What Can You Do?

 

Copied from https://earthmonk.guru/the-boa-foundation/ 

Faced with the enormous global problems the world faces right now here are a few ideas on how you might like to play a role in supporting the Amazon:

You could donate to one of the frontline NGOs working to defend and protect the Amazon and her people. This could be The Boa Relief Fund, Apoti, The Rainforest Action Network (who run Protect An Acre grants), the Rainforest Trust, Amazon Watch (who are working on behalf of and with the indigenous people) or most famous of all the WWF

You could become a regular monthly contributor to an organisation and keep the donation going all year round. Any money counts but some organisations have special dedicated donor schemes. The Rainforest Alliance for example, have the Canopy Associates programme for anyone contributing more than $1000 where special events, webinars and other exclusive benefits are offered. Stay informed and sign up to the WWF. They will keep you up to date on conservation work, fund-raising and campaigns. Here’s the link: https://www.wwf.org.uk/fight-climate-change/thank-you

Don’t let the media move on and the Amazon rainforest become old news. Use your voice – put the Amazon in your social media feed. Share posts, tag new agencies and influencers. Help to keep her headline news.

Whilst many of the fires have been set to clear land for agribusiness large areas are often burned to access trees for felling or to create access to other areas of the forest. Reducing the amount of paper and wood we use is a good way to help reduce commercial pressures on the Amazon, as well as other forests around the world.

Think more about the food you buy. Shop locally and support your local businesses. Cattle ranching accounts for about 80% of the forest being cleared in the Amazon. An area the size of Ireland has been cleared for growing soybean! As far as possible avoid highly processed foods. Eat a more plant-based diet (you’ll live longer). Moderate your meat quota – even dropping meat from your meals two to three nights a week could make a huge impact! Read the label and know where your food is coming from to limit its carbon footprint (buy seasonal food locally sourced!), keep your eyes peeled for Fairtrade, Freedom Food (animal welfare), MSC & ASC (seafood) and in anything to do with palm oil the RSPO logo is a must. 

 Be a conscious consumer. Buy less, recycle, repair and upcycle. Shop smart and waste less. Look out for labels such as GOTS, FSC, Fairtrade, Okeo-Tex, Carbon Reduction Label, Soil Association, Vegan, Rainforest Alliance (the green frog) so that you know the goods you are been sustainably or ethically sourced or at least made with respect for the planet and her people. Try to reduce your single use plastic consumption. Do some homework and check out blogs, articles, magazines and social media feeds that can give you tips and ideas on how you can shop more consciously. Use ethical platforms such as https://ethical.market and https://www.ethicalconsumer.org (where we rank second for ethical ‘alternative clothing shops’)

As a consumer you have purchase power. You also have the power to lobby, protest, campaign and sign petitions calling the government to action. When it comes to voting remember that we need leaders who understand the urgency of our climate crisis and are willing to take bold action—including strong governance and forward-thinking policy. 

Copied from https://earthmonk.guru/the-boa-foundation/