by Charlotte Peterson, Student Writer for the Santa Lucian
Every time I see a picture of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, I feel a pit form in my stomach. Not only am I ashamed by how much humanity has allowed this trash to accumulate in the ocean, but I am also embarrassed knowing that I am part of the problem. We have all experienced guilt facing how we contribute to the conditions of the planet in one way or another. Whether it’s a long commute to work with no carpool, plastic usage, shower length, etc., remaining 100% sustainable is nearly impossible, yet many of us place a standard and expectation on ourselves to do so.
Environmental awareness is extremely important and necessary, but is often the culprit to the guilt faced by many. News articles, social media posts, and other reminders teach us about climate and the environmental issues occurring today. As we learn more, it is often difficult to block these problems out, while curiosity of how more action can be taken is raised. This awareness causes responsibility to form, often leading to guilt.
After learning more about the ways the environment is being harmed, comparison of daily actions is made and the guilt increases. People may blame themselves for not choosing public transportation, forgetting their reusable water bottle, or buying too many individually wrapped items. Convenience and cost beat the battle against sustainability, and blame is often placed on ourselves in doing so.
However, feeling this sense of guilt is just a sign that we care. If we never felt guilty about the small mistakes we made, then we most likely never cared to begin with. To help beat guilt, think about things you are doing that help the earth; maybe you drive an electric car, ride the bus, compost, etc. While they may go unnoticed, these tasks do make a positive impact in helping the state of the Earth. Accept that nobody is perfect, and the efforts made to help protect the Earth outweigh the mistakes made in the process.
While it is extremely difficult to not experience eco-guilt, we should also be patient and take it easy on ourselves in the process of learning how to be sustainable. In this time following Earth Month, remember that any action taken towards protecting the environment is action in the right direction.
Photos by Charlotte Peterson