THINK, EAT, SAVE - WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY!

Almost every year, I write an article about the WED (WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY) on June 5th and about  the city which hosts the main event each year.  But 2013, I found out that I had written more articles about the host city, because this year’s North American World Environment Day (WED) will be hosted by the City of Portland. I’m sure that UNEP chose one of the greenest city of the world to put the spotlight on its environmental achievements and as UNEP Regional Officer for North America Head of Communications, Mrs Guilbaud – Cox  said, all are reflected in the fact that this city is repeatedly ranked among the top 10 green cities in USA and often rated the No 1  green city in North America. Many events will take place in Portland among the other cities worldwide! This year WED’s theme is “THINK – EAT – SAVE” promoting to be aware and start action to reduce food waste and loss across the food supply chain. In 2013 there is another challenge as green bloggers are invited to join UNEP’s blogging competition and win the opportunity to cover World Environment Day. So a lucky green blogger can travel to Portland on June 5^th to cover and take part to all celebrating activities there such as International Children’s Painting Competition’s Exhibition or the interactive environmental workshop for high school students led by Dr. Mae C.Jemison, first US female African-American astronaut.  Real challenge! 

 Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said, “Portland is a national leader in many sustainability issues and green initiatives… It’s gratifying that UNEP recognizes that and has honored us by bringing World Environment Day to Portland.”  FOOD WASTE is an ecological issue in all over the world. The EU’s historical decision for sustainable fishery and saving the discard fishes is sure a relative accomplishment with impact. Think before you choose a fish. But people throw away every month huge amounts of food … millions of tones, when one in every seven people go to bed hungry or worst more than 20.000 people die of hunger in a single day. Even the plastics that we use are ending in our plates through the ecosystem chain. Except our home,  also supermarkets and farms throw out a great amount of food daily! UNEP’s facts show us that the total quantity of wasted food around the globe, 300 million tones, is enough to feed the estimated 900 million people hungry in the world. Maybe to conserve and save our food in home can be more easy. Use more fresh products, make often grocery lists, grow your own plants… We can do better! For example Australians throw out more than 4 million tones of food every year, which reflects …close to a thousand kilograms per household. Sure expiry dates on products are a main cause, especially for supermarkets, but we have to be more logical to production and how we’re stocking food. 

 For many years, we hear the moto “Eat localy – eat organic” and is a great truth. We have to support local economies and community. Among with topical ethical products, fair trade products seems to raise awareness and to have fine quality. We have to prevent GMOs to land into our plates… e.g. salmon can be wild and no a GMO fish.  Best for us is to check products’ labels and starting recognizing sustainable signs and seals on them.  So think before you eat!  With the way you consume and eat, you save species and your health, energy, money… you save LIFE!  The average American spends 2.000 dollars every year for food that ends to waste bin. Other UNEP’s facts give us information about uneaten food, which ends up rotting in landfills, for example in US where food is the single largest component of solid waste, it produces almost 25% of methane emissions.  That’s scary! So the way we treat the food and our health, reduces  or increases our foodprint. Anything counts… compost your food waste, organize a neighborhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags, inform your friends, walk or cycle to work, start a recycling drive,  grow your own vegetables or fruits. . .  for a greener life, the possibilities are really endless!