Founded in 1970, Earth Day (this year on April 22) is a worldwide annual event, followed by more than 1 billion people in 192 countries. It gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our support for the protection of the environment.
It is the perfect day to make simple lifestyle changes towards sustainability and to make our community a better place.
Aline Bloch, Issaquah Highlands resident & cardboard artist
My name is Aline Bloch, resident of Issaquah Highlands for ten years. I am an artist and designer working with recycled cardboard that I turn into unique creations. I am a wife and mom of three, coming from Paris, France. I am passionate about eco-design and more recently, sustainability. In the past few months, we decided as a family to make simple lifestyle changes to support the environment.
For a long time, we believed that reducing our waste, walking instead of driving when it’s possible, or turning off the water while brushing our teeth, were insignificant and would not contribute much to the fight against global warming and pollution. Then one of my friends told me this story about the hummingbird:
“One day a terrible fire broke out in a forest. Frightened, all the animals fled their homes and ran out of the forest. As they came to the edge of a stream, they stopped to watch the fire, feeling very discouraged and powerless. Every one of them thought there was nothing they could do about the fire, except for one little hummingbird.
This hummingbird decided it would do something. It swooped into the steam and picked up a few drops of water and went back into the forest to put them on the fire. Then it went back to the stream and did it again…and again and again. All the other animals watched in disbelief; some even tried to discourage the hummingbird telling him ‘Don’t bother, it is too much, you are too little, it’s only a drop, you can’t put out this fire.’
And as the animals stood around disparaging the little bird’s efforts, the
bird notices how hopeless and forlorn they looked. ‘Why are you doing this, little hummingbird?’ asked one of the animals. And the hummingbird, without wasting time or losing a beat, looked back and said ‘I am doing what I can, I am doing my part.’”
Global warming is our fire and we can be the hummingbirds.
Learning how to recycle properly, saving water, thinking twice before buying something or taking the car for short distances, decluttering, learning new sustainable art and upcycled DIY, maybe trying to make your own cleaning products and skin care, using reusable bags or water bottles, going package-free and trying out bulk bins at the grocery store, shop at your local farmers markets or learning how to garden your favorite fruits and vegetables: these are just little drops of water that can contribute to put out the fire.
I say, “get involved!” Maybe you already started the process and you’d like to share your simple everyday changes. Please contact me and I will share through future articles, interviews and events. Tell me about your challenges to living a sustainable lifestyle and we will find solutions together to make our lovely community a better place.
Contact Aline at alinescardboard@outlook.com.
Check out our upcoming FREE Living Green workshops at Blakely Hall!
Registration is required to ensure we have enough supplies. Registration info can be found at each link below.
