We all know that we are indebted to our beautiful Mother Earth and all Her creatures, for sustaining and supporting us every moment of our lives. Humanity is now facing perhaps the most crucial moment in history – what scientists are calling a tipping point.

This is an age when the delicate balance of Nature is in danger of being lost forever. Yet these challenges are also opportunities that call upon us to rise up and act with selflessness and unity. We all have a responsibility – towards our fellow human beings, our future generations, all living creatures and towards the planet. Mother Nature has given a home to all of us. 

If we can awaken compassion within, understanding that we are interconnected with all of life, it will inspire us in even the smallest everyday actions that we perform.

A starting point is to educate ourselves and others. Raising our awareness of the severity and urgency of the many issues we are facing is needed in order to make informed and positive lifestyle choices. 

According to the UN Environmental Program,“There is alarming evidence that important tipping points, leading to irreversible changes in major ecosystems and the planetary climate system, may already have been reached or passed.”

According to a report by the UN International Resource Panel, human consumption of earth’s natural resources has more than tripled in 40 years. During the same time period, Earth lost half of its wildlife due to exploitation, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change, according to the WWF.

Every year, humanity produces a massive 2.2 billion tons of waste. At least 10% of the 100 million tons of plastic we use every year end up in the oceans, causing toxic pollution and killing marine life. Scientists have warned that we have depleted almost two-thirds of the natural resources that support life on earth (UNIRP) and by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity (UNHDP).

The list goes on.

Even though the facts are frightening, we must move forward with determination for change. All the environmental problems we face are intricately connected, and every positive action that we perform can create a series of beneficial ripple effects towards all living beings.

The fate of our world is in our hands and there is still a chance to avert many of the worst predictions for our future. But we must act fast. A better understanding of how our day-to-day choices affect the bigger picture will empower us, as individuals, to play our part in reversing this cycle of indiscriminate exploitation and move towards sustainability.

Most of the technology and choices for a sustainable society already exist – it is up to each one of us to support and utilize these options. Small changes in our lifestyle habits can make a big difference.

One simple way every woman can contribute is through the choice we make regarding feminine hygiene products. On average, a woman will use between 10,000-15,000 disposable sanitary products in her lifetime. Worldwide, these products generate more than 200,000 tons of waste per year, a large amount of which is plastic. This ends up in landfills or, even worse, in seas and rivers causing pollution and devastating aquatic life.

Furthermore the absorbent material is fluff pulp, which is made from cutting down trees. We all know that we depend upon trees for the oxygen we breathe, to absorb carbon dioxide and purify the air. The fluff pulp is bleached heavily and treated with other chemicals for the pure white look and to increase absorbency.

This process is the same for pads and tampons.

Simple alternatives such as cloth pads can completely eliminate this waste as well as provide income generation for impoverished woman.

We each make personal choices everyday. Yet we must remember that we are all connected like links in a chain. Everything we do has an impact towards countless others, including humans, plants, animals and the earth that we all share.

May our personal choices allow all beings to live in peace, and allow for a planet that can sustain life.

Human beings have the ability to live in a sustainable manner and with discrimination for the sake of the survival of generations to come.

Now is the time to make conscious lifestyle choices, which will benefit our personal well-being as well as positively influence those around us. Through these actions we can gain an awareness of the interconnectedness of all life and thus truly learn to respect and care for the precious planet that we share.