Plogging - a great way to honor Earth Day
Happy Earth Day everyone! Just like me, I am sure many of you feel deeply for the environment and worry about the impacts manmade climate change has on our beloved planet and our children’s future. The problem might feel overwhelming and give you the sense that there is little we can do as individuals. However, it gives me some reassurance and strength to focus on the small things I can actually accomplish: increase awareness and set a good example. It might not be much, but certainly better than nothing! In keeping with my theme of Swedish culture and language I will focus this blog on two movements that originated in Sweden that support the environment: Plogging and the activism by Greta Thunberg.
Plogging is a relatively new activity that originated in Sweden and has since spread across the globe, including to the US. Plogging is the combination of two verbs, “plocka” (to pick something up in English) and jogging. In other words, to go jogging while picking up things! The activity was born out of a concern for our planet and all the plastic pollution found in our environment. The initial idea for plogging came from a Stockholm native, Erik Ahlström, who, after having lived for 20 years in the small ski-town of Åre in northern Sweden returned to his hometown only to discover just how dirty it had become. He noted plastic bottles and other trash on his daily commute to work on his bicycle, and started picking it up. The act of cleaning up the environment gave him some satisfaction and the idea for plogging was born.
The first plogging events were held in Stockholm in 2016 and spread to the rest of Sweden. The events are organized through the Plogga.se website, as well as Facebook groups. The first events outside of Sweden were held in 2018 in Spain and the UK, and the activity has continued to be picked up (pun intended!) across the globe. You can now find plogging events in the US organized by local groups as well as Swedish companies such as the outdoor clothing brand Fjällräven.
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who first rose to national fame in Sweden in 2018 at 15 years old when she started a school strike for the environment outside of the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) in Stockholm. At the time she was just starting 9th grade and decided to sit in protest outside Riksdagen every day for 3 week, demanding that the Swedish government lower carbon emissions in accordance with the Paris agreement. Her actions received widespread attention on social media as well as in national and international news reporting, which helped grow her platform and influence. Only a few months after the school strike for the environment she gave a plenary speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP24) in December of 2018, which encouraged students in several countries to hold their own protests. Greta continues her activism and inspires people everywhere to take action for the environment. She has received both praise and criticism from world leaders and political candidates in the United States, UK, Germany and many other countries, and has been the recipient of countless prizes and honors. At true inspiration in my opinion!
I try to educate myself and find ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle. I hope you feel inspired to do the same, and perhaps also help influence others to prioritize the environment and sustainability. One of the many ways to take action is to participate in the National Cleanup Day here in the US on the third Saturday in September every year. Sweden continues to be on the forefront of many of these important issues, and if you are interested in learning more about Swedish culture and language I would encourage you to sign up for one of my free trial lessons below.
