I eat (sustainable) elephants for breakfast
Article written by Pregnancy Help Taranaki.
What does eating an elephant mean? Desmond Tutu once wisely said that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” What he meant by this is that everything in life that seems daunting, overwhelming, and even impossible can be accomplished gradually by taking on just a little at a time. Sometimes thinking about sustainability can feel so huge, you know you should do something, but you are not sure where to even start. It feels like we are reminded constantly that our world is an environmental time bomb just waiting to go off, through our social media, the news, podcasts, our kids who want to attend climate change protests. Quick let's take a couple slow breathes to stop us ending up in an anxiety spiral.
As an organisation that works with parents of babies and toddlers, we (Pregnancy Help Taranaki) remind them that your skills and experience as a parent grow with your child. There is a reason babies don’t do much in the first couple of months, just getting used to having a new mini-human around all the time is enough, you don’t need to know yet how to tackle toddler tantrums, or how to teach them how to do their ABC’s yet. The same advice can easily be adapted to creating a sustainable household. There is no reason to feel guilty about your family not living a carbon-negative life yet, you just need to start where you and your family are.
The thing with doing just one thing is that it can feel like it is not having an impact, and it is not really in the immediate moment, but over a period it is obvious that it has an impact. 20-30 years ago, when 5-year-olds were being taught the 3 R’s and how to deal with their lunchbox rubbish, it may not have felt like it was having much impact, but those 5-year-olds are now in their mid 20’s and 30’s and as key consumers, they are demanding more from their suppliers, they want locally sourced, carbon neutral, and natural environmentally friendly products. While previous generations have focused on making as much of something for as little as possible, millennials are creating market leading products that meet their values, and in turn changing how other generations shop for goods too.
While I am in no way promoting the actual consumption of pachyderm, I am saying that little steps and habits can and will have an impact, not just in our own singular world, but for our families, our friends, and the wider communities. I have set myself new sustainable habit, to reduce my shower time, I want to get it down to 5min, this is not going to happen straight away, but I can start by getting it under 10 min and then work down from there. Let me challenge you to make a goal around something you can do this week, maybe it is taking the time to sort through you household rubbish to make sure it is in the right bin, too easy you say, well how about setting up a washing line in your garage/carport so you never have to use the dryer again. Whatever you choose, make sure it is achievable, and keep going until that habit is automatic, then take your next bite.
Pregnancy Help Taranaki was awarded “Highly Commended” in Environmental Leadership for Climate Action at the 2023 TRC Environmental Awards.
Judges noted: “The nominee’s recycling and reuse initiatives showcase a commendable positive impact on climate, underscoring a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. “
Pregnancy Help Taranaki have a Sustainable Parenting Workshop happening on Thursday 23 Nov. 1-2:30pm.
This is a very practical, hands-on workshop that is perfect for parents/caregivers that want to be more sustainable (for the environment or household budget) but not sure where to start. Led by local parents, sharing what works for them, it will be packed with tips to make your own.
This is a free workshop, but spaces are limited, so follow the link to save your seat: events.humanitix.com/nurturing-the-future
For more information and to contact them visit pregnancyhelp.org.nz/taranaki
