Last week marked the celebration of June 5th for Environment Day and June 8th for World Oceans Day.
I often approach these dates with scepticism, much like Mother’s Day when I remind my mom that instead of grand gestures on just one day, I prefer showing my love and giving gifts spontaneously throughout the year.
Having specific days for celebration is an intriguing concept.
It’s often argued that this helps and it’s designed to bring attention to issues that might otherwise go overlooked.
Yet, this practice is notable in how it can increase consumerism and create a sense of complacency — we celebrate for one day and then return to our routines, feeling satisfied that we’ve done our part for the environment, our ocean, our mothers, or our partners.
It’s a strange notion, where the creation of these single-day serves as a reminder of what we should be doing continuously as human beings.
Don’t get me wrong, I like celebrations and raising awareness towards the right cause.
That’s not the problem.
Take the Environment Day as an example. By having it on a single date, we permit ourselves to be momentarily conscious. We might go all out for our immediate surroundings, even sharing a post featuring a cute panda.
For World Oceans Day, consider sharing a post from your favourite non-profit organization that highlights the devastating impact of ghost nets on sea turtles.
Great! The job is done. We move on. We can now forget that we are part of the environment.
Meaningful change requires more than just a post or a day’s observance.
We need action, informed by knowledge, ideas, and deliberate decisions. In this complex scenario, action necessitates understanding the impact of our choices.
Simone de Beauvoir challenges us to consider whether our actions are making others more free. If so, action is imperative, however difficult it might be.
Today’s actions are often forgettable, perhaps due to the design of a system that prefers us vocal on social media yet inert in the real world. Organizing for real change demands an effort that many find too daunting.
Capitalism has made us consumers first, and humans second, boxing us into a world that stifles imagination for anything different.
The path is full of challenges, but it’s the reality we face.
So, what’s to be done? Concern over posting about special occasions or gifting to loved ones aside, the most significant thing is to ensure our actions reflect our words.
Progress involves small, tangible steps towards the world we envision, whether by supporting local nonprofits, engaging in activism, donating to causes we believe in, or even initiating our own movements.
The approach to making a difference varies widely, and this isn’t about judging the merits of each.
Ultimately, we know that acknowledging a day here and there is insufficient for achieving the world we dream of.
