This Saturday, 22 April 2023, the official theme for this year’s World Earth Day celebration is “Invest in Our Planet.”
The St Patrick’s Environmental and Community Tourism Organisation (SPECTO) recognises and endorses this year’s World Earth Day theme and continues to advance its mission to develop environmental stewards within our communities to protect and conserve our Earth. World Earth Day acknowledges the importance of creating deep awareness among our global population in recognising the significance of Earth’s unique biodiversity and its important linkage to providing us with our basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing that contribute to our survival and existence on Planet Earth.
What can we do to celebrate Earth Day?
- Recycle your plastic waste: A plastic bottle can take over 450 years to break down in a landfill. Before throwing something away, think about whether it can be recycled or repurposed
- Plant a tree: Trees provide us with clean air, help to sequester carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming and help provide shade during hotter times of the years
- Advocate for strong community recognition and ownership of our biodiversity: Work with communities and the next generation to become environmental stewards of our local biodiversity and ecosystem like Grenada’s internationally recognised Levera Pond and Wetland that provides an effective nesting ground for the critically endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle species located in St Patrick
- Conserve water: Water is incredibly essential to all life on this planet. It’s important that we are able to sustainably use water to ensure we have enough during periods of drought
- Use smart agricultural practices like composting: Composting allows us to return to the land that was so generously given to us. Plants require nutrients to grow, which obtain directly from compost. Remember, if the food that you eat is perishable, it can be composted
- Become more energy efficient: Keep your electricity costs down and reduce your dependence on energy. If you’re not using that light, turn it off. Energy is not only expensive but also taxing on Mother Nature
- Support local community groups like Specto: Community groups are composed of volunteers dedicated to protecting Planet Earth’s unique gifts. These groups are only as successful as the level of volunteerism. So, if you want to help out, find a local group and make some new environmentally–minded friends
Want to learn more about ways you can celebrate World Earth Day? Contact SPECTO @ [email protected]
SPECTO is a non–profit organisation. Our mission is to develop and coordinate eco–tourism and other activities in the parish of St Patrick, which will contribute to the advancement of the people of the parish by increasing job opportunities while protecting endangered species and the environment in general.
Our Goals are:
- To protect the natural environment of the parish of St Patrick while generating employment for the people of the parish through sustainable eco-tourism projects
- To educate members of the communities of St Patrick on the benefits of protecting marine wildlife and the environment
SPECTO