From The Land Of Smiles: Earth Day In Australia

Catherine Sheehan
Staff Writer

Hey Flyers! Happy Earth Day!! As my travels continue, I am writing this post from Australia.

Yep, you read that right. I left Asia and headed to Australia for spring break!

Living in Thailand the last four months, I have thought about the environment more than usual. It is a developing country and the option for sustainability is not always available, but when it is it’s not normally taken.

For example, plastic water bottles are sometimes necessary since the water here is not safe to drink, but they are served with a straw and in a plastic bag, which I rarely see anyone decline.
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The “red trucks” and “tuk tuks” used as taxis have old engines that often leave the air foggy. During “smoky season” trash is burned and the amount of air pollution increases.

It was a breath of fresh air (literally) to see Australia’s efforts in fighting climate change. Grocery stores were filled with reusable bags and every toilet I used had the option for half or full flushes.
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While it’s not always possible to be environmentally friendly all over the world, this makes it especially important to do our part when we can.

Look out for my next post if you’re interested in hearing my final thoughts in Thailand and, until then, Jai Yen!

Photos courtesy of Catherine Sheehan.