What to do on World Environment Day

Don’t worry, you won’t be accused of being a hippie by commemorating World Environment Day on 5 June.

Saving the environment does indeed sound like a daunting task – no one can do it alone.

Stumped about how to make your contribution?

Here are some suggestions to make your contribution, ranked from least to most strenuous;

Get some perspective – and fresh air

The least strenuous way to commemorate World Environment Day is to take in and reflect on the beauty your natural surroundings.

Visit Northcliff Ridge Eco Park  or Brixton’s Kingston Frost Park for truly remarkable views over the Witwatersrand, or take a walk through either the Albert’s Farm Conservancy or the Johannesburg Botanic Gardens to marvel at flora at closer range.

Recycle some of your own renewable materials

Take a quick walk around your office or home and collect all the random tin cans, glass bottles and old newspapers you can find. Be sure to keep the materials separated – this will make the task of depositing each respective material into the corresponding bins at the Delta Environmental Centre in Victory Park easier.

Help save a river

Join hundreds of fellow Joburgers on 7 June when they roll up their sleeves and get down and dirty to clean up the Braamfontein Spruit. This clean up initiative takes place across several stretches of the river and was specifically scheduled for the weekend to ensure maximum turnout. Visit the events diary for more details.

Sign up as an environmental rights campaigner

If you’re a Northcliff Melville Times reader, you should already know that world environmental rights lobby group Greenpeace has its home in Richmond. Fighting for the plight of Earth is hard work and Greenpeace may call upon you from time to time, when mass action seems to be the only answer.

Much reading material is available on the subject. Here are some links to get you started:

United Nations’ official World Environment Day website

A unique videoblog competition to look into