An Environmental Revolution

I am not even going to sit here and beat around the bush, our earth is dying and no one on this planet even seems to give a damn. We think the answer to most things is to keep creating new products using brand new materials and we refuse to look at the resources we already have.

I recently declared a minor in Environmental Science at Columbia and I finally feel as if I can make a difference.

Most call me crazy for thinking that one person can change the world, but then I look at them and think their crazy for thinking I can't.

I feel like in middle school I was always asked the question, "What is your dream job" and although my answers varied throughout the years, something reminded the same. Whether it was my dreams of pursuing ballet or the urge to become a mental health pyschologist. I always told myself that no matter what I did, I refused to be confined to a cubical for half of my existence. I just knew I was capable of doing more.

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy studying the ins and outs of the fashion industry but lately I have just been feeling as if that is not enough. Not enough for me in the sense that I want to change the way fashion is created and I need to educate myself on the problems within our ecosystem before I can combine my two passions and make a difference.

While studying this industry, the biggest takeaway I have had so far is how much this industry is creating so much unnecessary, toxic waste. And I refuse to sit back, absorbing all of this information and doing absolutely nothing to change it.

If you don't know what fast fashion is, here I am to tell ya. Fast fashion is basically a term used for companies whose artists directly draw inspiration from the most recent runways, other competitors and local artists. And they produce product so quickly that the workers are unable to keep up with the demands of these huge corporations. The lack of care for their employees and the effect they are having on our enviornment baffles me. Retailers such as Forever 21 or Zara are able to see a runway show and have copy-cat designs out within weeks. And for most people that is a great concept, seeing something on social media but expensive as hell then being able to go to these stores and buy the same thing for 90% of the price. But has anyone wondered why its so cheap? You are paying for a piece that took time to make and people to do it. I am here BEGGING anyone reading this to limit the amount of purchases you are making with these companies and trying to educate yourself on the problems with this industry. The most common area for these types of stores to make their goods is somewhere outside the United States and for those who don't know, other countries do not have the same laws against unfair work wages as we do. Basically meaning people can legally get paid under $1 a day to work in an unsafe factory and produce horribly made garments just in time for you people to have it days after it came off the runway. People are dying under these conditions and the planet is suffering!! These garments are made to fall apart so the companies can profit millions from you buying multiple pieces a year since your other ones couldn't even survive the wash cycle.

Trust me, the fashion industry is not the only string of companies that are slowly killing the environment. The food industry, the cosmetic industry and even the medical industry have countless negative effects on the environment and if I don't at least try to educate people, who will?

I could go on about saving our planet for pages and pages but I'll spare you the time until I am able to start a god damnenvironmental revolution.

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So now I am here, hoping to get others to care about our planet as much as I do. I am personally focusing on the bigger picture and doing small things to help the environment before I have the funds to do bigger and better things.

I am going to start with some ridiculously easy ways we AS A WHOLE can work towards a better future.

1. Not eating meat, for just one day a week.

• I am not asking everyone to become a full vegetarian overnight, but going meatless for at least one day a week will save you money and help the earth. A little less than half of our global greenhouse gas emissions are from agriculture or the cultivation of crops and livestock. So I am challenging all of you to try and go JUST ONE DAY without eating meat, because if it means we are on the path to saving our planet don't you want to be apart of that?

2. Recycle more then just paper

• Recyling paper is a great start to improve the function of our ecosystem but there is much more too it. Batteries, plastics, glass, used oil, tires, electronics and more need to be disposed of properly. Landfills continue to be a huge problem and reducing the amount of waste we put into them is huge. If you are as serious about this as I am, you can also find a recycling center near you (and even ones that pick it up for you!) at recyclenation.com.

3. Buy less stuff

• Whether its groceries, clothes, flowers or shoes, cutting down the amount of stuff you purchase a week is one of the easiest ways to help our planet. This tactic will automatically help reduce your individual carbon footprint which can be a great start to bettering our environment. Buying used goods is also a great alternative because as of now, almost any new physical good requires raw material from the earth to make it, energy to process it, fuel to ship it and so on. So thrift shopping isn't only fun, it defiantly helps reduce your carbon footprint.

4. Make the switch to reusable water bottles, once and for all.

• Americans buy enough plastic water bottles to circle the earth five times each week. Just buy one and try to remember to use it as many times as possible and you'd be astounded at how much waste you saved. And if you hate the taste of your tap water, but still want to invest in a reusable water bottle, check out GoPure Pods, a tiny reusable tap water purifier. "One pod can last up to 6 months and can treat up to 264 gallons of water. Thats over 2,000 single-use plastic water bottles that one individual can keep out of the landfills and the ocean", Kent Altheron, GoPure Pods CEO says.

5. Whenever you buy ANYTHING, try to only support businesses with eco-friendly practices

• Good news is that more and more companies are becoming environmentally conscious which makes it a lot easier to shop sustainably. When shopping at your local grocery store, look for a label that says "Fair Trade Certified". That means whatever product that is was made or grown according to rigorous environmental and social standards. There are also a broad range of companies that participate in One Percent for the Planet which is a global network of businesses and individuals working together for a healthy planet. All businesses apart of that organization promise to give back 1% of their annual sales directly to approved enviornmental non profits.

So PLEASE if you made it to the end of this, remember that you as an individual can single handedly help save our precious environment!

That's all, thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.