Credit: Mark Lopez at Katmai National Park
Hello, my name is Brenda Campuzano-Pineda, for the last 6 years I have been part of the Air Force and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability Management. I have deep empathy for our planet and the people who call it home. We are all connected by our environment and it is the presiding factor that determines who we become. I learned in high school about the basics of environmental science and 10 years later I am still learning more about how interconnected we all are. Earth is rare, it exists in effortless beauty from its cold deserts to its lush forests, all while our actions affect ecosystems and people we will never meet. I wish we all realized how detrimental it is to watch people struggle while the world becomes polluted by forces you cannot control. Pollution comes from greed and seen as excess plastic, clothes, fertilizer, and exhaust. We are all replaceable and our Earth will continue to adapt for millions of years. Is a life with corruption, inequality, theft, and rapacity a world we want? We are the keepers of this Earth and we can live in peace through compassion and love. With the answers at our fingertips we need to become aware of how to alleviate the pressures our demands place on each others land, water, pollinators, plants, animals, and most importantly children. Shopping ethically and sustainably is a start. Research the brands you support, are they treating animals ethically? Are they using post-consumer recycled materials in their products? Are they treating their employees well? Do they support philanthropic initiatives? Are they taking responsibility for their environmental footprint? Let us continue to learn, inspire others, and care for a planet providing selfless life and joy.
Thank you Ms. Campuzano-Pineda for this wonderful piece. If you’d like to write an article like this, feel free to reach out to my email: [email protected]
Cover image credit (appears on website): Brenda Campuzano-Pineda, taken in the Katmai National Park