World Environment Day

WE’VE COME SO FAR, AND THERE IS MORE TO DO

*Please note, some links may be affiliate links and purchases may benefit the author.

World Environment Day is held each year on June 5. It is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations (UN) stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. World Environment Day promotes ways to improve the Earth's environment, such as conserving forests.

In the US, Earth Day has become a day to educate and enact meaningful changes in communities, countries, and the world.

In 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency was founded. Since then it has done a great job of cleaning up the environment in the US. I remember that in high school, I would see news stories of rivers that were so filled with toxins that they would catch on fire and burn for days.

Sometimes going to the beach in Florida would be a mixed blessing. I loved the beach but I couldn’t stand seeing the trash that littered the beach. I would take garbage bags and collect what I could but sometimes the futility of it would get to me.

In high school, we started an ecology club to address these issues about the time the EPA started. I was president of the club and am still so passionate that I spend my money with companies that comply with my standards of safe, healthy, effective, and environmentally friendly products.

Toxins and pollutants are in almost everything we eat, drink and use in our households. We may not even realize where they are hiding. We are poisoning ourselves without even realizing it. The American Thoracic Society published a study about cleaning with toxic chemicals. You can find out more from their study - https://www.thoracic.org/about/newsroom/press-releases/journal/2018/women-who-clean-at-home-or-at-work-face-increased-lung-function-decline.php

There is so much you can do that may seem insignificant, like picking up trash wherever you go, but it all adds up.

You can use products:

· that are toxin free

· that are concentrated so you can use less and require less packaging

· that are available from environmentally friendly manufacturers

· that are in recyclable containers

and remember that every little step you take helps to keep our planet beautiful and healthy.

I remember when I tried to put all my toxic cleaners into the trash and was told that I couldn’t do that. They were labeled as poison and toxic. Because I recycle regularly, I took them to recycle and had to pay a special handling fee because there was still product left in the container. I never wanted to do that again because I knew I was hurting my family, home, and planet by using these toxins. I began searching for a better way. You can stop poisoning your home and planet, too.

There are lots of resources available, and here’s where I shop.

Dr. Stephanie Stanfield is a renowned wellness advocate and has a Ph.D. in Energy Medicine and a Th.D in Spiritual Counseling. Her specialty is in helping those stuck in chronic pain, illness or stress. Visit her website at www.makingshiftshappen.com to reach out.