Environmental issues are a growing crisis in todays world, and increasing impacting communities and families in many parts of the world. In Australia, we too are facing the consequences of a changing climate through recent bushfires, droughts and floods. So it is increasingly important, to not only raise awareness on an individual scale but to educate everyone on how to implement “every day” practices to minimize our global environmental footprint.
The aim of the Ismaili Civic Environmental Fair has been to combine the efforts of a variety of local environmental groups and practitioners, to educate the local public on environmental issues and provide simple, practical everyday solutions to reduce our collective carbon footprint and negative impact on the planet. Each stall at the Fair gave demonstrations, talks and activities to engage visitors of all ages, in particularly the youth, who are intrinsic to future change.
Stalls such as: setting up a home composting system; growing your own veges; living sustainably by reducing energy consumption and recycling effectively – all introduced changes that could be implemented at home. Other stalls, shared ways to protect our local flora and fauna, bushwalking and bush care to better engage with our environment. The UNAA(NSW) stall displayed the global sustainable development goals, and invited people to make pledge statements towards each of the goals.
The Environmental Fair was hosted alongside the Bella Vista Farm Open Day, in which a historic house from the 1840s was opened to the public to tour. The cooperation between both these synergistic events allowed for a greater audience and provided a wonderful back drop for families to picnic, enjoy the gardens and watch the sheep whilst addressing a growing, global concern. We take this opportunity to thank Bella Vista Farm Friends and The Hills Shire Council and all the wonderful stall holders for supporting the event.
