Yes, we can reduce our daily waste by being creative and economical; in the end, the gain will be ours. Cutting down on consumption and recycling and reusing consumer products and materials should be a natural attitude. Nonetheless, some people see the entire environment issue as nonsense.

Product packages are reusable nowadays. With some creativity, they can be reused in our kitchen, office or children’s room, for example. Cans, boxes, paper, bottles and innumerous other products that come into our homes every day don’t need to end up in the garbage can.

Some people, however, may need to make significant changes to their behavior towards the environmental issue. This would stop them from dumping their garbage on streets, empty lots, or landfills. Unfortunately, such changes don’t usually happen naturally so we need to continue educating people and setting an example.

The truth is that, on the one hand, we have to make it very clear for everybody that we will be facing an environmental tragedy within the next few years; on the other, some people may need more than information to change their behavior. This change may require the establishment of measures of mandatory compliance to address the environmental issue.

As citizens, we have the right to demand that people be held accountable for their actions and also to pressure our government officials to change our laws in order to curb some of the population’s consumption practices like other countries are doing. For example, in some countries, supermarkets charge customers for their plastic bags, a measure that, in a way, forces the population to reduce the consumption of such bags.

“We surely won’t be able to solve our planet’s problems just by ourselves, but we can help the future generations, the generation of our children and grandchildren to live in a better Earth. For the next 50 years, many of us will still have living descendants because many of the people who were born today will still be alive. Therefore, each one of us should do their part in the best possible way. For the sake of our children and our children’s children.”
Picture free digital photos

Today I completed the 30-day meat free challenge. The days went by naturally. I didn’t feel like eating any meat. I didn’t even feel tempted to “just have a taste.” I ate lunch out several times and had dinner at some friend’s place. At those times, there was meat on the menu but I didn’t give in.

Now, at last, I can say that meat is no longer part of my diet. The reasons have been explained here and here. Now I believe that I’m ready to quit this habit once and for all. Not just for 30 days, but indefinitely. This is my goal.
I’m not advocating vegetarianism, as I explained in the above-mentioned posts. The industrial production of meat is one of the major sources of environmental pollution. It takes up gigantic areas, consumes huge volumes of natural and energetic resources, generates billions of tons of solid, liquid and gaseous toxic waste, contaminating soil, water, air, plants, animals and people.

It’s also worth remembering that lands are deforested and turned into pasture for cattle, which has a major factor in the shrinking of the Amazon Forest.

For environmental reasons, for animal love, for health reasons, and for life I will continue doing my part. I feel great, believe me. Some people opt for reducing their meat consumption. I’d rather eliminate meat from my diet to contribute to slow down the increase in global warming and help to preserve biodiversity and the well-being of animals. And, as a reward, get a healthier life.