Chloe Prasetya
In celebration of Earth Day this year (April 22), we’ve compiled in one place all the Earth Day-related happenings that we’ve been paying attention to. We’ve tried to localize this resource bank, highlighting both Singapore-based events and events that we, as environmentally conscious youth, find interesting.
The theme of Earth Day 2021 is ‘Restore Our Earth’. The slogan highlights the existential threat that climate change poses, and emphasizes the role that each one of us can play in creating systemic change for the planet's betterment.
This Earth Day, we remember that protecting the planet is a nuanced task whose implications extend far beyond simply rejecting plastic straws. The way in which the climate crisis has impacted our world is a reflection of broader, longstanding, structural inequalities in society, ranging from gender to racial injustice. Recognizing and dismantling these systems is a key, often-overlooked step towards addressing climate change.
On-campus happenings
The Library has curated a selection of books about the climate crisis, which are currently on display. Stop by this week to pick one up!
Earth Society has curated a series of posters about the different ecosystems that thrive on our planet. Check them out in the Tent Plaza.
Off-campus events we’ll be attending
Earth Day Instagram live | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: Ms. Johnson is a marine biologist who has done incredible work on highlighting the prevalence of environmental racism and lack of diversity in the sciences.
The Future Is: IE Earth Month Virtual Summit | Intersectional Environmentalist: Brought to you by the folks who first coined the term 'intersectional environmentalism', this summit aims to educate attendees on the way in which the exploitation of people and the planet is linked.
Just Recovery Gathering | 350.org
Earth Day BYOB: This is an initiative led by Kate Yeo, a university student based in Singapore. Get discounts off various vegan eateries in Singapore when you bring your own lid, straw, or container!
Things we’re watching
Virunga: Our favorite documentaries are ones that demonstrate how the environment is inextricably meshed with broader social issues. Virunga is a nerve-wracking watch about dedicated rangers striving to protect mountain gorillas from corporate greed. All of this is undergirded by a period of war in the Congo.
River Blue: A lesser-known but equally excellent variation on The True Cost, this documentary follows conservationist Mark Angelo from Asia to Africa as he uncovers the pollutive nature of the fast fashion industry.
Our Planet: One of many documentaries narrated by the renowned David Attenborough. Unlike its predecessors, however, Our Planet does not stop at featuring pristine, untouched landscapes - it insistently highlights the destruction that has been wrought upon them, and ends with a call to action for its viewers. If you're considering streaming an Attenborough creation today, this is the one for you.
Things we’re listening to
The Climate Conversations | CNA: Episodes focus on the hottest environmental news in Singapore at the moment.
Green Pulse | The Straits Times: This podcast is led by the Straits Times’ lead environmental correspondent, Audrey Tan (also one of our favorite climate reporters in Singapore!) She recently won an award for SPH Journalist of the Year.
Dismantled | Intersectional Environmentalist: This podcast features interviews with underrepresented voices in the climate movement, as part of a broader aim to uplift BIPOC climate advocates.
Outrage + Optimism: A podcast brought to you by folks instrumental to the creation of the Paris Agreement. Episodes focus on explaining topics within sustainability, ranging from ecocide to mass bleaching.
Things we’re reading
The intersectionality of environmentalism, explained
Spotlight: Environmental racism (particularly pertinent, given the huge increase in public awareness about violence perpetrated against Black lives recently)
How can I, as an individual, help combat the climate crisis?
Different levels of climate action
Individual actions versus systemic change for the climate
Various critiques of Earth Day (always good to keep questioning the nature of these sorts of events!)
Earth Day was always meant to be about grassroots climate activism and collective action.
“Today is not about consuming. Consuming content, products, low energy frequencies. Today is about disconnecting from these systems of consumption to reconnect to the ultimate source: Mother Nature. Earth Day collaborations or one-off “sustainable” products distracts us from the larger picture. We cannot consume our way to a livable climate future.” –– Environmentalist Soph Fei
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