Although Earth Day is today, let’s keep the earth green everyday. Here are some ways to keep our valuable earth from “burning” and leading a healthier life.
It is important to reduce the consumption of plastic bags or bottles. Plastic products causes carbon dioxide pollution. It is suggested that one way to use less plastic is that when you go to the cleaners, bring in you clothes in a non-plastic garment bag and ask it to be returned in the same bag.
It is important to keep our waters clean by not throwing toxic material in the ocean, lakes and rivers. This not only destroys sea and plant lives, but human lives also. When we throw toxic material in the ocean, for example, fish, such as salmon, consume the toxic material, and guess who eats the fish? The Federal Government has recently found that there are three more pesticides that harm salmon.
Many people are aware of the chemicals we use in our daily lives and how toxic they are to our health. Earth Justice is an environmental organization that informs people about the dangers of pesticides and chemicals.
The Federal Government is cracking down on mercury pollution from cement kilns. The new administration wants to cut mercury pollution between 81 and 93%.
Also important is to not waste fruits and vegetables (the fruit of the earth). Some people are donating their extras to those who cannot afford to buy them at the market. They are sending out flyers to the various neighborhoods telling people where to find these items.
Many of these people are asking their neighbors if they would like to donate their excess fruits and vegetable so it won’t go to waste. Some people are going green buy planting various fruits and vegetables around their homes. They are getting rid of their lawns and substituting it with their garden.
Some helpful advice to help our environment is to turn off your engine when waiting to pick up somebody. Idling in park uses more gas than restarting the car. A study was made that in cities where cars are constantly in idle in traffic, the average driver wastes 42.7 gallons a year.
It is also suggested to pump up your tires. Slightly deflated treads will increase gas usage, and for every gallon of gas you burn, you send 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is also suggested to check your tires weekly to make sure they are properly inflated. When looking for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle.
Here are some more tips to help save our environment. Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb. Move your thermostat down two degrees in the winter and up two degrees in the summer. It is also suggested to use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow shower head. Wash clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot. Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible. Turn off electronic devices that you are not using. It may be difficult to follow some of these rules, but hopefully we can all change some of these habits.
There are other ways you can help your health and environment. You can make your voice heard by joining Earth Justice Action Center.
http://www.earthjustice.org/how-to-help/action/index.html
