When I was 11, I remember one of my teachers explaining the ozone crisis to me. I found it very fascinating. For the first time ever, I felt like I knew something important, grown up important kind of stuff. He said that the ozone layer, which protects us from dangerous rays of the sun was found to have been holes in it, destroying it. It sounded pretty serious. (I must add that I only fully comprehended the ozone crisis just a few months ago in 2022).
For some reason, I never heard about the ozone layer again.
Later in high school, there was something briefly mentioned about global
warming and I immediately thought it was because of the ozone layer. So, years
later, during my internship and we were discussing climate change, I
volunteered to explain the science behind it because this was something that
had fascinated me since that day in 2009. I stood in front of the company by
the white board, marker in hand and confidently misinformed everyone with
doddles to support it. I think they all believed me, because no one questioned
it. I must say, when I quickly looked it up online just before I went up to the
board, I saw something about greenhouse gas emissions but I was not going to
complicate the explanation for these laymen. “The ozone layer has been
destroyed, so now the sun hits us directly and that is why the earth is getting
hotter,” I said. To be honest, it is only last year, at age 24 that I realised
how much I had lied to myself and others for many years.
Towards the end of 2021 I moved to Europe for my Master
Degree and the discourse around sustainability and everything green was
overwhelming. I could not book a flight without seeing the little green leaf
icon and how one flight has reduced CO2 emissions. (I concluded that this meant
CO2 is the Ozone layer’s enemy). I could not understand why meat, which I
absolutely love, was not only ridiculously expensive but it was a part of my life
that many would judge me for. The face masks I absolutely needed would cost at
least double if they were in biodegradable packaging. If I made an order
online, I would have to consider how sustainable the delivery method is. The
clothes I could not wait to purchase at a cheaper price meant I am also feeding
into fashion that is not sustainable which is an equivalent of devil
worshipping. I can go on and on - it was overwhelming.
At first, I felt angry at the education system of my home
country that did not teach me about everything green and just how much of a
crisis we were in. Shortly afterwards, I understood that how could we even
consider the packaging of goods that are not available in the first place, poor
countries have more pressing priorities I thought. As I learnt more and more
about what is recommended to be sustainable, I realised that many parts of my
life that have always been normal are apparently revolutionary in being
sustainable for example home gardening, hand me down clothes, public transport
use always or upcycling and reusing everything. All Africans know that there is
no ice-cream in the ice-cream container. So of course, I once again became mad
at the system that did not recognise the already existing sustainable culture
that is already there where I come from, one that I and most of the world have
only ever viewed as poverty. Basically as I learn something, which is almost
every week, I have many feelings and different views relating to the climate
change crisis.
This is why I started the Climate Bunny. I realised that
while we are going through the climate crisis globally, there is importance
educating everyone about it. This means the science of it, what it means for all
of us, the new normal, the solutions, what we can do and anything else. Most
material I ever come across is either a depressing documentary with complex
language, a lot boring scientific paper or a radically Euro-centric take on the
subject. I understood how difficult it is for the regular person to want to
stay informed on the subject in a realistic way. On this blog, I will be
sharing what I consider essential aspects of climate change and sustainability
that everyone must know, but in a relatable way.
On so many occasions, I have come across misinformation about
climate change and discussion around it can become as controversial as a
political conversation. Many myths that
a lot of people are living by need to be demystified. The good cultures must be
spread and amplified. Information must be shared. And, we all must do our part.
The Climate Bunny will be there for anyone who wants to understand all things
relating to climate change, in a simple, understandable, and relatable manner.
As I write this, I am sitting out, enjoying the sun during what
should be the coldest month in Rome. The fact is that the world is in a crisis,
a lot must change but we are all potential solutions. Reading this blog is
definitely a good start.
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