The call to invest in our planet is more imperative today than ever. April 22nd has been singled out as Yearly International Earth Day. This year’s theme is: “INVEST IN OUR PLANET”.

We celebrate this day for a number of reasons some of which are highlighted in Laudato Si where we hear Pope Francis lamenting: “Our Home is beginning to look like an immense filth”, there is the disappearance of our cherished tropical forest, there is concentration of green house gas emissions released mainly as a result of human impacted activities, burning of vegetation, throwing of toxic wastes in unbecoming places, floods, climate change, extremes in weather, limited access to water, frequents wildfires, reduced crop yields, landslides, prolonged rainfalls or droughts leading to famine, sickness and death and the list goes on.

As we celebrate Earth Day, we reflect and propose ways of how we can invest in our planet to reap benefits in the future.

We are therefore expected to make real lasting and sustainable changes to all aspects of our society and planet in order to avert the worst of the climate crises exacerbated by impacted human behaviour.

Here are some practical steps to embark on for a sustainable management of our Planet:

Let us plant trees to stop or control expansion of deserts as tree roots can hold soil together and reduce wind and soil erosion.

Planting, caring and protecting trees due to their food and medicinal values vital to man.

The bible alert us to this duty when it says: the Lord created medicines from the earth, and sensible person will not hesitate to use them.

Changing the way we eat is the simplest solution to not making the climate crisis worse.

Let us heal the seas, oceans, rivers, streams, water sources and what they give us, by not contaminating or polluting them with human and animal corpses, plastics and other toxic wastes.

Let us organise earth clean-up days weekly.

Embark on environmental literacy and civic education to change the world.

Break free from plastic dependence. Listening to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor is another way of investing in our planet.

We need to act now for time is running out. Whoever and whatever we are, let us in collective response invest in our planet for the common good of all.

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