Clean Planet Association

It is difficult to envision that there would be a Wilderness Medical Society if there was no wilderness, or if we degraded our environment to the point that we significantly shrank the wilderness. Although the thrust of this blog is to inform readers about medical issues, I think it's important for all of us to be reminded from time to time about ways in which we can help preserve and improve the natural environment.

The Clean Planet Association is an organization with a vision "to help everyone become aware that the well being of the planet is his or her responsibility." The aim of the association is to support local populations in their efforts to clean up and maintain nature sites. We all should share in that responsibility. A candy wrapper or aluminum container left by a lakeside does not gather the notoriety of an oxygen cylinder discarded at the base camp of Mount Everest, but the thought is the same. Everyone should do their part to "leave no trace," pack out what they pack in, and encourage travelers and trip operators to show the same respect for the land that they show for their bodies.

While the website is not extensive, it says a great deal in a brief, but very focused message to each of us. By adopting a culture of preservation and respect for the environment, we can establish the only approach that offers our planet a reasonable chance for survival beyond our current ethic of consumption and disregard for future generations.


Tags: Clean Planet Association, environment, medical, physician, health, wilderness medicine, outdoor medicine, healthline