The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major disruption across the world, infecting millions and leading to countless deaths. The UK has been particularly badly affected. According to several key measures, it has been more badly impacted than any other country in Europe. That has been bad news for families, the economy and everyday life.
Fortunately, there are positive steps we can all take to help reduce the risks of continuing infection, and the sooner we regain control, the better it will be for people’s health and jobs.
One of the ways in which we’ve been helping has been to donate free supplies of face coverings and hand sanitiser to communities, key workers and public bodies. Thanks to an alliance with Neo Plus Pro, we’ve built up a store of 20,000 units and we’ve already distributed thousands more to local councils, schools, mosques and charities.
Good hand hygiene, social distancing and the use of face coverings can all play important roles in getting Covid-19 under control, and until scientists discover an effective vaccine, taking these precautionary measures is one of the best things we can do. That’s why we’re keen to continue donating to those who need these items, and keen to spend time talking to schools, community groups and others about why and how to use them.
It’s important work and we’d love it if you could Get Involved.
The production of energy for homes, industry and transport is one of the world’s biggest causes of pollution and global warming. Across the world, nations are burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and a completely unsustainable rate. This is producing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and atmospheric pollutants such as sulphur dioxide – all of which are damaging habitats and changing the world’s ecosystems.
At the national and international levels, activists and organisations such as Greenpeace are trying to put pressure on governments and big, polluting oil and gas companies to change the way they operate, and to move towards more sustainable energy sources. Progress is slowly being made – such as the intention to move towards electric vehicles – but the timescales are much too long, the targets are being set too low, and not enough action is being taken now.
At Green Steps Society, we’re keen to do something about this. We want to get out into schools and communities to tell people about some of the simple steps we can all take to move things in a better, more sustainable direction. Some examples include:
These and other measures help reduce your environmental impacts, but they’ll usually save quite a lot of money too.
Can you help us to spread the word? Please – Get Involved.
Across the world, populations are rising, and global warming is changing the climate. Asa result, increasing numbers of people and communities are facing the threat of frequent water shortages.
In the UK, we often joke about the rainy weather but industry experts have warned that within the next few decades, the climate will become more extreme and we could be facing water shortages of our own. We’ve all seen news reports of low reservoirs, hosepipe bans and temperatures in various months reaching record highs, so we’re already seeing the start of this process.
Promoting more sustainable sources of energy is one way of helping to reduce the need for harmful coal and gas-fired power stations (see above) but we can also help to raise awareness about the ways in which ordinary people can reduce their need for water. Examples include:
There are lots of other good ideas and, if you help us with our community education work, we’ll provide all the resources you need to become a water-saving ambassador. In time, we also hope to take a lead on new fundraising initiatives and water-saving projects overseas.
Here’s how you can Get Involved.
Across the world, plant and animal species are dying out as a direct result of human activity. The rate of extinctions is shocking – faster than at any time in more than 65 million years – and yet it seems that many national governments don’t care.
Rainforest is being destroyed so quickly that we’re losing an estimated 130 species of plants and animals every single day, and if deforestation continues at the current rate, it might be completely lost within the next 40 years.
We’re also losing other kinds of eco-system to forces such as industry, agriculture and pollution. Some are obvious – such as the loss of ice-sheets at the poles, but some are being lost out of sight, in marine ecosystems ravaged by pollution, global warming and intensive fishing.
Even in the UK, we’re losing species at an unprecedented rate as more and more land is given over to housing, industry and roads.
There has never been a more important time to act: to support environmental protection projects and to raise public awareness of the damage that is being done. It’s a time for awareness-raising, fund-raising and, most importantly, active conservation work.
We need your help so please get in touch as see how you can Get Involved.
Green Steps Society is a UK based non-profit organisation working towards a better future.
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