April 22nd, Earth Day: 5 Suggestions to Raise Your Hope

Earth Day, celebrated since 1970, takes place this year under the theme #InvestInOurPlanet. In last year’s MAG article, we briefly mentioned the story of Earth Day, one of the first sparks of environmental activism, and how the celebrations, now more than fifty years old, began. Once again, we wanted to emphasize the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to making climate issues visible and raising awareness.

Inspired by this year’s theme, we said, “Climate is changing rapidly! Why aren’t we changing?” Please don’t worry! Every step taken for the environment, from the smallest habit to the most radical lifestyle change, counts in this process. Here are a few suggestions that could benefit both you and the planet:

1. Strengthen Your Connection with Nature
   While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Istanbul, there are many green spaces where you can strengthen your connection with nature and enjoy the spring. For those on the European side, we recommend Yıldız Grove and Ulus Fruit Garden. On the Asian side, Validebağ Grove and Kuzguncuk Garden. What you need might naturally be found in nature!

Ulus Fruit Garden

Kuzguncuk Garden

Check Out the Festival Selection
The 42nd Istanbul Film Festival has ended. However, this year’s selection includes many films that touch on striking aspects of sustainability, both environmentally and socially. If you get the chance to watch them, we didn’t want to miss adding these to the list:

• Bas Deos,
• Bentu,
• Bars

Bas Devos

Bentu

Bars

3. Increase Your Awareness
For those who want to dive a bit deeper into the fight against the climate crisis and see sustainability through the eyes of individuals dedicated to this cause, we’ve compiled a selection of standout resources in different formats:
📚 Book / Rachel Carson – Silent Spring
🎙️ Podcast / Christiana Figueres & Paul Dickinson – Outrage + Optimism
🎥 Documentary / PLANETARY
🎞️ Video Series / Earthrise x Bloomberg

4. Do a Spring Clean on Your Social Media Accounts
The harmful effects of social media on our mental health and motivation are no secret. When it comes to topics like sustainability and climate change, we often encounter content that is difficult to understand and increases our eco-anxiety. However, you can bring a fresh spring breeze into your social media accounts by actively following accounts that inspire you. Here are some accounts we think you’ll enjoy following:
@bluprojects,
@ruhundoysun,
@futureearth
@earthrisestudio,
@dunyahali

5.Start a New Routine
For a long time, there has been a perception regarding environmental activism that “if you’re not doing it perfectly, there’s no point in taking action or even making an effort.” However, with our #VitrutaForGood communication, we want to break this mindset and inspire the question “What else can I do?” to develop our optimism. There’s no better day than today to take that small step or move on to the next one!

- You can start carrying your reusable water bottle with you all the time.

- You can prioritize plant-based eating at least one day a week.

- You can contribute to raising awareness by sharing what you know or have learned about sustainability and the climate crisis with those around you.

Bonus: Jane Goodall’s podcast Hopecast, from people who are the change they want to see in the world, manages to make us smile just with its name.