7.8 Billion

That’s how many people live on planet Earth today. Each of us going about our daily lives, and whether we’re interacting with family, friends, or the natural environment, we’re all interconnected. Now more than ever, due to COVID-19, we realize just how small our world really is, and how our daily interactions can have an effect on others. We’ve come to learn that individual actions matter for the greater good.

A Time to Reflect

COVID-19 is devastating across the globe. But we’ve seen governments and communities come together to take on this threat to our species. On this, the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, there are lessons to be learned from how the global community is handling an issue that impacts each and every one of us. While COVID-19 has shut down cities worldwide and changed life as we know it, it’s worth mentioning the effect that such shutdowns are having on the environment – air pollution has gone down and waterways are clearer. Nobody wants a pandemic, and something to keep in mind – we don’t need a pandemic to keep our air clean and water drinkable. This challenging time is offering us a glimpse of what happens when individuals and governments come together to protect the well-being of the people and planet that we all care about. If you want to learn how Mercy Housing’s Green Hope is helping sustainability efforts, check out our website.

Take Care of Yourself

Many of us feel helpless and alone these days. Even though we’re physically distancing, there are things we can do. In the words of Sister Lillian Murphy, “take care of yourself.” At home, that means staying healthy. Be sure to open the windows now and then, let some fresh air in. Go for a walk if you can and feel the sunshine — it’s good for your physical and mental health.

If you want to do something for the planet on this Earth Day, you can participate in a number of virtual Earth Day events. As we’ve seen with COVID-19, individual actions matter, and if we all take small actions, the results will add up. We’re all in this together and will get through this together.