Miss Earth: Earth Day is everyday

Zowie Cruz, 2023 Miss Earth Northern Marianas, said the island community should make it a habit to treat everyday as Earth Day during the Rotary Club of Saipan weekly meeting last Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

The CNMI joined the entire world in celebrating Earth Day last Monday, April 22, and Cruz shared how Rotarians and the public might better protect and cherish the planet.

Cruz’s message highlighted that “Earth Day is Everyday” and shared that the six R’s in waste management—Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Repair, Rethink, and Refuse—are keys in sustainable development.

She noted that shopping with reusable bags; planting trees; conserving water, electricity and energy; choosing sustainable products like recyclable or eco-friendly items; even choosing to walk, bike, or use public transportation can help the environment, reduce carbon footprint, and provide a better future for the next generation.

Cruz also pointed out that as individuals add these patterns into their everyday lifestyle—whether conserving water when watering plants simply by using a bucket instead of a hose, shorter shower time, turning off the faucet or electricity even for a moment when they’re not using it—it can help build up to a better and more Earth-friendly environment.

She added that these small steps were important especially with the effects of climate change. “Our islands get effected by climate change the most. I hope that you guys are able to apply this not just today and not just this month because it’s Environmental Awareness Month and Earth Month but try to use it everyday.”

In regards to meat consumption, Cruz shared most large meat companies release greenhouse gases when processing meat in their factories and through eating less meat, or cutting it out completely, one can help the environment in the long haul.

Cruz, however, said meat is as an important source of protein and an important staple in a lot of people’s diets and recommends buying locally raised and sold meat. She said that way the meat is not only fresh, it’s also not processed.

“The more you have local farms here, it’s better…you can still eat beef, as long as you don’t have to do it [processed] like that.”

Cruz said that she had also begun practicing these conservation efforts and knows that many of the Rotarians not only know about these points, but also put this knowledge into action, most evidently through their community efforts and cleanup projects.

“Thank you very much for your unwavering commitment to the community. I know you guys do a lot of cleanups and eco-friendly initiatives, so thank you very much for being the guiding light that our community can always look up to,” she said.