SHOW THE Lđź’šVE 2019
Every February since 2015, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the Climate Coalition in a massive climate movement. This campaign aims to start climate conversations by encouraging individuals, MPs, businesses, celebrities and communities to make and share green hearts and #ShowTheLove for the things they want to protect from the impact of climate change.
This year, Globechain wanted to support this movement by sharing some of the things that we’re #ShowingTheLove for.
Glaciers
Susanna, Ambassador
“If you have ever had the luxury of visiting the stunning glaciated scenery of Iceland or New Zealand, you would understand the sadness I feel knowing that these glaciers are just a fraction of what they once were.
Glaciers worldwide have been diminishing at a rapid and accelerating rate since the 19th century due to global increases in air temperature, while ice sheets and sea ice have also undergone dramatic changes. The melting of the planet’s ice impacts the habitats of wildlife, polar bears are struggling to survive, and the livelihoods of many who rely on ice as a freshwater resource are threatened. Complete melting of the world’s land ice could raise sea level by 65m, devastating countless coastal and low-lying regions with inundation.
Immediate and unprecedented action is needed to slow down temperature rise and minimise the melting of our ice.”
Coral Reefs
Alex, Market Analyst
“Like many people, I’ve had the privilege of visiting Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and since then it has always stuck out as an especially amazing experience — so I was shocked to learn that, since 2016, half of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral has died as a result of bleaching by warm water temperatures.
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, sheltering thousands of animal species as well as providing a livelihood to people dependent on fisheries and tourism and offering coastal protection in areas impacted by tropical storms. Unfortunately, the combination of warming oceans, sea level rise, ocean acidification, more frequent storms and altered ocean currents make climate change the greatest global threat to coral reefs.”
Shifting Seasons
Charlotte, Ambassador
“It was really difficult to choose a single thing I’m scared to lose in the face of our climate crisis, because ultimately, we could (and the pessimistic side of me thinks we will) lose everything. I decided to focus on something which is affecting everyone and is tangible in our day-to-day lives: changes in seasonality.
Despite being just 25 years old and living in temperate England, even I’ve noticed changes in seasonality; every year the blackberries and sloes seem to ripen earlier, there have been some terrible years for a whole host of species from the birds to the frogs, fish, and bees, and there have been many years (including 2018!) where farmers have struggled to produce our food. These shifts in seasons where we typically experience shorter winters and earlier springs means many species such as migrating birds and metamorphic insects are forced to shift their life cycles, and animals adapted for certain climates will struggle to survive under these new, often unpredictable conditions.
Alongside this shift in seasons, the climate crisis is causing extreme weather patterns which threaten human lives, often in the poorest regions of the world. My permanent state of anxiety relating to climate change means I become fearful during the random heatwaves and droughts we’re experiencing on a global scale; all I can think is when will it end, and how many people/animals must die before governments pay proper attention?”
Local Food
Lexi, Ambassador
“There is nothing better than eating 100% guilt free. When you make the conscious decision to buy and eat local you are automatically making a difference. You are contributing to the local economy as well as, reducing the impact of gas emissions from transportation on the environment. In other words, you are having a positive impact on all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic.
What can sometimes be discouraging is the fact that it can be difficult to break old habits of convenience and consumerism. Multinationals around the world, threaten and apply huge pressures on the local food industry, which makes it less visible to consumers. People need to become more aware of this problem and act upon it. Consumers need to unite and start thinking more about their local community and find ways to support it.
We need to show our love for local food.”
Musical Instruments
Gonçalo, Marketing Manager
“There’s no more insightful cultural information than music.
Words, melodies, and instruments provide a great cultural background from different times. In the case of musical instruments, they have always had a characteristic sound since their raw materials are localized.
We must, then, address relentless deforestation as a threat to our culture, in the sense that some musical instruments are very specific to regions, and when we are impacting their production, we impact our culture. Soundwaves resonate in different ways in depending on the surfaces due to its texture — so it’s important that we preserve the supply chain of our cultural heritage to be able to prevail sound for future generations.​”
You can read more about the Climate Coalition and its mission here: https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/
