Hello everyone!

I hope you are safe and warm as you are reading this. I am currently sitting in an office feeling like a chic secretary, sipping tea, and watching the rain trickle down the windows. Winter has finally descended its wet blanket over Cape Town, and I must say, it's about time. The Western Cape drought has been a stress weighing heavily on us all, and serving as a constant reminder to conserve water, especially in these times of crisis. It's sad to think that it is only when the well is dry that we realise the worth of water (I am heavily paraphrasing a famous quote).

The drought was a shock to all of us, especially because we are accustomed to our infamously rainy, windy, and teeth-grindingly cold winters. And unlike a certain cheeto who has decided to turn his back on  the only planet that can house our ungrateful and wasteful lifestyles, and protect it for future generations to thrive and prosper on, environmental conservation and reducing my carbon footprint is at the top of my priority list.

Think of your relationship with the Earth as a relationship with a loved one: The only way you two will grow together, and become stronger, is if you build each other up. As long as we give to her, take care of her, and make sure she has all she needs to thrive and grow, she will provide for us, and watch us prosper. However, we are currently living as though the Earth is going to provide for us forever without us nurturing and giving back to her. We are taking and stealing and stripping her for all she is worth, and then we cry and moan when her hands are empty. We are living as though we have somewhere else to go. As if there is someone else out there who is going to feed us, provide for us, and nurture us like this Earth can. The truth is, we can walk on the moon, we can search the universe for a new planet, and we can make a new planet and throw it up into the sky, but we will never find another Earth. We will never find another survival like this one. Nothing in this life cares more about our survival than the Earth does. When wildfires rage, the Earth heals its wounds, and slowly but surely becomes strong again so that we can live and work on the land. When a plant dies, it decomposes and its nutrients sink into the soil to make the ground fertile for us to grow food on to sustain us. The question is, do we care about her survival?

I truly believe that man has never before been more separated from the Earth than in today's day and age. The longer we continue to reject that our neglectful and greedy ways are doing serious harm to our environment and wildlife, the more the Earth will begin to reject us. Temparatures will only continue to increase, sea levels will continue to rise, droughts and widespread famine will prevail, and more and more species will become extinct until... Until Earth herself comes knocking at our doors.

No matter where you are in the world, you need to commit yourself to climate change. The restoration of the relationship between man and his surroundings needs to be at the forefront of the agenda of every single world leader, which is why I am disgusted at the recent news of a world superpower president making the 'informed' decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, which was agreed to by 195 countries, and called "The most promising effort to tackle climate change." (New York Times, 2017). In spite of this, we cannot only rely on world leaders to wave their money wands, and solve the problem themselves. Change begins at home. And that's where we all sit comfortably with our electricity, heaters, kettles filled with hot water, and tubs of bubble baths while the Earth has no one to let her in, protect her, and show her kindness.

Now is the time to act.

Now is the time to make a change.

If not for ourselves, for the Earth.

If not for the Earth, for our children.

Now is the time for us to realise that we are not going to live forever, and our lifestyles demands are increasingly becoming too greedy and selfish for the Earth to handle. In order to reduce our carbon footprint, we need to start making choices in our everyday lives that are kinder to the Earth, even if it means making our days shorter, our trips longer, and our lives a little more inconvenient. I'm not saying you need to stop driving your car, or stop using hot water. All I'm saying is this: Be sparing. As far as you can, live naturally, healthily, and conservatively.

During the peak of the Cape Storm, I did not have electricity for just over 36 hours. This meant that while the temperatures plummeted to seven degrees Celsius, the wind howled, and the rain soaked my garden, I could not plug in my heater, watch movies and series, access the internet, leave the house, check social media, charge my phone, make tea, have a warm home-cooked meal, or have a hot shower. I was also in a state of panic because I had two assignments due the following day, and I couldn't charge my laptop, print anything, access the internet, or see in the dim light to handwrite anything (Which wouldn't have worked in my favour because everything is submitted online). In that moment, I thought my life was over. I was freezing cold, in total darkness, and completely powerless (double pun, eyyy).

That's when my Mini Me, who looks a lot like my Bitmoji, leaped up and slapped me in the face.

"Oh boo hoo Sarah, wah wah wah! Do you not realise how blessed you are? You see your bed? Your feather duvet? These doors and windows to keep out the cold? That roof over your head? Those cupboards full of food? The family you have to look after you? You are among the most blessed people in this country. You may not have electricity right now, but some people have not had it for the whole year. Your feet may be cold right now, but some have never known shoes. You may not have hot water right now, but some stand naked in the rain, grateful for a shower. And just because it's dark, it does not mean that you can close your eyes to this privilege. Wake up, Sarah."

I can no longer turn a blind eye to the poverty and injustice that plagues our country. I am committing myself never to abuse my privilege as long as I am able, and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than myself. Not to be selfish, greedy, or controlling with what I have, but to give to those who cannot provide for themselves. To live a life of service to those who are struggling to make it through the night, the storm, and every day in general. To be a better, kinder, more compassionate human being.

This will not be done to soothe my consciousness.
No.
This will not be done to flaunt myself to others about what a saint I am.
No.
This will be done because my heart tells me it is my duty. I want to do this. I need to do this. I cannot lie in my bed at night with my toasty bedding knowing that I have the power to help the children shivering and starving on the streets, but choose not to, because who am I in this world? How could I possibly help them?

I'll tell you who I am: I am a guardian for change. I am a social activist committed to progress and social change in this country. I will do whatever it takes to help those less fortunate than myself, and I will commit to doing so out of the goodness in my heart.

Will you put aside your inhibitions and complacency, and join the movement?

XO