Happy Earth Day
Posted by Michelle Moquin on 22nd April 2010
Earth Day just can’t be ONE day a year, it needs to be EVERY day that we honor our beloved planet or we will no longer have one. In reality the planet will be here but we won’t. We’ll either pollute it so bad (or something worse) that we can no longer survive here or we’ll take the steps to keep Mother Earth happy and thriving, so we in turn can too. Of course, this is in spite of the havoc that is created by visiting beings. But let’s deal with what we have control over and make some changes and not stress over what we can’t control. At least for now.
And in my opinion, we have an opportunity to save our planet, and save ourselves, if we all take the right steps. Thanks to the Huff Po, here’s a few changes, big changes, that are more challenging than planting a tree or using the right light bulb (everyone should be doing these simple things by now), that will dramatically reduce our impact on the environment and make a huge difference.
My little comments will be in Red
- Stop Using Plastic
There is no doubt that plastics are notoriously bad. Americans dispose of 10.5 million tons of plastic garbage every year, and about 8% of the world’s annual oil production is used toward the creation of plastic products. A single plastic bottle can spend anywhere from 100 to 1000 years in a landfill, and while recycling plastics helps save up to 60% of the energy used to make new products, they are often “downcycled” which doesn’t curb the demand for more plastic to be produced, and it does little to prevent plastics leeching cancer-causingchemicals. Thanks to our wasteful habits, we’ve created huge islands of plastics in both the Pacific and Atlantic, and we not only kill up to a million sea creatures every year with plastic, but also ingest toxins that have made their way up the food chain from this waste.
Imagine the wonderful impact on the environment if you stopped using those190 pounds of plastic each year. Say NO to plastics, and make your commitment by pledging with others at the Plastic Pollution Coalition.
To me this is so easy. Stop buying those nasty little plastic water bottles, purchase a good stainless steel water bottle and drink filtered water – easy.
- Power Your House/Business With Alternative Energy
From heating and cooling to powering appliances and lighting, energy costs for just one home or business can be steep, as is the toll it takes on the environment. According to the EPA, approximately 4 metric tons, almost 9,000 pounds, of CO2 per person per year are emitted from people’s homes in the U.S., which is 17% of the nation’s total emissions. While you could try conserving your energy by making little adjustments around the house, why not make an investment that will save you money in the long-run AND lower your carbon footprint dramatically?
Home Energy Saver shows you how much energy-efficient homes in your area pay as opposed to the average home, and what steps you can take to be energy-efficient. The U.S. Department of Energy also offers tips on what alternative energy makes most sense for your home or business. One of the most efficient ways to consider is going solar– SunPower helps you create a plan for your home or business and factors in the money you’ll save with federal and state rebates. You could even look into investing in solar energy as a neighborhood. If you are a renter, some states like New York offer alternative energy credits you can buy to power your home — this is a great way to start.
I find it a fun challenge to see how green we can be in our home but I know I can do more. So can you.
- Don’t Fly, Or Carbon Offset All Air Travel
Not flying in airplanes is a great way to reduce your person carbon emissions. Aviation accounts for 2% of mankind’s CO2 emissions, with each flight requiring mass amounts of fuel. Many options have sprung up to purchase investments in clean energy, like wind and solar, to offset your air travel if flying is your only option. The TerraPass Calculator can help you determine the carbon footprint of your flight, and offer you options to buy carbon offset for as little as $6. There are various other options to explore to do the same thing, like Sustainable Travel International and CarbonFund, and many airlines now offer the choice to purchase carbon offsets through companies like these. Also, check outClimateCounts.org to see which airlines rank as the most eco-friendly.
Ooh airlines aren’t going to like this but hey maybe it’s time they get with the program and find more sustainable ways to power up their planes.
- Go Vegetarian
The United Nations have concluded that meat production is responsible for around 18% of global CO2 emissions. 5,214 gallons of water are required to produce a single pound of beef, and the EPA estimates that more than 27,000 miles of US rivers have been polluted by livestock waste. Individually, you could make a great deal of change by putting down the meat and going vegetarian.
Well this one I’m not in total agreement with because we are natural carnivores. I’m not saying don’t go vegetarian. If it is something you have wanted to do, now is the time – go for it! But I am being realistic. Our planet is not going to stop eating meat. But I do believe that our meat intake should and can go way down. We do not need to eat meat every day. People should not only eat less meat but it should be quality meat not the low grade meat produced by big factory farms. I believe in supporting small sustainable farms that produce high quality meat where they treat their animals humanely with love and respect. They are out there, and they are not that expensive. Better for the planet – better for you.
- Get Rid Of Your Car
It’s a shame the way personal car ownership has been embedded in the culture of America. Cars have a tremendous impact on the environment, not to mention your personal finances. Vehicles in the United States use more gasoline each year than our oil industry produces. Passenger vehicles contribute 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. 13% of polluted rivers are impaired by urban run off of pollution like that left behind on roads and parking lots from cars. Walk, ride a bike, and use public transportation to help curb climate change!
This one is tough for many people because we are always in such a rush to get somewhere and unless you are good with time, not taking your car to get to your destination will cause even more added stress. But, I am committed to riding my bike a lot more this summer, and in fact I am looking at a new job where all I will need is my bike. No, I am not going to be delivering newspapers. :)
- Don’t Have A Baby
There’s no denying that there are a lot of people out there, 7 billion to be almost exact, and we’re not showing any signs of slowing down. According to Grist, a 2009 study in Global Environmental Change, which factored in the long-term impact of Americans’ descendants, found that each child adds an estimated 9,441 metric tons of CO2 to a parent’s collective carbon footprint. Now, we don’t have anything against babies personally, but we think it’s important to be informed about the environmental reality of bringing a whole new person into the world.
Ooh…that is a bold suggestion and some may not like hearing it, but yes, less people will have less of an impact on the environment. Maybe have one child as opposed to 2 or 3? Again…a bold suggestion. “Don’t breed, adopt”, has been a slogan for those wishing to add a four-legged friend to their family. Will this be the new slogan for people wanting children?
- Buy Local
Food sold in American supermarkets has to travel an average of 1,500 miles to get from the farm to your plate. Buying locally not only supports your local economy, but cuts out the massive amounts of energy used to store and transport the products across the world. Become a “Locavore” and join others in the challenge of only eating food within a 100-mile radius. And food isn’t the only way to shop local: visit neighborhood thrift stores to reduce the pollution caused by the production and transportation of new clothing and other items.
I love this one. But we are lucky in California; there is a local farmer’s market every day of the week here. This could be challenging for some but still doable. Read labels. See where items are made. Or even better, grow your own veggies. A small areas is all you need.
As far as going to thrift stores, not big on those, but I visit a few used ( or is it pc to say pre-owned? :) clothing stores that are my faves and clothing swaps are so much fun – just remember to wash before you wear. :)
Readers: That’s it – what do you think? Can you take on a few of these or perhaps even one? Blog me.
FYI: Did you watch Obama’s speech this morning on Financial reform? I watched a bit of it – loved the line that said something to the affect of…Unless you’re out to milk the public, you should see nothing wrong with this bill…” Thoughts?
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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