GARDENING Australia’s Costa Georgiadis says the best way to change the world is a step at a time.
And that will be his message to locals when he visits Logan just ahead of World Environment Day.
The television favourite says China’s decision to stop importing foreign rubbish might be the change people need to make own changes close home.
He says each of us could declare a war on waste in our own backyards.
“Days like World Environment suggest a big picture and big pictures can be challenging,” Costa said.
“The idea then is break things down into bite sized morsels. You act on the small things and build new habits. Those habits become a part of the culture and the culture, well that’s where change making begins.”
Costa said change could be made across all levels of life and living.
“There’s no need to keep buying books when you can visit a street library, no need to use pesticides when you’ve got a bug hotel.
“Why do we all need a garden shed with a useless mower inside that’s soon going to be obsolete if there is a bloke in the street who has decided to set up a tool library.”
He said similar changes could be made across all walks of life.
A ban on plastic bags could be extended to single use takeaway coffee cups.
The same principle could also be applied to fashion.
“You don’t need to buy new clothes over and over again, not when you keep sending stuff off to landfill.
“We need to act across food, fashion, the environment and food security and make cuts in our behaviour.
“All people need are options so we need to set out options that are reasonable and let them work with that.”
Costa will visit Logan as a guest of the Logan Eco Action Festival.
The free event shows off local eco-businesses and features talks, demonstrations, workshops, a kids wild zone, food trucks and live music at Griffith University’s Logan campus, Meadowbrooke, on Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Guests include sustainable farmer and chef Paul West.
You act on the small things and build new habits, those habits become a part of the culture and ... that’s where change making begins.
- Costa Georgiadis
Costa visited last year and can’t wait to come back: “I like the people there. They are open, willing to listen and to act.”
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5.
