The environment is a topic of conversation very close to my heart.
I was always involved with the “green” groups at high school, and went on to continue those interest groups in the years after.
I’ve taken many steps myself to reduce my impact on the environment, and I care a lot about protecting our planet from destruction.
Therefore it was a no-brainer that I would visit the Eden Project while I was in Cornwall, England.
Created in 2000, the Eden Project is a popular tourist attraction and educational facility.
On the site, you’ll find two bio-domes (or biomes) which house two distinct (and completely not native to England) environments: a Tropical Rainforest, and the Mediterranean.
The purpose of this facility is to give visitors the chance to experience these special environments, while also educating them on the importance of plants and animals on our earth.
There’s a strong message: If we don’t look after our environment, our environment will stop looking after us, as it has since the beginning of time.
The Eden Project includes environmental education focusing on the interdependence of plants and people; plants are labelled with their medicinal uses.
Of course, they practice what they preach: The water required to create the humid conditions of the Tropical Biome, and to serve the toilet facilities, are all sanitised rain water that would otherwise collect at the bottom of the quarry.
The only mains water used is for hand washing and for cooking.
The complex also uses Green Tariff Electricity – the energy comes from one of the many wind turbines in Cornwall, which were among the first in Europe.
From the humid heat of the rainforest biome, you can walk through the eating area (yes, you’ve got a couple of different options for lunch here) into the dry heat of the Mediterranean.
The whole design of Eden Project is to help you stop and think about the world around us, and how your actions can affect it.
For example, on the grounds of Eden Project lies this statue, WEEEman.
Take a look at the message he portrays and have a little think about what that means to you.
We can all do more to reduce our impact on the world.
It’s something I’ve been seriously thinking about lately, and have been taking (more) steps to decrease my environmental footprint and live a more sustainable life.
I actually wrote an article about this for my day job at The Northern Star newspaper, if you’d like to take a look here.
Now the question is: What are YOU doing to live a more sustainable life?