Submitted by Sarah R. Johnson, GSCO Global Action Team
Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world join the United Nations each year noting World Environment Day by increasing our worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment. It is celebrated on June 5 in more than 100 countries, and this year is particularly notable as it kicks off the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This ten year project aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. It can help to end poverty, combat climate change, and prevent a mass extinction. It will only succeed if everyone plays a part.
The overexploitation and degradation of ecosystems is often linked to inequality, including unfairly restricted access to and control of natural resources by women. Integrate your restoration projects with steps to eliminate the exclusion of and discrimination against women and other disadvantaged groups so that sustainable development benefits everyone equally. #GenerationRestoration and #GenerationEquality go hand in hand.
Girls are encouraged to stand up for your now and your future by raising your voices so that policy makers hear the call to protect and restore ecosystems. Organize those discussions yourselves and invite environmental experts to speak and the wider public to listen so that awareness of the benefits of restoration can blossom. Match all the words with deeds by volunteering collectively to get your hands dirty in restoration projects, or devise and launch one of your own. One way Girl Scouts of the USA is encouraging girls to get involved in through tree planting with the Girl Scout Tree Promise.
Participate in an online event; see the schedule here: https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/latest/official-event-schedule
Download the Playbook and find specific take action ideas for Colorado ecosystems:
Mountains
Farmlands and grasslands
Towns and cities
Rivers and lakes
Forests and trees
How you can participate:
Volunteer for an existing restoration effort such as the Glenwood Canyon Restoration Alliance and other post wildfire restoration projects across Colorado
Clean up a lake, beach, park, or other natural area
Green your home, business, school, or a public space with indigenous trees or plants
Take the Girl Scout Tree Promise
Start a new diet based on seasonal, sustainable and plant-rich foods
Do the Girl Powered Nutrition Challenge from WAGGGS
Write a letter to your local newspaper, use Climate Generation’s tips for writing letters
Take pictures of your World Environment Day activities and post them on social media with the tag #GenerationRestoration and #WorldEnvironmentDay to maximize your contribution to the restoration movement. You can also tag Girl Scouts of Colorado on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Twitter and Instagram users should also use #GSColo.
We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here.