees and letting the intermediary website to reforest it on your behalf. If you pay money for reforestation, you could indirectly own your own piece of forest land.

Now that’s definitely something tangible. With many such initiatives in the radar – I think we can find a great way of giving our mother earth a birthday present this April. We can collectively raise money for buying a present that will help make a difference and not just be a speck in the huge pile of global contributions.

It’s wonderful because we’re already planning the earth’s biggest birthday party for April 22nd. Our evangelists have begun promoting the day already. Our leadership group has begun implementing their plans. All we need now is a gift that the earth will appreciate.

Perhaps acquiring property to reforest barren lands is one way to go. Or we can choose from any charity of the social traffic community’s choice and preference. After all, if we all contribute then it is our money – we need to have a say in what happens to it.

If we just let go of a small thing in our expenses for a month, say skip on a haircut or skip on a business dinner – we can give that money to a reputable trust to keep, until it is time to spend it on the birthday gift. It doesn’t matter how big or small the contribution is – it can be as small as avoiding a monthly visit to the barber worth $25 (or even smaller). What matters more is how much we can make collectively. I always tell my friends that if 1 million people all contribute $1 for a cause that makes it $1 mill.

We will need to raise money far and wide and get people to contribute to it. Perhaps we should also come up with some nice videos to help spread the word. I think our community ambassador Phil can handle that rather well. What do you say, Phil?
(Note written by Simon U Ford)