When I was younger, I participated enthusiastically in “Earth Hour,” a worldwide movement in which millions turn off their non-essential electricity for an hour. I continued to observe the tradition until I learned the science behind it. While the amount of energy that “Earth Hour” conserves is more symbolic than practical, the sudden switch-offs could also cause damage to the power grid — requiring more resources to fix. Just as it has been for years, Earth Day 2021 looked more like a “

celebration

” than an effective day of change.

Inspired by the anti-war movements in

1970

, Denis Hayes planned a student teach-in on college campuses to address increasing concerns about pollution with the support of Senator Gaylord Nelson and Congressman Pete McCloskey. The teach-in quickly attracted media attention and grew into a much bigger movement that engaged more than 20 million Americans in the protest. Earth Day had a great impact in the 1970s, with people pushing for environmental policies such as the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Earth Day became a global phenomenon in the 1990s and the 2000s, with more than 150 countries from all over the world participating.

However, many critics argue that Earth Day has changed — from an almost-radical, change-demanding movement to a day where many put cute or aesthetic pictures of their travels on social media. It was certainly incredible to see many beautiful pictures of mountains, oceans, prairies and forests across social media platforms. Even so, not many people back this up with direct action. It is like driving 30 miles on a fuel guzzling pickup truck to get some “sustainably-grown” organic food. It is important to support green businesses, but you are probably doing more damage to the environment by driving your truck.

Moreover, “environmentally-friendly” infrastructure or companies might not be as

clean

as many consumers may think. If a company moved its factory from the suburbs of a rich and sustainable city to a third-world country, how much would it really help the environment? Similarly,

where

does the plastic we use in America go? Some may reply, “Who cares, as long as it is not on my lawn or on the beach I go to.” Yet, we must consider how those plastics affect places like Vietnam, Cambodia, or Senegal — I am confident that the citizens of those countries would not be pleased that the highly-processed plastic produces toxic fumes in their homelands. In 2017, America had a plastic-recycling issue because China, which used to be the biggest importer of American plastic, decided to cut the plastic import from America to a minimum for environmental concerns. The U.S. found a solution to this problem by dumping plastics in poorer countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Senegal.

The hypocrisy of celebrating Earth Day while embracing only symbolic environmental change might lead some to abandon the holiday altogether. Yet, Earth Day is still a symbolic event that helps raise awareness about the environment. Instead, it is important to back your enthusiasm with concrete actions, no matter how small.

Many of us care about the environment, but sometimes, it can be hard to know what we can do individually. For example, I often get confused in front of the trash bins when I try to get rid of my lunch boxes. More resources and education about waste disposal could help educate Hamilton students on this issue.

Here are some suggestions of what you can do on campus. Though you may have heard of some of these before, they are simple ways to make a difference for Earth Day. Here are some more productive options you can do in addition to posting on social media:

1. 
   Use reusable utensils.
   
   There are surely times that you have had no choice but to use plastic utensils. But everyone should make a conscious effort to carry their reusable utensils everywhere they go. Alternatively, you can always put the reusable utensils in your room. When you order delivery or bring food back to your residence hall, you can use the reusable silverware instead of grabbing a plastic knife, which has a hard time cutting through food anyways.
2. 
   Carry around a water container
   
   . This is similar to the utensils, but even easier to do so. You can put whatever you like in your Yetis or Hydro Flasks. Not only are they more sustainable and better than plastic bottles at keeping your drinks cold, they also save you from spending $2 each time you want to purchase a plastic water bottle.
3. 
   Be crafty/reduce waste.
   
   Be creative and think about what you can do with something you are about to throw away. Maybe you can transform a soda can or bottle into a trendy pencil cup, or turn some used packing boxes into shoe racks.
4. 
   Buy wisely
   
   . There are many different applications for this rule. First, consider whether you really need to buy an item. Maybe you can just borrow the screwdriver from a roommate instead of getting a new one. Secondly, consider how often you will use the item. If it is a book, maybe consider buying a second-hand one, which is also cheaper than a new book. You can also resell your books when you are done reading them. For food, products from local farms are not only fresh, but buying local decreases the transportation costs and pollution associated with food that is sold in supermarkets or massive grocery stores. Supporting local business supports your community as well.
5. 
   Go vote
   
   . Know your candidates and vote wisely.
6. 
   Be creative and do the little things.
   
   Something is better than nothing!