Today may be Easter Monday, but it is also Earth Day 2019, and if you are concerned about climate change, plastic pollution, and protecting our endangered species, it’s time to put down those chocolate bunnies and join the world’s largest environmental movement.

We’ve been blogging about Earth Day since 2012 when we were inspired to do more than just ‘our bit’ for the planet. Since then, we have remained committed to lowering our carbon footprint, using fewer plastics, recycling everything we possibly can, and educating ourselves on preserving vital flora and fauna, but sadly, the world seems more polluted now than it was back then.

So where do we go from here? Well, it’s no longer down to the individual. We need to make a joint global effort if we are to make a difference in this world, and thanks to Earth Day 2019, we all have the opportunity to do just that. We can do this by becoming a clean-up volunteer, by joining the Earth Challenge 2020 initiative, and by being more considerate to the world’s sensitive eco-systems.

Everyone gets passionate about something, and for me its endangered species, and so I have already signed up to the ‘Protect Our Species’ 2019 campaign, which hopes to save these 7 magnificent creatures:

BEES: Worldwide Bee populations are rapidly declining, so much so that some species are already at risk of extinction. We can do our bit by simply planting a bee-friendly garden – so go get some bee-friendly plants!

GIRAFFES: As one of my favourite creatures, I cannot imagine a world without giraffes, but according to the Africa Wildlife Foundation, giraffe populations declined by almost 50 per cent between 1985 and 2018, and there are now fewer giraffes than elephants in Africa.

WHALES: Hunting, climate change, and water pollution are responsible for our dwindling whale populations, and if we don’t do something soon, they could be gone for good. We can help these endangered species survive by supporting sustainable fishing, refusing all whale by-products, and by doing what we can to prevent ocean pollution.

ELEPHANTS: One of the most beautiful and intelligent creatures on earth is on the brink of extinction. In 1930, there were an estimated 10 million elephants in Africa, today that number sits at around 500,000. Twenty thousand elephants are poached every year for their tusks, and there are now only 2500 Sumatran elephants left on earth. How we let this happen, I’ll never know, but we must all join the movement to stop the ivory trade in China and the trophy hunting trade supported by Trump!

SHARKS: Sharks are believed to have been around for more than 400 million years, but thanks to us, they are on the ‘at risk’ list. Humans are the biggest threat to sharks, killing around 100 million of them each year, although climate change and habitat loss are contributing to their downfall. We can help by boycotting the shark fin trade and supporting sustainable fishing.

SEA TURTLES: They may have outlived the dinosaurs, but it seems that Sea Turtles are not going to outlive us unless we make major changes. In the past 100 years, sea turtle populations have rapidly declined due to the demand for their eggs, skin, meat, and shells. Many species are classified as threatened, while others are already on the endangered list.

GREAT APES: Four species make up the Great Apes: gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos. The struggle of Africa’s Mountain Gorillas is well-documented, yet they still remain endangered, despite ongoing efforts to increase the population. We’ve lost over 77 per cent of eastern lowland gorillas in the last 20 years, and chimpanzee populations have declined from two million to just 300,000 in the last century alone, and so we can be in no doubt that things are moving in the wrong direction. The Bornean Orangutan has lost more than half its population since 1999, and the Bonobos are set to follow a similar path. The Earth Day Organization recommends that we avoid all products containing palm oil and support sustainable forestry to give these great creatures a fighting chance.

What will you do to support Earth Day 2019? Drop us a line and let us know!