The One Plant One Family Campaign

It Begins with One Plant, from One Family

#OnePlantOneFamily AKA One Plant, One Family is an environmental campaign pioneered by Indian Changemakers Lingaraj Bmath and Jay Prakash Anand, and led by LEARNBLUE. The campaign is an attempt to ensure that the Earth continues to heal post Covid-19 by involving individuals and families to take a pledge of planting trees. 

A recipient of the Giants International Youth Award and Giants Ratna Award, Lee Lingaraj has been a meritorious student who has represented the country at various Model United Nations (MUNs) including Asia Youth MUN and Toulouse International MUN, held in Malaysia and Sri Lanka respectively. Lingaraj, who has previously spoken at MIT World Peace Summit, Pune, is a volunteer at Human Rights Commission, Czech Republic and a guider at Nema Foundation, India. In addition, he is also a part of the Board of Directors and the International Head at Globe for Change Organisation, India. 

LEARNBLUE is a gen z led non-profit organisation which works in the field of Sustainable Development Goals. Led by Gen-Z, LEARNBLUE endeavours to address and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Gender Equity, Quality Education, Life Below Water and Climate Action, by evolving effective strategies and programs, impacting knowledge and inspiring youth to take action in realising the objective of making a better and sustainable future for all. 

April 22, 2020 – the date marked the 50 years of Earth Day celebrations all across the globe. This day has always been observed by various civil and political organisations to demand action by governments, businesses and citizens for creating a sustainable future for the coming generations. This year’s Earth Day, however, was more special, not only in terms of reaching a milestone but also in the way it brought into focus how interdependent we are on the Earth and its environmental health. 

As the political leaders were busy in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and people were forced to stay inside their homes along  with business operations shifting to Work-From-Home (WFH) policy, our Mother Earth showed signs of healing. Many agencies, NGOs and organisations have cited data to indicate a steep decline in greenhouse gases such as nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter in the atmosphere. With several countries undertaking drastic lockdown measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus, pollution levels have considerably reduced in numerous parts of the world. Within a matter of a few weeks, the levels of pollution in New York have decreased by nearly 50% on a year-over-year  basis as the economic activities stalled and vehicular emissions sharply reduced due to restrictions placed on movement. Reports published by The Guardian and the National Geographic has confirmed how megacities like New Delhi, Hubei, Bangkok,São Paulo,Bogotá, Cali, etc., have witnessed a ‘miraculous’ fall in the atmospheric pollution and how residents are enjoying clearer air after a long time. Noticing and admiring the greener planet, bluer skies, clearer rivers and safer wildlife, can perhaps be the only positive out of the unprecedented crisis that humanity is facing right now. 

Surely, the world will return back to normalcy, sooner or later. Roads will again be choked by vehicles, factories will run endlessly to cover up for the time lost, skies will be full of air traffic and people will be completely engrossed in their lives.  What’s more crucial is that our ‘Blue Planet’ and its invaluable resources continue to renew and replenish. The major lessons from the entire situation should not just be limited to building more robust and resilient health infrastructure and ensuring public sanitation in the future, but more importantly, making sound plans and policies that comply with the goal of sustainable development. 

Why the Pledge?

It is almost impossible to describe the relevance of trees in nature, either in a few words or even in the longest essay possible. From releasing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, preventing soil erosion and water pollution, regulating climatic conditions, adding aesthetic value to providing food, shelter, medicines, paper, wood, etc., for various purposes, the kind of ‘free’ services that trees provide us are truly unparalleled. In fact, planting trees is one of the cheapest and easiest solutions to tackle and reverse the impact of climate change. 

One Plant One Family Campaign is an innovative way in which you can be certain that the healing process of the Earth is sustained for the times ahead. By signing the pledge below, you agree to continue growing your plant till the threat posed by Covid-19 is behind us. Afterwards, it can be donated to an organisation or project of your choice or you could keep it in your direct environment. 

We will make sure you keep the pledge by sending bi-weekly mails encouraging you to share plant progress updates and joining the social media challenge using this toolkit. Saving the environment means saving the next generation and you don’t necessarily have to be an activist to do that. As the saying goes,”Even the smallest acts of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention”. This is the time to be kinder towards nature, towards each other and even more significantly, towards ourselves. After all, by planting a tree, we are helping nobody but ourselves first. 

In the powerful words of former President of the USA, Theodore Roosevelt,”To exist as a nation, to prosper as a state, to live as a people, we must have trees.”